Since the Dutch government formation last year, the Ministry for Justice and Security has been represented by three government members: the Minister of Justice and Security, Ferdinand Grapperhaus, State Secretary, Mark Harbers, and the Minister for Legal Protection, Sander Dekker. On 22 February 2018, minister Dekker publicly announced his multi-year agenda, which contains his ambitions for victim policy for 2018-2021. Since I have read Dekker’s intentions, the question has been crossing my mind whether the suspects’ and offender’s rights will be adequately protected, when these intentions will be carried out. In this blog I will make some remarks on minister Dekker’s victim policy concerning the victim’s right to speak during criminal proceedings. It will start with a short overview of victim’s rights in Dutch criminal proceedings. Subsequently, the intentions of minister Dekker will be discussed and critically reviewed from the suspect’s or offender’s point of view. It will end with a short conclusion. Lees verder →