Call for training officers to support national staff trainings on rights and needs of victims of terrorism, offered by EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism
Dear VSE members,
Victim Support Europe, together with ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Association française des Victimes du Terrorisme and Fondation Lenval, invite you to support the training sessions of the EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism (EUCVT).
You might have already heard that EUCVT was set up by the European Commission in January 2020 and entrusted to VSE and partners to deliver its important work. The main goal of EUCVT is to ensure that national structures can offer professional assistance and support to victims of terrorism in every EU country. It also promotes exchange of best practices and sharing of expertise among practitioners and specialists across borders. As part of its tasks, the EUCVT will offer training courses to representatives of the national authorities coming into contact with victims (police, judges, prosecutors) and national victims support organisations on matters relating to victims’ rights and victims’ needs after a terrorist attack.
To successfully deliver these trainings, we need your cooperation!
We are looking to identify up to four EUCVT training officers from each Member State, coming from local/national authorities and victim support organisations, to deliver this training to national staff. Although they are not remunerated, training officers will have the unique opportunity to gain new skills, through a train the trainer programme, and later on share their knowledge and experience on how to support vulnerable victims in their Member State of origin. In exchange for their dedication and time, they will also become part of an EUCVT network and potentially become the go-to experts for support of victims of terrorism.
In order to qualify for the role of EUCVT training officer, candidates should fulfil following conditions:
- Have a basic understanding of the subject matter relating to victims’ rights and, preferably, to rights and needs of victims of terrorism;
- Have a willingness to dedicate time to their duties as training officer;
- Have a sufficient level of English to follow the train-the-trainer course in this language.
Training officers will have the following main duties:
- Attend an online train the trainer course, organised by EUCVT;
- Together with other national training officers and with the support of the EU CVT, deliver national training to up to 20 participants;
- Support the VSE team in providing expertise in their national law and policy regarding victims of terrorism.
Training officers are expected to spend not more than a total of 10 working days on these tasks between mid-February and end of July 2021.
Candidates for the role of training officer will receive an online train-the-trainer course, mainly focused on how to deliver training, which will be offered by EUCVT and held in February 2021. The Train-the-trainer sessions will focus on the methodology of delivering training in order to ensure that all participants are equipped to give training to national staff. The training will be based on the content of the EU Handbook on Victims of Terrorism. This EU Handbook provides context on the main rights of victims of terrorism enshrined in the relevant EU Directives and will be published by the EUCVT in January 2021. Upon completion of the training, participants will be become part of a training network at EU level, as EUCVT training officers.
EUCVT training officers coming from each EU Member State will deliver national staff training with the support of the EUCVT. The training courses will take place online, in national language, using the training platform that will be developed by the Project Consortium, in the period April-July 2021 in each EU Member State, except Denmark. The Project Consortium and expert trainers of ICF International will be available to support national trainers through:
- Developing training materials
- Providing support in organising national training sessions
- Providing technical support in delivering online training
- Providing additional input and expertise during national training.
EUCVT training officers will also be asked to provide information on the national context of support to victims, in particular victims of terrorism, and to reflect on specific guidance required at national level relating to the organisation of a national support system for victims of terrorism that conforms to EU Directives. This contribution will help the Project Consortium to develop national handbooks, which will be used to inform national stakeholders on how to respond to terrorist victimisation.
Please send your candidacy, containing a CV and a short letter of interest to: eucvt@victimsupporteurope.eu before 25 January 2020.
If you are hesitating, or have questions before applying, the Centre will organise consultation sessions via a Microsoft Teams webinar on 14, 18 and 20 January to provide any further information. Do not hesitate to contact the Centre via eucvt@victimsupporteurope.eu for more information or to receive a link for your selected webinar, if you wish to participate.
Thank you in advance for your assistance regarding this call for participants.
Yours faithfully,
Aleksandra Ivankovic
Deputy Director
Victim Support Europe
Operations Manager
EU Center of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism
