The Portuguese Victim Support Association (APAV) is a private social charity institution – a legal entity of public utility – whose statutory purpose is to promote and contribute to providing information and protecting and supporting citizens who are victims of crimes.

APAV runs support units for migrant and discrimination victims in Lisbon, Porto, Portimão and Ponta Delgada (part of APAV Azores), which make up the Support Network for Migrant and Discrimination Victims (UAVMD) that specializes in assisting people who do not hold Portuguese nationality – immigrants, refugees or people in Portugal temporarily for other reasons – who have been victims of any type of crime, regardless of their nationality, their status in Portugal or their document situation.

The support may be provided in a language that the victim understands, depending on the availability of the Victim Support Technicians team, or through the Telephone Translation Service (808 257 257 landline or +351 21 8106191 on the mobile network).

The different units of the Support Network for Migrant and Discrimination Victims also specialize in intervention in some types of crime, specifically: human trafficking, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, hate crimes and discrimination, as well as in situations of discrimination as a misdemeanor.

APAV provides victims with free and confidential legal, psychological and social support.