Czech center for crime victims decorates new branch with children's pictures from Lidice Memorial

The In IUSTITIA public benefit corporation has opened up a branch of its Justýna counseling center in the town of Kladno, where staff will provide legal and social advice to crime victims on Mondays and Thursdays. The spaces have been refurbished with pictures from the International Children’s Exhibition of Fine Arts on loan from the nearby Lidice Memorial.  

"The branch in Kladno is our fourth in the Czech Republic," says Klára Kalibová, the director of In IUSTITIA. The organization is now providing services in Brno, České Budejovice, Kladno and Prague.

In IUSTITIA provides legal information and social counseling to crime victims. "We help our clients get oriented with respect to their rights, we help them to understand official documents they have received, we introduce them to how a criminal procedings works and their options for financial aid," Kalibová clarifies.  

A counselor with the organization can help victims prepare simple filings, accompany them to official meetings, or facilitate pro bono legal services for them. "The Justýna counseling center is primarily a safe place for victims and their loved ones to get advice about their situations and find the support that is especially needed after a crime has been committed. For many victims it is crucial that they get the opportunity to confide in someone who will listen to their problem and eventually provide them with valuable advice," the director says.  

The organization has managed to borrow art from the International Children’s Exhibition of Fine Arts at Lidice to decorate the counseling center. "We are glad that the Lidice Memorial has loaned us these artworks. We have chosen beautiful images that create a positive mood. We believe our clients will appreciate the pleasant atmosphere in our counseling center," the director says.  

Crime represents a serious disruption of the lives of victims and their families. In some cases there is a need to address the medical and psychological repercussions of crime.

Victims can find a psychologist through the Justýna center, or counselors can advise them on to how seek compensation for damages from the perpetrator. Crime often results in economic interference with a victim’s life through increased expenses for medical aids or prescriptions and loss of income as a result of being unable to work.

Crime victims are entitled to financial aid from the state or to a short-term benefit from the social welfare system. The Justýna counseling center can provide such information.

The Kladno branch of In IUSTITIA is being opened as a partner counseling center of the Probation and Mediation Services as part of their "Why me?" project. In IUSTITIA was founded in 2009.

The group provides legal and social counseling to persons affected by violent hate crimes all over the Czech Republic and works with the victims of any crimes through its branches in Brno, České Budejovice and Kladno. The group also works in the field with vulnerable communities.  

In IUSTITIA monitors incidents of hate crime and raises awareness of the issue. The group educates both experts and the general public on how to prevent violent hate crimes.

The group has won an ERSTE award for social integration and a SozialMarie award for social innovation. Economist Tomáš Sedláček has become the group’s patron as a result of its recognition.