NCJ Number
180607
Editor(s)
Lala Camerer,
Suzette Kotze
Date Published
December 1998
Length
154 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the proceedings of the National Conference on Victim Empowerment that took place in Kimberly, South Africa, in June 1998 and brought together more than 400 delegates from government and private organizations to discuss progress around practical initiatives to empower crime victims.
Abstract
The report also includes a guide for policymakers on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. The Department of Welfare and the Northern Cape Department of Environmental Affairs, Developmental Social Welfare and Health organized the conference. The conference's five main objectives were: (1) to evaluate the status of the National Crime Prevention Strategy Victim Empowerment Program (VEP), (2) to share best practices, (3) to clarify roles and responsibilities, (4) to make victim empowerment a reality by moving from a focus on policy to a focus on practice, and (5) to re-emphasize the reality that the VEP is an integrated process. Speakers included representatives of government agencies and persons with practical experience in victim empowerment through approaches such as trauma counseling and forensic nurses. Criteria established to measure the success of South Africa's VEP include: (1) services that are available and accessible; (2) services provided in an empowering, respectful, and supportive manner; (3) thorough and professional service to victims by efficient and capable people; (4) the provision of all necessary information on services available, the progress of the criminal investigation, and procedures and processes relevant to victims; and (5) effective service coordination and integration. Figures; notes; reference lists;, and appended conference agenda, list of participants, biographies of resource persons, and text of the VEP integrated business plan