Simplifying the documents that certify an individual’s victim status
In 2021, the Government of Portugal simplified the documents that certify an individual’s victim status. Victim status is granted by judicial authorities or the police to individuals who have been victims of a violent crime, or to their family members if the victim’s death significantly impacts the family member’s life.
The working group that simplified these documents was coordinated by the Secretary of State for Citizenship. It brought together plain language experts from our team and subject matter experts from a range of departments of the Government of Portugal and the Public Administration, including the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality.
“What are my rights and how do I exercise them?”
Typically, people receive the victim status at a time when they are particularly vulnerable. In addition to this, there is the complexity of the legal information that must be included in the document, along with the low literacy levels of the majority of the population. Furthermore, the structure of the content and the layout of the document did not make it easy to read and understand.
Therefore, a technical committee established by the government recommended that the new documents were drafted in plain language. The challenge was to ensure the information could be understood and utilized independently by these individuals, enabling them to fully exercise their rights (and fulfill their duties), without compromising legal precision.
To bring the law closer to the reality it seeks to address
The original documents, filled with legal jargon and structured by articles (as is standard in legislation), have been transformed into versions in plain language with an improved layout. These documents were drafted with the readers in mind, considering:
- the information present in the original documents and the information they might need
- their potential expectations
- the steps they should take
- their likely difficulties, objections, and concerns.
The revised document clearly explains how to apply for protection from the offender, how to access various forms of support (psychological, financial, legal, foster home, etc.), how criminal proceedings are carried out, and how to participate in them.
“
The simplified content and clear language in these templates aim to ensure that the information is understood and used independently by the intended recipients. In this way, it is intended that they can fully exercise their rights (and duties), understand the next steps in the support process, and reduce doubts and fears. Therefore, it is a document that empowers the victims themselves.
Government press release in July 2021
The first plain language document published as part of Portuguese legislation
The new document includes three templates, one for each of the following status:
- victim
- particularly vulnerable victim – which applies to victims of domestic violence, trafficking persons, facilitation of illegal immigration, and terrorism
- victim of domestic violence, granted by the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality.
The documents in plain language were published in the Portuguese Official Gazette, as an annex to the Order No. 138-E/2021, dated July 1.
Example
Some details of the new documents:
Before
After
