João LAZARO
President, Victim Support Europe
Welcoming Remarks
João Lázaro is President of Victim Support Europe and of the Portuguese Victim Support Association (APAV). With a degree in Law and a postgraduate degree in Victim-Aggressive Mediation and Restorative Justice, he also practices law. João has collaborated with APAV since 1995, having served as Secretary-General until 2007, when he became Executive Director. He also held important positions in several renowned national associations and was a professor in different criminology courses at distinguished Portuguese Universities. Moreover, he collaborated as an expert for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice and Home Affairs. Over the years, he has been a speaker at conferences on issues related to the rights of victims of crime and victim support services and has also published several articles in the area of restorative justice and victimization.