i. introduction - unafei · governments have established special offices dedicated to victims of...

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THE 144th INTERNATIONAL SENIOR SEMINARVISITING EXPERTS’ PAPERS

139TH INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSEVISITING EXPERTS’ PAPERS

THE CHALLENGES OF VICTIMOLOGYPAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

John P. J. Dussich*

I. INTRODUCTIONA. Prologue• Every year about 1 billion persons arevictimized and close to 1.6million of those arekilledprematurelyandviolently.

• Closeto1millionwomenandchildrenaretraffickedeveryyear(USDepartmentofJustice);abouthalfofthosearebetweentheagesof13-18.

• Behindeachoneofthesenumbersisamotherandafather,andlikelyalsoanaunt,asister,abrother,perhapseven awife, a son, and a daughter.Eachvictimcomeswith a family and friendswho alsosuffergreatly.

• Ifweweretogrieveforoneortwomurderedpersons,wecouldrelatetowhatitwouldbelike,buthowcanweimaginegrievingfor1.6millionsoulseveryyear?

B. Brief Highlights (for more details see Appendix I – Key Dates): • 1924–EdwinSutherlandwrites the firstAmerican text onCriminology and includes a chapteronCrimeVictims;however,insubsequenteditions,thischapterisdropped.

• 1937–BeniaminMendelsohnbeginstoresearchtheoffender/victimrelationshipinrapecases.

• 1947–BeniaminMendelsohnpresentshisconceptofVictimologyasanewscienceinRomania.

• 1957–MargeryFrypublishesherideasaboutvictimcompensationintheLondonTimes.

• 1958–BeniaminMendelsohnpublisheshisideasinanarticleabouthisnewscience,Victimology,inFrance.

• 1968–StephenSchaferpublishesthefirstEnglishlanguagetextbookonvictimologyintheUS,The Victim and His Criminal .

• 1973–theFirstSymposiumonVictimologyisheldinJerusalem,Israel.

• 1976–intheUStheNationalOrganizationforVictimAssistanceislaunchedinFresno,California.

• 1979–theWorldSocietyofVictimologyislaunchedinMunster,Germany.

• 1985–theUNDeclarationofBasicPrinciplesofJusticeforVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPowerispassedbytheGeneralAssemblyinNewYork.

• 2003–theTokiwaInternationalVictimologyInstituteisopenedinMito,Japan.

C. VictimizationTheterm“victimization”referstoaprocesswherebyanexternalforcecomesincontactwithaperson,

rendering that person to feel pain, sometimes causing injury, either ofwhich canbe short-livedorwhichmightcauseextendedsufferingandsometimesdeath.Thatforcecanbelegalorillegal,naturalormanmade,biologicalorchemical,expectedorunexpected,socialorindividual,civiloruncivil,intendedorunintended;thelistofpossibilitiesisendless.

*Director,TokiwaInternationalVictimologyInstitute,TokiwaUniversity,Japan.

VISITING EXPERTS’ PAPERS

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RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.81

Thosepersonswhoarethedirectrecipientsoftheexternalforcearetheprimaryvictims,theoneswhosufferfirst,feelpainthemostseverely,andareusuallyinjuredtheworst.Otherpersonswhoarerelatedtooracquaintedwiththeprimaryvictimsandarenegativelyaffected(usuallyemotionally)arethesecondaryvictims.Thisgroupcanfeelanintensesenseofsympatheticsufferinginproportiontotheseverityoftheinjuryand thenatureof their relationship to theprimaryvictim.Bothprimaryandsecondaryvictimscanbecome traumatizedby theoriginal victimization and consequentlyneed somedegreeof psychologicaltreatmenttodiminishtheirpainandtorecover.

Persons familiarwith theoriginal victimizationbutnot relatedor acquainted to theprimaryvictim,usuallyneighboursormembersof the samecommunityor in thebroader social audience, are tertiaryvictims.They canbe influencedemotionally, financially, or socially.Thesepersons canbe thosewhoreceivednewsoftheoriginalvictimizationviaconversations,thenewsmediaoraswitnessestotheevent.Insomecaseseventhesetertiaryvictimswillbecometraumatizedandwillneedtreatment.

Thestudyof victimization and its victims is part of a relativelynewscience. ARomanian lawyer,

BeniaminMendelsohn,firstcoinedthewordvictimologyin1947,andpromoteditsconceptasthescienceof “victimity,” thestudyof all victims.He referred tohis concept as “general victimology” todistinguishit from“crimevictimology,”which is only concernedwith crimevictimization. He alsoproposed theestablishmentof a societyof general victimology, theestablishmentof victimological research institutes,victimdepartments in all national governments, a journal of general victimology, the creationof victimclinicsandnationalsocietiesineachcountry.Consequently,itisunderstandablethatBeniaminMendelsohniscalledthe“FatherofVictimology.”

Alloftheseproposalscametofruition.TheWorldSocietyofVictimology,foundedin1979,isopentoallformsofvictimization(althoughmostofitsactivitiesfocusoncrimevictimization).Atleastsixvictimologyinstitutesexistworldwide, some limited to crimevictimization andothers to general victimization.Manygovernmentshaveestablished special offices dedicated to victimsof crime and concern themselveswithdistributing information about victims, andmonitoring awide rangeof victimsupport activities. IntheUnitedStates, this office is theOffice forVictimsofCrime (OVC) locatedwithin theDepartmentofJustice.At least five international journalsdedicatedtovictimsactivelypublishworksaboutallaspectsofvictimology.Tensofthousandsofvictimassistancecentresfunctionacrosstheglobe,especiallyinmostofthedevelopedcountries, and inmanyof thedevelopingcountriesaswell.Finally, thereareabout twentynationalvictimsocietiesacrosstheglobe.

