Annelies joined VSE in January 2020. In the period 2020-2021, Annelies supported the carrying out of the activities of the EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism, which was set up and run under the auspices of the European Commission. As Junior Policy Officer at Victim Support Europe, Annelies is now responsible for the development of policy guidance, recommendations and advice on victims’ rights, needs and services. She supports VSE’s advocacy work towards EU institutions and is implementing European projects, in particular related to access to justice for victims of a crime and terrorist victimisation. 

She has obtained a Master’s Degree in International and European Union Law at KU Leuven as well as an LLM International Human Rights Law at Essex University. Prior to joining VSE, she gained extensive international working experience in external relations and diplomacy at Belgian Embassy in Japan and at European External Action Service in Brussels, as a blue book trainee. Further, she briefly worked at REDRESS in The Hague, where she contributed to REDRESS’ advocacy efforts and the implementation of a project on victims of violent crimes in detention facilities.

in The Hague, where she contributed to REDRESS’ advocacy efforts and social media outreach, conducted legal research focused on the intersection between international criminal law and human rights law and assisted in the implementation of a project on victims of violent crimes in detention facilities.