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Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the… Article 20

Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the… Article 20

Right to protection of victims during criminal investigations

Article 20

Without prejudice to the rights of the defence and in accordance with rules of judicial discretion, Member States shall ensure that during criminal investigations: (a) interviews of victims are conducted without unjustified delay after the complaint with regard to a criminal offence has been made to the competent authority; (b) the number of interviews of victims is kept to a minimum and interviews are carried out only where strictly necessary for the purposes of the criminal investigation; (c) victims may be accompanied by their legal representative and a person of their choice, unless a reasoned decision has been made to the contrary; (d) medical examinations are kept to a minimum and are carried out only where strictly necessary for the purposes of the criminal proceedings.

Read the full instrument → · Read this in context: CHAPTER 4 — PROTECTION OF VICTIMS AND RECOGNITION OF VICTIMS WITH SPECIFIC PROTECTION NEEDS →

Other provisions in CHAPTER 4 — PROTECTION OF VICTIMS AND RECOGNITION OF VICTIMS WITH SPECIFIC PROTECTION NEEDS

Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗ · Data as of 2026-07-04

CitationArticle 20 of Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the… (LawPlayer, data as of 2026-07-04)

© European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu, 1998-2026. Reuse authorised under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU, provided the source is acknowledged.

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