In theUnitedStates, the first officialmeasurement tool on theextent of crimeandvictimizationwastheUniformCrimeReport (UCR), createdby the InternationalAssociationofChiefs ofPolice in 1927.Compiledby theFederalBureauof Investigationwithdata submittedvoluntarily bypolicedepartmentsfromallovertheUnitedStates,thesestatisticsunfortunatelymostlygaveinformationabouttheoffenders,focusingoneightindexcrimes,buthadlittleinformationaboutvictims. Becauseof thegrowingevidenceof a sizable “dark figure”of victims (thosewhodidnot report their

victimization)andtherecognitionthattheUCRgaveinsufficientinformationaboutvictims,anewnationalsurveyonvictimsappearedin1966.Thissurvey,nowknownastheNationalCrimeVictimizationSurvey(NCVS),confirmedthatactualvictimizationratesexceededUCRdata,roughlydoublethenumberreportedto thepolice. Theyprovidedawealthofnew informationaboutvictimsandvictimizationswhichhas, foralmostthepast fourdecades,givenvictimologistsdetailsaboutvictimsandtheirbehavioursneverbeforeavailable.Inrecentyears,bothsurveyshavebecomemoreexpansiveandsophisticatedsourcesofstatisticsandinformationaboutvictimization.

Beyondcollectingsurveydataaboutcrimevictims,victimologistsalsoconductresearchtomeasurethecause andeffect relationships that surroundvictimizations.These studiesexplore such topics asvictimvulnerability, victim/offender interactions, victim impacts, victim trauma, victimblaming, victimneeds,victimrecoveryandmanyothertopicsthathelpvictimologistsbetterunderstandvictimbehaviours.

The last general categoryof researchused in conjunctionwithvictims is evaluative researchusedtomeasure theefficiency andefficacyof victim serviceprogrammes.These studiesprimarily focusonvictimservicesforsuchprogrammesasthosedealingwith:childabuse,sexualassault,elderabuse,victim

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advocacy,victimwitnesses,spouseabuse,burglaryvictims,accidentvictims,victimsofdrunkdrivers,etc.Theresultsofthesestudieshelpdeterminewhataspectsofservicesarevaluabletokeep,soastobetterreducevictimsufferingandfacilitatetheirrecovery.

Themain concernsof contemporaryvictimology are: crimevictims (persons injured as a result of anillegalact),disastervictims (persons injuredasa resultofeithernaturalormanmadecatastrophes)andaspecialcategoryreferredtoasabusesofpowervictims(personsinjuredasaresultofgenocide,apartheid,racketeering,inquisitions,torture,orethniccleansing).

Theresponsetovictimizationhasbecomeapermanentpartofour21stcenturyculture.Currently,thereare:victims’ rights inall states;serviceprogrammes thathelpall typesofvictims;victimization researchstudieswhicharemajorcomponentsofmanyscientificendeavours;universitiesthatofferacademicdegreesat thebachelors,masters anddoctorate levels; professional victimadvocates; andmajor parts of nationaland states’ budgets dedicated to providing assistance to awide rangeof victims.Today, the concept ofvictimization,victimrightsandvictimassistancearefamiliartomostinternationalvictimologistsandthesechangeshavemadeasignificantcontributiontotheimprovementofthehumancondition.

Thewords “comparative victimology”mean the analysis of victimological sub-themes likevictimbehaviours, victimizations, victim rights, andvictimservices,which are the sameorunique in differentcultures,societiesandnations.Thisperspectivehelpsvictimologistsunderstandtowhatextentthevictimbehavioursof individualsorgroupsareuniversal andcommon to all humansand towhatextent theyareby-productsofdifferentphysicalandsocialenvironments.

D. VictimologyLinguistically thewordvictimology is a combinationof twoparts,victimandology.Thewordvictim

comesfromtheLatinwordvictimawhichreferredtoapersonoranimalsacrificedinareligiousceremony.Theology comes from theGreekwordlogoswhichmeant speech,word, or reason andwasespeciallyassociatedwithdivinewisdom,reason,doctrine,theory,andscience.Todaythewordvictimologyisdefinedfrom thevictim’sperspective as thedisciplinewhich scientifically studies, as objectsof investigation, alltypesofvictims,especiallycrimevictims.2Itincludesthetheoriesandresearchusedtoexplainallaspectsof victimization, victimbehavioursprior to, during and after thevictimization; and, the analysis of laws,policies, psychological interventions andprogrammesused tohelp victims co-operatewithgovernmentsystemsandrecoverfromtheirphysical,psychical,social,economical,andlegalinjuries.Sincevictimologycomesfromtheword“victim”,logicallyvictimologyshouldbeaboutvictimcharacteristicsratherthanbeingqualifiedby themany forces thatcausevictimization. It is thestatus,condition,andplightofvictims thatformtheessenceofwhatvictimologystudies.

Theveryearlyoriginsof victimology canbe found in somewhatunrelatedwritingsof a few insightfulpersonsin:anovelaboutmurdervictimsbyFranzWerfelin1920;asmallchapteronvictimsinanAmericancriminology textbookbyEdwinSutherland in1924; aCubanbook about protecting crimevictimsby J.R.Figueroa,D.Tejera andF.Plá in 1929; amajor chapter about victims in a criminologybookbyHansvonHentig in1948;asentenceabouttheneedfor“ascienceofvictimology” inabookonviolencebyanAmericanpsychiatrist,FredricWertham, in 1948; and, a speechonvictimology inRomania byBeniaminMendelsohn in1958.Then came the first full bookonvictim restitution in theEnglish languageby aHungarian criminologist,StephenSchafer, in 1960; a dissertationonvictimologypublished as a JapanesebookbyKoichiMiyazawa in1965; and, finally, the first victimology textbook, also byStephenSchafer, in1968.

