Abstract
The chapter is dedicated to the protection of victims of crimes under the Act on Victims of Crime, which entered into force in 2013. From the historical perspective, the act importantly strengthened the rights of victims of crime in the Czech Republic, which is reflected in their increased protection and in assistance provided to them.
Th e author critically approaches the new legislation and offers a possible interpretation of the problematic parts of the act, so as to be consistent with its purpose and nature. Th e chapter also includes suggestions de lege ferenda.
A special attention is paid to the notion of a victim, which is a key concept and must be distinguished from the notion of an injured party, although both categories are partially overlapping.