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UNITY – Universal Court Documentation for Accessible Information for Vulnerable Victims

MichaelaC on September 24, 2026

The UNITY project strengthens the capacity of justice system in providing accessible documentation, information and communication to victims of crime, persons with disabilities in a gender-, age- inclusive manner.

 

This project co-funded by the European Union is implemented between June 2026 and May 2028 in 5 EU countries: Croatia, Lithuania, Malta, Spain and Portugal.

 

Project Consortium

  • Validity Foundation from Hungary (project coordinator) 
  • Funka Foundation from Sweden 
  • SL Consult from Austria 
  • Victim and Witness Support Service Croatia from Croatia 
  • Mental Health Perspectives from Lithuania
  • Victim Support Malta Foundation from Malta 
  • National Federation of Social Solidarity Co-operatives from Portugal 
  • Portuguese Association for Victim Support from Portugal 
  • Confederation Plena Inclusion from Spain

Project Objectives

Women, older persons and persons with disabilities experience persistent access to justice barriers, undermining their rights to information, communication and redress in criminal proceedings across the EU; it takes the form of information/ communication provided in a formal manner, using legal jargon, and these barriers are compounded by sexist, ableist and ageist attitudes that result in additional barriers to participation. Further, persistent intersectional barriers prevent women, older persons and persons with disabilities, from obtaining information they need to access legal aid and support to be able to exercise their rights.

 

The UNITY project aims to improve information and communication for women, older persons and persons with disabilities in the criminal justice system.

 

To achieve this, the action is structured to achieve 4 specific objectives:

  • Create guidance and tools on how to produce accessible, gender and age-inclusive legal documentation and information on victims’ rights, proceedings, including on compensation
  • Build capacity of criminal justice and support professionals on how to produce and impart accessible information and support communication, including in remote hearings, using Easy-to-read, plain language and with AAC symbols, with the support of generative AI tools, in an intersectional manner;
  • Improve accessibility of court and victim support services through protocols and tools of individual needs assessments, templates and interview formats to modernise how information and communication is assured for persons with diverse communication needs, in an age and gender appropriate language;
  • Strengthen coordination and collaboration with disability person organisations and accessibility services to ensure accessibility of court and support services information and documentation;

Implementation methodology:

  • We are measuring how accessible and inclusive the communication, information, and documentation provided by courts and support services are. Our goal is to ensure that women, older persons and persons with disabilities can easily understand their rights, legal proceedings, and case files. To do so, we are bringing together women, older persons and persons with disabilities with experience in the justice system, and their representative organisations, criminal justice professionals, and victim support organisations.
  • We are developing step-by-step guidance and practical tools to help criminal justice and victim support professionals to produce accessible, gender- and age-inclusive legal documentation. This includes clear information on victims’ rights, legal proceedings, and compensation. They will be formatted in plain language, Easy-to-Read formats, or with helpful pictures and symbols, while being compatible with assistive technology and potentially deploying Generative AI.We are building stronger cooperation between courts, victim support organisations, and OPDs. By working together, these stakeholders can streamline court-related processes and make vital legal information readily available in a variety of accessible formats tailored to the needs of women, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
  • We are delivering intersectional training to help justice and support professionals understand how to provide tailored and accessible legal documentation. This training provides information on how to conduct individual needs assessments, use structured templates, and ethically use victim-centric Generative AI to make their communication more efficient.
  • We are empowering women, older persons, and disability rights organisations to actively co-produce accessible information. By working directly with courts and victim support services, they will help design the very communication tools used during legal and criminal proceedings.

 

Universal Court Documentation for Accessible Information for Vulnerable Victims (101299215 – UNITY – JUST-2025-JACC-EJUSTICE)

 

Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission (DG-JUST). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

 

APS 2025 – Promoting Wellbeing and Safety in the Workplace

MichaelaC on September 24, 2026

Victim Support Malta is developing the core modules for a certification programme, aimed at promoting wellbeing and safety in the workplace, allowing organisations to demonstrate their commitment towards ensuring employee wellbeing and sustainability. The aim of the programme is to support and incentivise organisations to build a respectful workplace culture from policy to practice, where employees feel safe and valued in contributing productively, and where companies work proactively to prevent harassment and toxic behaviour among employees.

 

The programme will be developed in such a way as to ensure that companies will be given meaningful and effective support in their efforts to implement a sustainable, respectful, and gender-inclusive workplace culture.

Erasmus + Developing Educational Tools to Prevent and Address Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse – CAPVA

MichaelaC on September 24, 2026

Child and adolescent to parent violence and abuse (CAPVA) is a form of family abuse where children and adolescents engage in harmful behaviors towards parents or caregivers to get their own way, inflict harm, communicate distress, or exert control. CAPVA encompasses various behaviors, including physical violence such as hitting and pushing, verbal abuse like threats and insults, emotional manipulation including blackmail and isolation, and financial abuse through theft or coercion for money. This type of abuse is complex and multifaceted, often involving underlying behavioral or emotional disorders in the perpetrating youth, and can occur in families from any socio-economic background. This abuse has profound short- and long-term implications for the physical and emotional wellbeing of both parents and children/adolescents, and it can severely damage family relationships. Despite increased media and academic attention over the past 15 years, CAPVA remains unrecognized and under-researched, with limited support available for affected families.

 

This project is being implemented in collaboration with DROGA (Poland), an NGO focused on the social reintegration of people at risk of social exclusion in rural areas, with a particular focus on those affected by domestic violence.

 

The project’s primary objectives are:

  • 1. Facilitate the exchange of knowledge among partnership staff members and their stakeholders working with adults at risk of social exclusion, particularly those affected by different forms of less known abuses

  • 2. Develop a set of new educational tools to support the implementation of joint actions for recognizing and preventing CAPVA by adult educators and relevant stakeholders both local and national levels, in collaboration with NGOs and local communities

  • 3. Pretest the educational tools developed in the project in real-life community of practice (CoP) settings to promote knowledge sharing through a repository of best practices, ensuring accessibility for all stakeholders involved in adult education

  • 4. Raise awareness about the design and implementation of preventive actions related to CAPVA at the local level and national levels.

The project aligns with two key E+ priorities:

  • 1. Common values, civic engagement, and participation

CAPVA is intricately linked to broader social concepts such as common values, civic engagement, and participation. Addressing CAPVA will be achieved through the design and implementation of educational programs, community initiatives (CoP), and support networks that promote respect, empathy, and non-violent communication while fostering critical life skills such as effective communication.

 

  • 2. Improving competences of educators and guidance staff

Enhancing the competencies of educators and adult learning and guidance staff is crucial in addressing CAPVA. Well-trained educators and staff will develop a deeper understanding of CAPVA, its causes, and manifestations. This includes recognizing signs of such violence, understanding underlying psychological and social factors, and identifying potential triggers. Programs will equip educators with knowledge about CAPVA dynamics, parenting and its distinctions from other forms of abuse.

 

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EUPA. Neither the European Union nor EUPA can be held responsible for them.

APS 2026 – Strengthening Support for Victims of Cybercrime

MichaelaC on September 24, 2026

Victim Support Malta is working with APS Bank to formalise a referral and response system that ensures individuals affected by cybercrime are identified early and linked to timely, specialised support. In parallel, Victim Support Malta will also develop training to APS Bank’s client-facing staff on trauma-informed communication, where clients may have experienced financial crime and are seeking support from the bank to address the situation. 

 

This project will nurture a meaningful partnership,

with APS Bank not only financially supporting the initiative, but also actively participating in shaping the referral framework, committing to capacity-building in this field, and embedding victim-centred cybercrime prevention and recovery within its community outreach efforts.