TheconceptualizationofvictimologyasaformaldisciplinewasborninthemindoftheRomaniandefenceattorneyBeniaminMendelsohn.His interest invictimsandtheirrelationshipswithoffendersbeganwhenhewastryingtodefendpersonsaccusedofcrimes.Hebecameawareofhowimportantitwastounderstandthevictim/offender interaction to determinedegreesof offender blame.Eventually goingbeyondvictimandoffender interaction,Mendelsohnrecognizedthatvictimswerelargely ignored,disrespectedandevenabusedbythesystem.Thus,hebegantoseekwaystoprotectandhelpvictimsbyproposingthecreationof victimassistance clinics, international organizations, and special research institutes.Likemost of hiscontemporaries,Mendelsohn’s earlyworkwithvictimologywasmostly about crimevictims and their

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relationshipwiththeiroffenders;however,ashebegantodevelophisideas,hisfocuscenteredmoreonjustthevictim.Thisorientationreacheditspeakwiththerealizationthatvictimologylogicallyshouldbeabouttheconcernforalltypesofvictims,fromcrimes,trafficaccidents,disasters,etc.Hereferredtothisbroadertypeofvictimologyas“generalvictimology.”8Todaythereareroughlythreetypesofvictimologists:thosewhose focus is limited to crimevictims (specific); thosewhose focus is onhuman rights victims (whichincludescrimevictims);andthosewhofocusinonallvictimsregardlessofthecause(general).Victimologytoday is an interdisciplinary field drawing especially from law, criminology, psychology, sociology,anthropology,andpoliticalscience.

II. BASIC CONCEPTS AND THEORY OF VICTIMOLOGYA. Basic ConceptsTheessentialelementsofvictimologyincludethefollowing:

• “Victim”has its roots in theearly religiousnotionsof suffering, sacrifice anddeath. This conceptof “victim”waswell known in the ancient civilizations, especially inBabylonia,Palestine,Greece,andRome.Ineachofthesecivilizationsthelawmandatedthatthevictimshouldberecognizedasapersonwhodeservedtobemadewholeagainbytheoffender.

• “Crimevictim”isapersonwhohasbeenphysically,financiallyoremotionallyinjuredand/orhadtheirpropertytakenordamagedbysomeonecommittingacrime.

• “Victimogenesis”referstotheoriginorcauseofavictimization;theconstellationofvariableswhichcausedavictimizationtooccur.

• “VictimPrecipitation” a victimizationwhere the victim causes, in part or totally, their ownvictimization.

• Vulnerability”isaphysical,psychological,social,materialorfinancialconditionwherebyapersonoranobjecthasaweaknesswhichcouldrenderthemavictimifanotherpersonorpersonsrecognizedtheseweaknessesandtookadvantageofthem.

• “GeneralVictim” is apersonwhohasbeenphysically, financiallyoremotionally injuredand/orhadtheirpropertytakenordamagedbysomeone,anevent,anorganizationoranaturalphenomenon.

• “Victimization” refers to aneventwherepersons, communities and institutions aredamagedorinjuredinasignificantway.Thosewhoareimpactedbypersonsoreventssufferaviolationoftheirrightsorsignificantdisruptiontotheirwell-being.

• “Victimology” is anacademicscientificdisciplinewhichstudiesdata thatdescribesphenomenaandcausal relationships related to victimizations.This includesevents leading to thevictimization, thevictim’sexperience,itsaftermathandtheactionstakenbysocietyinresponsetothesevictimizations.Therefore, victimology includes the studyof theprecursors, vulnerabilities, events, impacts,recoveries,andresponsesbypeople,organizationsandculturesrelatedtovictimizations.

• “AbuseofPower” is theviolationof anational or international standard in theuseof organizedpowerful forces such that persons are injuredphysically,mentally, emotionally, economically, or intheirrights,asadirectandintentionalresultofthemisapplicationoftheseforces.

• “VictimAssistance,Support orServices” are those activitieswhich are applied in response tovictimizationswiththeintentionofrelievingsufferingandfacilitatingrecovery.Thisincludesofferinginformation,assessments,individualinterventions,caseadvocacy,systemadvocacy,publicpolicyandprogrammedevelopment.

• “VictimRecovery”istheresumptionofthesameorbetterleveloffunctionalityaswasenjoyedpriorto victimization.Personswhohavebeenvictimizedvary in their level ofmental health andwell-beingprior to theirvictimization.Consequently,victimizationaffectseachperson inadifferentwayandcausesdifferingdegreesofinjuryortrauma.Intheirrecoveryitisnecessaryforvictimstofirsttrytoregaintheirpreviousleveloffunctioningpluslearnfromtheirmisfortuneandhopefullyexceedtheirpreviousleveloffunctionality.Toberecoveredsuggeststhatapersonhasatleastregainedtheirpriorlevelofwell-beingandatbest,hasexceededit.Thisstatemaybemeasuredbyidentifyingtheirpreviousmentalconditionanddetermining if theyhaveat leastregainedthatpriorstatususingthe

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criteriaof:trustinothers;autonomyofself;individualinitiative;competencyindailyactivities;self-identity; interpersonal intimacy; control over personal situations; successful relationships; safety indailyactivities;acknowledgmentofmemory;traumasymptomshavebecomemanageable;selfesteemisrestored;resourcefulnessisachieved;andthereisanimprovedabilitytowardoffpotentialthreats.

