Under Western tradition, procedural rules focus on the clarification of facts and make only passing reference to victims' interest. For centuries it has been assumed that the justice systems sufficiently guarantee victims' rights. However, this assumption has been questioned in recent years in the Federal Republic of Germany and other countries. Analysis of various countries laws show that they vary in how explicitly they specify victims' rights regarding participation in criminal proceedings, being informed, being present, and receiving compensation or restitution. Nevertheless, legal provisions recognizing victims' rights are not completely new. Overall, the European legal systems place the victim in a highly satisfactory position. However, the new discussions of victimology could lead to a revival of old ideas and their adaptation to the modern situation. Comparison of Romanic, Germanic, and English procedural codes and 6 reference notes