The convention is viewed as an integral part of the overall policy of the Council of Europe with regard to the treatment and compensation of crime victims. It contains 20 articles dealing with various aspects of victim compensation. National reports are provided on victim compensation in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom. The reports deal with the nature and extent of victim compensation, damages for personal injury or death, victim compensation in civil and criminal proceedings, victim compensation laws, financial assistance for crime victims, filing and investigating claims for damages and compensation, and special compensation schemes for crime victims. The reports also cover criminal injuries to police officers and prison officers, compensation for victims of terrorism and organized crime, trends in the development of compensation for victims of violence, protection for victims of violence, and principles governing the assessment of victim compensation. References, footnotes, and tables