• “ChildAbuse”istheintentionalapplicationofsexual,physical,emotionalorpsychological injurytoachild,toincludeneglectatthehandsofherorhisparentsorcare-provider,withintheconfinesoftheirfamilyorplaceofcare.

• “VictimOffenderMediation” (VOM) is a formal process for face-to-facemeetings in thepresenceofatrainedmediatorbetweenavictimofacrimeandtheoffenderwhocommittedthatcrime.Thisis also calledvictim-offender dialogue, victim-offender conferencing, victim-offender reconciliation,or restorative justice.Often thevictimand theoffender are joinedby their respective families andcommunitymembersorotherpersonsrelatedtothecrimeevent.Inthesemeetings,theoffenderandthevictimtalktoeachotheraboutthevictimization,theeffectsithadontheirlives,andtheirfeelingsaboutit.Theaimistocreateamutuallyagreeableplantorepairanydamageorinjurythatoccurredasaresultofthecrimeinthehopesofpermanentlyeliminatingtheconflictthatcausedthecrimeinthefirstplace.

• “Restorative Justice” is a systematic formal legal response to crimevictimization that emphasizeshealingtheinjuriesthatresultedfromthecrimeandaffectedthevictims,offendersandcommunities.Thisprocessisadeparturefromthetraditionalretributiveformofdealingwithcriminalsandvictimswhichtraditionallyhavegenerallyperpetuatedtheconflictwhichresultedintheoriginalcrime.

• “VictimTrauma” includes emotional andphysical experiences that producepain and injuries.Emotionalinjuryisanormalresponsetoanextremelyabnormalevent.Itresultsfromthepairingofapainfulorfrighteningemotionalexperiencewithaspecificmemorywhichemergesandhasalong-lastingeffectonthelifeofaperson.Themoredirecttheexposuretothetraumaticevent,thehighertheriskforemotionalharmandprolongedeffects.

• “CrisisIntervention”istheprovisionofemergencypsychologicalcaretotraumatizedvictimssoastohelpthemreturntoanadaptiveleveloffunctioningandtopreventormitigatethenegativeimpactofpsychologicalandemotionaltrauma.

• “Compensation”isaformaladministrativeprocedureprovidedbylawwhichprovidesonlymoneytovictimsfor“outofpocket”realexpensesdirectlyresultingfromthevictimization,tobepaidbythestateafter thevictim is found toqualify according tospecific criteriadeterminedby the respectivestateorfederallaw.

• “Restitution” is a formal judicial procedureusedby a judge after guilt is determined aspart of asentencewhich canprovidemoney and/or services to thevictim for damagesor sufferingwhichresultedfromthevictimizationtobepaidorperformedbytheoffender.

• “VictimSurvey”isaperiodicdatacollectionandanalysisprocessconductedusuallybyagovernmententitywithinthegeneralpopulationtostudyinformationaboutcrimevictimsregardlessofwhetherthey reported their victimization to thepoliceornot. It typicallyuses a face-to-faceor telephoneinterview (or sentquestionnaire) andcoversdemographics, attitudesabout crimeanddetails aboutthevictimizationsexperiencedovertheprevioussixmonths.

• “VictimRights” areprivileges andprocedures requiredbywritten lawwhichguaranteevictimsspecific considerations and treatmentsby the criminal justice system, thegovernment and thecommunityatlarge.

B. TheoryUsually,atheory isastatementthatexplainsagivenphenomenabasedoncausalrelationships.Inthis

case,whatisneededisastatementthatexplainshowandwhyvictimizationsoccur.

1. BeniaminMendelsohnThe firstpersontobeginthedevelopmentof theoreticalwritingsaboutvictimologywastheRomanian

defence attorneyBeniaminMendelsohn,whoneeded tounderstandvictims to improvehis ability todefendoffenders.Todo this, in 1956he created a short taxonomyof six categories that centeredon the

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relativeguiltofvictims.Thesecategoriesweredesigned to facilitate thedegree towhichavictimsharedthe responsibility fora crimewith theoffender;however, theydonotexplain thecausesofvictimization.Mendelsohnwas intriguedwith the relationshipbetween theoffenderand thevictim.Hereferred to thisrelationshipphenomenonasthepenalcouple.

1.Thecompletelyinnocentvictim.2.Thevictimwithminorguilt.3.Thevictimwhoisasguiltyastheoffender.4.Thevictimwhoismoreguiltythantheoffender.5.Themostguiltyvictim.6.Theimaginaryvictim.

2. HansvonHentigWith thepublicationof his book,The Criminal and His Victim, vonHentig created a taxonomy that

describedhowvictimswereresponsiblefortheirharms.Hisschemawasbasedonpsychological,socialandbiologicalfactors.Hewasalsointerestedinrelationshipbetweenoffenderandvictim,inwhathecalledthecriminal-victimdyad.In1948,hedevelopedthreebroadcategorizationsofvictims.

1.General:age,gender,vulnerabilities.2.Psychological:depressed,acquisitive,loneliness.3.Activating:victimturnedoffender.

