Statement of Services

The AQPV defends the rights and collective interests of victims of crime before various instances in Québec and Canada.

Its representations focus on:

• Raising awareness of the many consequences of criminal victimization and the difficulties experienced by victims and their relatives in attempting to obtain the assistance and support they need to recover and continue their lives with serenity and dignity, regardless of the type of crime they were subjected to;
• Bringing to light the obstacles encountered by many victims in fully exercising their right to be heard and respected, better informed, participate in procedures that concern them, be protected from threats and recrimination, obtain restitution and be compensated for damages suffered.

These representations, which take various forms—legal briefs, analytical documents, participation in consultations or various committees, and collaboration with the media—are the primary focus of the AQPV’s activism.

These platforms provide AQPV with an opportunity to ensure that victims’ voices are heard and to put forward proposals or recommendations for improving laws, policies, directives and practices that are of concern to victims.

In order to share and disseminate new knowledge on victimization, the AQPV organizes activities to raise public awareness and publishes information tools on various subjects. These activities are intended for victims of criminal acts, the people who work with them (directly or indirectly), and the general public.

The AQPV provides information on services that can guide victims and their relatives through the various steps in their process. The Association publishes and provides information on rights and recourses guaranteed under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights (CVBR), the Act to assist persons who are victims of criminal offences and to facilitate their recovery, the Criminal Code, the Correctional and Conditional Release Act, the Act respecting the Québec correctional system, and other legislation.

The AQPV also offers many tools to enable victims and their relatives to better understand the extent of their rights, find out what services are available to them, and identify the role and responsibilities of the various organizations involved.

These tools are also extremely useful for anyone who works directly or indirectly with victims of crime, helping them to keep their knowledge up to date and deepen their reflection on various issues, particularly those related to recognizing and promoting victims’ rights.

Thanks to its close collaboration with many member organizations and partners, the AQPV is able to direct victims and their relatives to specialized services and programs that can provide the help, support or advice they are seeking.

The AQPV does not provide psychosocial services or legal advice for victims and their relatives.

Another of the AQPV’s objectives is to foster a better understanding of criminal victimization and its impacts, as well as of the needs of victims. To do so, it publishes content presenting new knowledge on specific issues, developments in programs and initiatives to benefit victims, and ongoing research in various areas of victimology.

The objective of the training sessions offered by the AQPV is to develop the knowledge and skills of professionals who work with victims of crime. The Association’s annual training program focuses on such varied themes as victimization and its consequences, post-trauma intervention, and victims’ processes and needs with respect to different procedures. These training sessions provide an excellent opportunity for dialogue and exchange among professionals who work with victims.