For victims of terrorism, please refer to the section further down this page by clicking here.
The Commission for financial assistance to victims of intentional acts of violence (Commission pour l’aide financière aux victimes d’actes intentionnels de violence) can grant financial assistance to victims (and to close relatives of victims) of an intentional act of violence that has occurred in Belgium.
For victims of terrorism, please refer to the specific information below.
The types of injury considered by the Commission differ depending on the category of victim:
A. Direct victims – people who have suffered a physical and/or mental injury as a direct result of an intentional act of violence in Belgium.
For direct victims, the Commission may consider:
B. Indirect victims – heirs up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has died as a result of an intentional act of violence.
For this category of victim, the Commission may consider:
C. Indirect victims – heirs up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has been seriously injured as a result of an intentional act of violence.
For this category of victim, the Commission may consider:
Yes, close relatives (heirs) up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has died as a direct result of an intentional act of violence can get financial assistance.
Yes, close relatives (heirs) up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has not died but has been seriously injured as a direct result of an intentional act of violence can get financial assistance.
Yes. The Commission can grant financial assistance regardless of your nationality or legal/illegal status in Belgium.
No, the Commission can grant financial assistance only for acts that have occurred in Belgium.
However, there is one exception: in the case of acts of terrorism committed abroad where the victims are Belgian nationals or have their habitual residence in Belgium (see ‘victims of terrorism’ section).
Yes, the crime must have been reported to the police. The Law of 1 August 1985, which regulates the Commission, also requires you to have sued for damages in criminal proceedings.
The main financial assistance granted by the State can be claimed only at the end of the legal proceedings and based on the final decision made by the courts.
However, emergency assistance can be granted, under certain conditions, before the end of the legal proceedings.
Yes. The victim must sue the offender for damages in criminal proceedings, if the offender has been identified, as the Commission’s assistance is an alternative form of compensation that is only granted as a last resort.
If the offender has not been identified by the end of the legal proceedings or if the case is closed without further action due to the offenders not having been identified, a victim can request financial assistance from the Commission. In such cases, the victim must have at least formally reported the crime (to the police or the public prosecutor’s office).
A claim for the main financial assistance must be submitted within three years of the final court decision made in the case or within three years of a decision to close the case without further action due to the offenders not having been identified.
For direct victims, the Commission may consider:
For indirect victims – heirs up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has died as a result of an intentional act of violence –
the Commission may consider:
For indirect victims – heirs up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has been seriously injured as a result of an intentional act of violence –
The Commission’s financial assistance is paid out in a single payment.
The Commission can take into account the behaviour of the direct victim of the intentional act of violence at the time of that act and the fact that the victim contributed to his or her injury.
Your financial situation is not taken into account.
The Commission takes account of compensation paid by the offender and any payments made by mutual benefit organisations or insurance companies (principle of subsidiarity).
The Commission, which is an administrative tribunal, grants the financial assistance on the basis of fairness.
Minimum amount: €500
Maximum amount of the main assistance (and full assistance): €125 000
This is not required.
Yes, the Commission’s assistance is based on the principle of subsidiarity. Compensation paid by insurance companies (and also by the offender) is therefore taken into account.
Emergency assistance can be granted, even where a court decision has not been made in the case. In accordance with its case-law, the Commission can grant emergency assistance solely for medical costs (minimum of €500) that are payable by the victim (after any insurance companies have made or refused to make their contribution).
The emergency assistance is limited to €30 000.
Additional (financial) assistance can be requested if the injury worsens in the 10 years after the main assistance was granted, except where the victim has already received the maximum amount of assistance from the Belgian State (€125 000). The victim must prove (through detailed medical documents) that his or her injury has worsened.
No.
The Commission for financial assistance to victims of intentional acts of violence and voluntary rescuers (COMMISSION POUR L’AIDE FINANCIERE AUX VICTIMES D’ACTES INTENTIONNELS DE VIOLENCE ET AUX SAUVETEURS OCCASIONNELS), which is part of the Federal Public Service for Justice (SPF JUSTICE).
Claims (consisting of claim forms and supporting documents) must be posted in duplicate to (postal address):
Commission pour l’aide financière aux victimes d’actes intentionnels de violence
SPF Justice
Boulevard de Waterloo 115
1000 BRUXELLES
No. You do not need to be present during Commission hearings when your claim is being decided.
Around 18 months for the main assistance.
The Commission’s decision is not open to appeal. Only an action for annulment can be brought before the Belgian Council of State (Conseil d’Etat).
From the Commission’s website or by telephone.
Tel.: +32 2 542 72 07, +32 2 542 72 08, +32 2 542 72 44
Email address: commission.victimes@just.fgov.be
Not through the Commission.
Legal aid can be requested (under certain conditions) from the bar association in the judicial district where the act occurred or where the victim is resident.
There are victim support services that can help victims to claim financial assistance from the Commission.
Victim support is provided by the communities and regions of Belgium.