Ultimately,VonHentig,expandedhiscategoriesto13:

1.TheYoung2.TheFemale3.TheOld4.TheMentallyDefectiveandDeranged5.TheImmigrants6.TheMinorities7.TheDullNormals8.TheDepressed9.TheAcquisitive10.Wanton11.TheLonesomeandtheHeartbroken12.TheTormentor13.TheBlocked,Exempted,orFighting

3. StephenSchaferExtendingtheworkofvonHentig,StephenSchaferusedan ironicchangeof titleswithhisbook,The

Victim and His Criminal.Hewasalsofocusedontheoffendervictiminteractionanddevelopedataxonomybasedonthevictim’sfunctionalresponsibilityforthecrime:

1.UnrelatedVictims(novictimresponsibility)2.ProvocativeVictims(victimsharesresponsibility)3.PrecipitativeVictims(somedegreeofvictimresponsibility)4.BiologicallyWeakVictims(novictimresponsibility)5.SociallyWeakVictims(novictimresponsibility)6.Self-Victimizing(totalvictimresponsibility)7.PoliticalVictim(novictimresponsibility)

These threepioneer victimologists, strangely enough,werenot focusedon the injury caused to thevictimbytheoffender.Theirmainconcernwaswiththevictim’sroleincontributingtothecrimeandintheco-operationofthevictimwiththecriminaljusticesystem.Mendelsohn,in1976,proposedadifferentviewofvictimswithhisconceptofgeneralvictimologywhichconsideredthesourceofthevictimization.Basedonthisnotion,helistedfivetypesofvictimizers:

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1.Acriminal2.One’sself3.Thesocialenvironment4.Technology5.Thenaturalenvironment6.Mostcrimevictimologistsarealsocriminologists.

4. DietrichL.SmithandKurtWeisIn1976,DietrichL.Smith andKurtWeis created a rudimentarymodel of theGeneralVictimology

perspectivewhich considered theuniversity of situations, events andprocesses that likely lead tovictimization.

1.Thestudyofthecreationofdefinitionsofvictimsbylegalprocesses,everydayprocessesandscientificprocesses.

2.The studyof applicationsof the abovedefinitionsby control agents, significant others, community,behaviouralandsocialscientists,andthevictimhimorherself.

3.Thestudyofsocietalresponsesystemswithvictimssuchascrisisintervention,socialservices,police,prevention,medicalservicesandcivilcourts.

4.Thestudyofthevictim’sreactioninthepost-victimizationbehavioursuchasseekinghelp,complaints,andreactionstotheresponseofothers.

5. JohnDussichThemostrecentattempttocreateaunifiedcomprehensivetheoryofvictimizationwithinthescopeof

generalvictimologywascreatedbyJohnDussichin1985withthepresentationofhisSocialCopyTheory.Thishas recently (2004) been revised to thePsychoSocialCopingTheory.Theessential ingredientsofthismodelaretoconsidertheexistenceofpersonalresourcesinthevictim’senvironmentthatexistatthetimeof thevictimization.Personswhohave an adequatenumberor typeof resources are able to thwarttheirvictimization;ifthevictimizationisnotthwarted,theinjurycanbediminished,andthevictimisableto recover sooner.Thosewith fewerpersonal resources in their environmentwill bemorevulnerable tovictimization, greater injury, and less recovery.Theunique aspect of this theory is that it serves to bothexplainvictimizationsforallsourcesanditisusefultoassistvictimsintheirrecoveryprocess.

III. GATHERING DATA ON VICTIMIZATION AND KEY FINDINGSA. QuestionsVictimologistswantbasicquestionsansweredtogetalargerscopeoftheproblem.Theywanttoknow

whereandwhenthemajorityofcrimesoccur;whataretheweaponsusedbyoffenders; thenatureof thevictim/offenderrelationships;howvictimsreact;dotheyfightbackortrytoescape;aretheyhospitalized;andhowmuchlossdotheyexperienceintermsoftimeandmoney.

B. The Use and Abuse of StatisticsStatisticsaremeaningfulnumbersthatrevealimportantinformation.Criminologistsandvictimologistscaneithergathertheirowndataandmakecalculationsoruseofficial

statistics(compiledandpublishedbygovernmentagencies).

C. What can We get from Statistics? • Realisticassessments;• Counts(suchasbodycounts)andrates(per100,000peopleperyear);• Trends:revealinghowsituationschangeastimegoeson;• Costsandlosses;• Projectaroughor“ballpark”figure;• Informationtoevaluatetheeffectivenessofrecoveryeffortsandpreventionstrategies;• Profilesofwhatisusualortypicalabouttheaveragevictim.

D. Two Official Sources of Data in the USATheFBI’sUniform Crime Report:Crime in the United States(UCR)isbasedonreportsofeightmajor

and23lessercrimes,mostofwhichdonothavevictims,madetothepoliceandthensenttotheFBI.

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TheBJS’sNational Crime Victimization Survey:Criminal Victimizations in the United Statesisbasedonbiannualdatacollection.Thefirstvictimrelatedsurveywasin1966.Thisgaveproofofthe“DarkFigure”ofcrime,andundercutconfidenceintheaccuracyoftheUCRforalloffencesexceptmurder.

E. The International Crime Victim Survey In1989 a groupofEuropean researchers started a standardized surveyon crimewhich covered16

countries andone city.This led to the furtherdevelopment of amore refined survey for developingcountriesandwasprimarily ledby theUnitedNations InterregionalCrimeandJusticeResearch Institute(UNICRI)inTurin,Italy.ThisworkhasrecentlyincludedtheinvolvementoftheUnitedNationsOfficeonDrugsandCrime(UNODC)andhasservedtoexpandknowledgeonvictimsthroughouttheworld.

