{"id":199066,"date":"2026-08-20T16:39:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T14:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=199066"},"modified":"2026-08-20T16:41:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T14:41:46","slug":"campagne-op-het-eurekaweekfestival-voor-steun-aan-slachtoffers-van-misdrijven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/08\/20\/campagne-op-het-eurekaweekfestival-voor-steun-aan-slachtoffers-van-misdrijven\/","title":{"rendered":"Campaign at the Eurekaweek festival to support crime victims"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alexander and Matisse participate in the challenge Eyes Open.<\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Students Matisse and Alexander are sitting on opposite sides of a table. There are two cameras pointed at their faces. \u201cWe\u2019re going to start\u201d, the facilitator of the session says. \u201cGo<\/em>!\u201d 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. \u201cYes! I win\u201d, Alexander shouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symbolic challenge<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The two students are taking part in the game from the European Union\u2019s Eyes Open<\/em> campaign. The game is inspired by the striking performance by artist Marina Abramovi\u0107<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUsually, 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\u201d, says Ioana Traista. She\u2019s at the festival leading the campaign on behalf of the European Commission. \u201cThis usually happens without people being aware of it. Or they don\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students are lining up for the challenge.<\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Keeping their eyes open more consciously<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Matisse and Alexander enjoyed the game they\u2019ve 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. \u201cI think it\u2019s good that you put the problem on the map through a game like this\u201d, says Alexander. Matisse agrees with him. \u201cI\u2019m from France. I feel that there is less attention to this issue in France.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First-year students Kalish and Chary also find the game creative and the subject important. \u201cI saw a statistic showing that in 53 per cent of crimes against women, bystanders are present who didn\u2019t do a thing. That\u2019s why this campaign is important: to make people aware of their role as bystanders and encourage them to take on that role\u201d, says Chary. During the game, Kalish kept her eyes open for 23 seconds. \u201cI promised myself that from now on I will always keep my eyes open for crime victims.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Een lijst met artikelen<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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