For more information (in particular on the various services authorised to provide assistance):
Wallonia-Brussels Federation: http://www.victimes.cfwb.be/
Flanders: https://www.slachtofferzorg.be/
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The Commission for financial assistance to victims of intentional acts of violence (Commission pour l’aide financière aux victimes d’actes intentionnels de violence) can grant financial assistance to victims (and to close relatives of victims) of an act of terrorism. The cases of victims of terrorism are managed by the Commission’s Terrorism Division.
The types of injury considered by the Commission differ depending on the category of victim:
A. Direct victims – people who have suffered a physical and/or mental injury as a direct result of an intentional act of violence in Belgium.
For direct victims, the Commission may consider:
B. Indirect victims – heirs up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has died as a result of an intentional act of violence.
For this category of victim, the Commission may consider:
C. Indirect victims – heirs up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has been seriously injured as a result of an intentional act of violence.
For this category of victim, the Commission may consider:
Yes, close relatives (heirs) up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has died as a direct result of an act of terrorism can get financial assistance.
Yes, close relatives (heirs) up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has not died but has been seriously injured as a direct result of an act of terrorism can get financial assistance.
Yes. The Commission can grant financial assistance regardless of your nationality or legal/illegal status in Belgium.
The Commission’s Terrorism Division can grant financial assistance in the case of acts of terrorism committed abroad where the victims are Belgian nationals or have their habitual residence in Belgium. However, such acts must be recognised as acts of terrorism by the Belgian Federal Government through a Royal Decree.
No, but it is in the interests of the victim or his or her close relatives to register as a victim (of the act of terrorism) with the police or federal public prosecutor’s office.
No.
No.
Yes. The financial assistance granted by the Commission to victims of acts of terrorism is independent of any legal proceedings.
A claim for financial assistance due to acts of terrorism must be submitted to the Commission within three years of the entry into force of the Royal Decree recognising those acts as acts of terrorism.
For direct victims, the Commission may consider:
For indirect victims – heirs up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has died as a result of an intentional act of violence –
the Commission may consider:
For indirect victims – heirs up to the second degree and relatives by marriage up to the second degree of a victim who has been seriously injured as a result of an intentional act of violence –
the Commission may consider:
It should be noted that the financial assistance procedure for victims of terrorism will be changed during 2018.
The Commission’s financial assistance is paid out in a single payment, although the victim may receive an advance as well as the main financial assistance.
The Commission can take into account the behaviour of the direct victim of the intentional act of violence at the time of that act and the fact that the victim contributed to his or her injury.
Your financial situation is not taken into account.
The Commission takes account of compensation paid by the offender and any payments made by mutual benefit organisations or insurance companies (principle of subsidiarity).
The Commission, which is an administrative tribunal, grants the financial assistance on the basis of fairness.
Minimum amount: €500
Maximum amount of the advance: €30 000
Maximum amount of the main assistance (and full assistance): €125 000
This is not required.
Yes, the Commission’s assistance is based on the principle of subsidiarity. Compensation paid by insurance companies (and also by the offender) is therefore taken into account.
An advance can be paid to victims of terrorism. Emergency assistance can be granted to victims of terrorism who have been hospitalised and to the close relatives of a victim who has died as a result of the act of terrorism.
Emergency assistance is limited to €30 000.
Additional (financial) assistance can be requested if the injury worsens in the 10 years after the main assistance was granted, except where the victim has already received the maximum amount of assistance from the Belgian State (€125 000). The victim must prove (through detailed medical documents) that his or her injury has worsened.
No.
The Commission for financial assistance to victims of intentional acts of violence and voluntary rescuers – Terrorism Division (COMMISSION POUR L’AIDE FINANCIERE AUX VICTIMES D’ACTES INTENTIONNELS DE VIOLENCE ET AUX SAUVETEURS OCCASIONNELS – DIVISION TERRORISME).
Claims (consisting of claim forms and supporting documents) can be emailed or posted to:
Postal Address:
Commission pour l’aide financière aux victimes d’actes intentionnels de violence – Division Terrorisme
SPF Justice
Boulevard de Waterloo 115
1000 BRUXELLES
Email Address: terrorvictims@just.fgov.be
No. You do not need to be present during Commission hearings when your claim is being decided.
For the advance, the decision is made within four to six weeks of the claim being submitted, if this is complete.
For the main assistance, the Commission will examine the claim only after any insurance companies have made their payments, based on the long-term consequences for victims.
The Commission’s decision is not open to appeal. Only an action for annulment can be brought before the Belgian Council of State (Conseil d’Etat).
Commission pour l’aide financière aux victimes d’actes intentionnels de violence – Division Terrorisme
Email Address: terrorvictims@just.fgov.be
Commission pour l'aide financière aux victimes d'actes intentionnels de violence – Division Terrorisme
Email Address: terrorvictims@just.fgov.be
Tel.: +32 471 123 124
No.
There are victim support services that can help victims to claim financial assistance from the Commission.
Victim support is provided by the communities and regions of Belgium.
For more information (in particular on the various services approved to provide assistance):
Wallonia-Brussels Federation: http://www.victimes.cfwb.be/
Flanders: https://www.slachtofferzorg.be/
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