F. Key Findings1. InternationalCrimeVictimSurveys(ICVS)On average, anestimated16%of thepopulation in the30nationsparticipating in the country level

surveyswas thevictimof at leastoneof anyof tencommoncrimes in2003or2004.Onaverage,1%ofthepopulationwasvictimizedby robbery in theparticipating countries and2.4% in themain cities.AcomparisonwasmadebetweenthelevelofvictimizationbycrimeaccordingtotheICVSandthenumbersofpolice-recordedcrimestakenfromtheEuropeanSourcebookonCrimeStatistics.Comparedtothepolicedata, crimevictimsurveys seemabetter sourceof informationon levels of crime across countries.Thereportingratesvaryfromalmost100%forcartheftsandtheftswhichfocusedonthereportingoffivetypesof crime: theft fromcars; theftofbicycles; theftofpersonalproperty; completedburglary; andattemptedburglary;onaverage,oneinfourofthesecrimesarereported.Thehighestreportingrates(about60%ormore) canbe found inAustria,Belgium,Sweden,Switzerland,Germany,England&Wales,Scotland andDenmark.InIstanbul,BulgariaandHongKongreportingratesarelessthan40%.Thedevelopingcountriesshow the lowest reporting rates for these five crimes. Inhalf of them less than20%of such crimes arereported.

Abouthalfofthevictimswhoreportedacrimeweresatisfiedwiththewaythepolicetreatedtheircase,varyingfromover70%inDenmark,Switzerland,Finland,Australia,ScotlandandNewZealandtolessthan30%inEstonia,Lima,Maputo,Greece,andMexico.

2. NationalVictimSurveysfromtheUSATeens andyoung adults experience thehighest ratesof violent crime.Considering fear of crime,

respondentswere askedhow likely they think it is that a burglarywill takeplace in their house in thecomingyear.Levelsofconcernwerecorrelatedtoactualburglaryrates.Concern ismostcommonamongthepublic in Japan,Greece and Italy, and least common inFinland,Denmark,USA,Sweden and theNetherlands.Personsinolderagegroupsexperiencedlowerviolentvictimizationthanpersonsinyoungeragegroups.

Nearlyhalfofallviolentcrimesand40%ofallpropertycrimeswerereportedtopolicein2008.OftheviolentoffencesmeasuredbytheNCVS,robbery(61%)andaggravatedassault(62%)weremorelikelythanrape/sexualassaultandsimpleassault(each41%)tobereportedtothepolice(texttable4).Ofthepropertycrimesmeasured,motorvehicletheft(80%)wasthecrimemostfrequentlyreportedtothepolicein2008.

Violent crimes against femaleswere somewhatmore likely to be reported to thepolice in 2008 thanviolentcrimesagainstmales.Violentcrimesagainstblack femaleswerereportedtoagreaterextentthanthoseagainstwhitefemalesoragainstmalesofanyrace,andtoaslightlygreaterextentthanthoseagainstfemalesofotherraces.

3. PoliceReportsTheUSA’sFBI’sUniformCrimeReports show that in2006, 87%ofmurder victimswere aged18or

older.Ofallmurdervictims,44%were20to34yearsold.Theelderly,personsage65orolder,generallyexperienced lessviolence and fewerproperty crimes thanyoungerpersons.Seriousviolent crime ratesdeclined in recentyears for bothblacks andwhites. In2006 about50%ofmurdervictimswereblack,47%werewhite, and3%wereAsians,Pacific Islanders, andNativeAmericans.Blacksweremore likelythanwhites to bevictimizedby a carjacking (3 versus1per10,000 respectively) from1993-2002.Malesexperiencedhighervictimizationratesthanfemalesforalltypesofviolentcrimeexceptrape/sexualassault.

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According to theFBI'sUniformCrimeReports,mostmurder victimsweremale: 78% in2007.Menweremore likely thanwomen tobe thevictimof a carjacking (2menand1womanper10,000persons).In general, violent victimization rateswere inversely related tohousehold income; persons living inhouseholdswithlowerincomesgenerallyhadhigherratesofviolentcrime.

In2006divorcedor separatedpersonsexperienced somewhathigher ratesof overall violence thanpersonsofothermaritalstatuscategories.Whencomparedwithotheragegroups,personsaged65orolderweredisproportionatelyaffectedbypropertycrimes.

Theproperty crime rate forHispanicswas187per1,000households, and fornon-Hispanicswas128per1,000households.Hispanichouseholdshadamotorvehicletheftrateof12per1,000comparedto6per1,000fornon-Hispanichouseholds.

IV. THE VICTIM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMA. The Criminal Justice SystemThecriminal justiceprocess is initiatedby the actionof victims andwitnesses in reporting crimes.

Withoutareportedcrimethecriminal justicesystemcouldnotbeginandwouldnot function.Victimsandwitnessesalsoplaycritical roles in thepolice investigationsand in theprosecutionprocess through theirco-operationwiththeagentsofthesystem.Infacttheidealrelationshipbetweenthevictimsandthesystemiscritical inassuring theachievementof justice, forvictims,offenders, thesystemand thecommunityatlarge.

B. The Work of Victimologists VictimologistsexplorehowtheCJShandlesvictims;howthepolice respond tocomplainants;howthe

policehelpvictims report crimes;howprosecutors, defence attorneys and judges treatwitnesses for thestate;andhowcorrections,probation,andparoleofficialsreacttospecialrequestsfromvictims.Itiscriticaltounderstandexactlywhatvictimswantandexpect:

1.Punishmentoftheoffender-punishmentiswhatcomesfirsttomostpeople’smindswhenconsideringwhatjusticeentails;

2.Retaliation,lex talionis-aneyeforaneye;3.Treatmentandrehabilitationoftheoffender-victimsaremorelikelytoendorseoffenders’treatmentiftheyarenotcompletestrangers;

4.Restitution–ratherthanretaliationorrehabilitation,forvictimsandfromoffenders–money,serviceorasymbolicgesture.

