Campaign at the Eurekaweek festival to support crime victims

Amid the lively stalls of student associations on Lloyd Multiplein, there was a European Union tent on Wednesday. Through a game, the organisers wanted to show how important support for victims of crime is.

Students Matisse and Alexander are sitting on opposite sides of a table. There are two cameras pointed at their faces. “We’re going to start”, the facilitator of the session says. “Go!” The two students stare at each other. They have to keep their eyes open for as long as possible without blinking. Five seconds, ten seconds: they continue to calmly stare at each other. When the timer on the screen reaches thirteen seconds, Matisse blinks. “Yes! I win”, Alexander shouts.

Symbolic challenge

The two students are taking part in the game from the European Union’s Eyes Open campaign. The game is inspired by the striking performance by artist Marina Abramović and is intended to raise awareness of what we as a community can do to support victims of crime. During the challenge, participants have to keep their eyes open for as long as possible, as a metaphor for keeping our eyes open to victims.

“Usually, after the crime, the victim experiences something that we call secondary victimisation. By this, we mean the response from family, friends and the community, where the victim is often blamed more than the perpetrator”, says Ioana Traista. She’s at the festival leading the campaign on behalf of the European Commission. “This usually happens without people being aware of it. Or they don’t know how to respond. We want family and friends of victims to become aware of the rights that victims have in the EU, as well as the support services available at the national level.”

Keeping their eyes open more consciously

Matisse and Alexander enjoyed the game they’ve just played. Beforehand, they did not know exactly what it was about. It was only once they were sitting in the chairs that the facilitator told them more about the background to the game. “I think it’s good that you put the problem on the map through a game like this”, says Alexander. Matisse agrees with him. “I’m from France. I feel that there is less attention to this issue in France.”

First-year students Kalish and Chary also find the game creative and the subject important. “I saw a statistic showing that in 53 per cent of crimes against women, bystanders are present who didn’t do a thing. That’s why this campaign is important: to make people aware of their role as bystanders and encourage them to take on that role”, says Chary. During the game, Kalish kept her eyes open for 23 seconds. “I promised myself that from now on I will always keep my eyes open for crime victims.”