C. Unacceptable ResponsesVictimsdonotwantinaction,lackofinterest,neglect,abuse,disrespect,emptypromises,orattemptsat

manipulation.

D. ConflictTwoareasofconflictcanarisebetweenvictimsandthepolicewhenofficersunwittinglymakethemfeel

worseandcauseasecondwound:

1.Lawenforcementofficialsmightseemremote,uninvolved,orunconcerned;2.Policemayconcludethatthecomplainants’chargeslackcredibility.

V. THE UN DECLARATION OF BASIC PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME AND ABUSE OF POWER AND THE DRAFT UN CONVENTION

A. The DeclarationTheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyunanimouslypassedtheDeclarationofBasicPrinciplesofJustice

forVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPowerin1985(25yearsago).Thiswasthefirstlegalinstrumenttobetotallydedicatedtovictimsofcrimeandabuseofpower!Itwasarallyingcryheardaroundtheworld. Itspromiseandimpactwassogreatthatit isknownas“Magna CartaforVictims’Rights”. ThisDeclaration

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hasbeentheprimaryreferencedocumentforvictimreformsandwasthethemeofthe2005UNAFEIcourseonvictims.Theearlypromotersandsupportersof thisdramatic initiativeweremainly theWorldSocietyofVictimology; theUnitedStatesofAmerica,Finland,Canada and theNetherlands.This declaration forvictimshastenessentialprinciplesforvictims(seeAppendixII):

1.Tobetreatedwithcompassionandrespect;2.To receive informationabouttheprogressoftheir proceedings and their role;3.Toallowtheirconcernstobepresented and considered;4.Toprovidesupport for all victimsduringtheentirelegalprocess;5.Tominimizeinconvenience,maintainprivacyandensuresafety;6.Toalsouseinformalwaysformediation,disputeresolution,arbitration,andcustomaryorindigenousjustice;

7.Toreceivematerial,medical,socialandpsychologicalassistance;8.Toalwayshaverestitutionfromtheoffenderconsidered;9.Toalsohavecompensationfromthestateavailable;and,10.Toexpectpartnershipswithgovernmentagencies,NGOsandcivilorganizations.

B. The Draft ConventionTheUnitedNationsdraftConventiononJusticeandSupport forVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPower

is anew initiativeby theWorldSocietyofVictimology to recognize that over thepast 25years, theUNDeclarationforvictimshasprovidedgovernmentsandorganizationswithaconstantsourceof informationandguidanceconcerningvictimsofcrimeandabuseofpower.SomecountrieshaveadoptedtheDeclaration.However, and sadly for victims,manyothershavenot.Thismeans thatmany,manyvictims are ignored.Tohonour thenoble intentsof thatsameDeclaration,so thatallvictimscanbehelped,andtorenewoureffortsonbehalfoftheseforgottenvictims(who,forthemostpart,stillremainsilentandunseen),and,tostrengthen theresolveofourcommunityofnations, it is time toexpand theglobalstandards forvictims.This effortmust gobeyond just recommendingprinciples, and insteadmust require real reforms to takeplace.Thenext logical stepup is aUNConvention,whichcouldmake thesamenobleprinciples a livingreality so that all governmentswould treat all victimswith “compassion and respect” (seeAppendix III).ThetextofthisproposalhasaPreambleand25articlesdividedintofourparts.ThePreamblerecallstheUNGeneralAssemblydeclarationof1985whichcalleduponMemberStates,“to take thenecessarysteps togiveeffecttotheprovisionscontainedintheDeclarationofBasicPrinciplesofJusticeforVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPower”.

VI. FUTURE PROPSPECTS OF VICTIMOLOGYThescientificstudyofvictims,victimology,willcontinuetoevolveinnumerousdirections.Theresearch

used to collect and analyse information about victimswill becomemore sophisticated,more reliable andmore available in support of keenerunderstandings about victims.Theories basedentirely onvictimbehaviourandempiricalfindingswillemergeandhelpexplainthecomplexitiesofwhypeoplearevictimized,howandwhy theyaredifferentially impactedandalsohelp to identifywhat typesof treatmentsaremosteffective in facilitating victim recovery. In partnershipwith theory, themultitudeof practicesused toprevent,protectandtreatvictimswillprovethewisdomofevidence-baseddecisionssuchthatallresponsesto victimswill be first testedprior to beingused.Thiswill lead touniversal standardsof professionalconductsupportedby legal controls andstricteducational requirements.Ultimately,policywill shift awayfromunsubstantiatedopinionsandmovetowardrationalprocessesthatwillproducesafersocieties,resultinmoreefficientresponsesandhelpvictimsrecoversooner.

VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALSA. Toward More Formal Victim Rights for Victims within the CJS 1. FiveBasicRights1.Tobehandledwithfairness,respect,anddignity;2.Tobenotified,heard,orbepresentforimportantjudicialproceedings;

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3.Promptlygetstolenpropertyreturned;4.Tobeprotectedfromintimidationandharassment;5.Toreceiverestitutionand/orcompensation.

2. Compensation1.Tobe reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses formedial bills and lostwages arising from injuries

inflictedduringaviolentcrime.

3. VictimInfluenceTwoformsinwhichvictimscaninfluencetheoutcomeofsentencingdecisions:1.Victimimpactstatements;2.Allocution.

4. RestorativeJustice(Conciliation;Mediation;andArbitration)1.Empowerment;2.Notification;3.Directinvolvement;4.Offenderaccountability;5.Receivingrestitution;6.Informaljustice(retaliatoryjustice).

5. SummaryInsum:Inthe21stcenturyvictimswillpursuethreedifferentcourses:1.Seektoexercisetheirrecentlygrantedrights;2.Explorethepossibilitiesthatareopeningupinanewapproach;3.Retaliatoryviolence.

B. PoliceToward a victim-oriented police department.Avictim-oriented departmentwouldundertakeoutreach

effortsto:• Handlethevictimswithcare;• Buildconfidenceofcitizens;• Providesensitiveandtimelydeathnotifications;• Meet the special needs for all victimized children andwomen, rapevictims, disabledpersons andeldervictims;

• Dispatchofficersquicklytothesceneofacrime;• Recoverstolenpropertyandreturnittotherightfulownerassoonaspossible.

C. ProsecutorsTowardavictim-orientedprosecution• Offerprotectionandsafetytoallvictimsandwitnessesandtheirfamilies;• Establishvictimwitnessprogrammestorenderassistance;• Atalltimesvictimswillbetreatedwithdignityandrespect,especiallyduringtrialsandhearings;• Keepthevictiminformedaboutdecisionsintheircasesfromtheinitialchargingtothedeterminationofparoleandinvolvevictimsinallhearings,especiallyvictimsofviolentcrimes;

• Permitallvictimsallocution;• Chargeandpursueconvictionofdefendantswhoharass,threaten,injure,orattempttointimidateorretaliateagainstvictimsorwitnesses.

D. The Future of the International Crime Victim SurveysRepeatsof the ICVS in2007 and2008 areunderpreparation in several countries. It is hoped that

plansmade in the frameworkof theEuropeanUnion for a standardizedEUcrimesurveywill allow for acontinuationoftheICVS-basedseriesbyusingelementsoftheICVSmethodology,includingitscoresetofquestions.

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APPENDIX I

A. Key Dates in Victimology• 1924:EdwinSutherlands’Chapter III, “TheVictimsofCrime” appeared inhis first Criminology textbook.

• 1937:BeniaminMendelsohnwroteaboutthepersonalityofvictimsandlecturedinRomaniaandintheBelgiumjournalRevue de Droit Penal et de Criminologie,Bruxelles.

• 1940:BeniaminMendesohnpublishedhis firstwork, “Rape in criminology” in the Italian journal,Giustizia Penale,Rome.

• 1946:BeniaminMendelsohn circulatedhiswork“Newbio-psycho-social horizons: victimology”,amongmedico-legalexpertsinBucharest,Romania.

• 1947:BeniaminMendelsohngavehis famous speech at theColzeaStateHospital inBucharest,Romaniaabouthisnewscience,“Victimology.”

• 1948:HansvonHentig,The Criminal and his Victim.YaleUniversityPress.

• 1957:MargeryFrypublishedanarticleintheLondon TimesonVictimCompensation.

• 1958:BeniaminMendelsohnpublishedhismajorexplanation“La Victimologie”intheFrenchjournalRevue Francaise de Psychanalyse.January-February.

• 1963: NewZealandpassedtheworld’sfirstVictimCompensationLaw.

• 1965:CaliforniawasthefirstUSstatetopassaVictimCompensationLaw.

• 1966:TheUSgovernmentconducteditsfirstcrimevictimizationsurvey.

• 1968:StephenSchaferpublishedthefirstvictimologybook,The Victim and His Criminal .

• 1972:Thefirstthreevictimassistanceprogrammeswerecreated:

(i)AidforVictimsofCrimeinSt.Louis,Missouri;

(ii)BayAreaWomenAgainstRapeinBerkeley,California;

(iii)RapeCrisisCenterinWashington,D.C.

• 1973:First InternationalSymposiumonVictimologywashostedby IsraelDrapkin, in Jerusalem,Israel.

• 1974:

TheFederalLawEnforcementAssistanceAdministration(LEAA)fundsthe firstvictim-witnessprogrammesintheBrooklynandMilwaukeeDistrictAttorneys'offices,plussevenothersthroughagranttotheNationalDistrictAttorneysAssociation,to“createmodelprogrammesofassistanceforvictims,encouragevictimco-operation,andimproveprosecution”.

Thefirstlawenforcement-basedvictimadvocateprogrammesareestablishedinFortLauderdale,Florida,andIndianapolis,Indiana.

TheU.S.CongresspassestheChildAbusePreventionandTreatmentActwhichestablishestheNationalCenteronChildAbuseandNeglect(NCCAN).ThenewCentercreatesan informationclearinghouseandprovidestechnicalassistanceandmodelprogrammes.

The first nationalmeetingof victimassistancepersonsmet inFt.Lauderdale,FloridawithsupportfromLEAAattheinitiativeofandco-ordinatedbyJohnDussich.

• 1975:

Thefirst"Victims'RightsWeek"isorganizedbythePhiladelphiaDistrictAttorney.

InternationalStudyInstituteonVictimologyheldinBel1agio,Italy,co-ordinatedbyEmilioVianoandattendedbymanyofthepioneersinvictimologyofthattime.

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• 1976:

Activists fromacross theUSAunited to expandvictimservices and increase recognitionofvictims’rightsatthe2ndNationalConferenceonVictimAssistanceinFresno,Ca1iforniaandonthatoccasionJohnDussichcreatedandco-ordinatedtheformationoftheNationalOrganizationforVictimAssistance(NOVA).

TheNationalOrganizationforWomenformsataskforcetoexaminetheproblemofbattering.Itdemandsresearchintotheproblem,alongwithmoneyforbatteredwomen’sshelters.

Nebraskabecomesthefirststatetoabolishthemaritalrapeexemption.

The firstnationalconferenceonbatteredwomen issponsoredbytheMilwaukeeTaskForceonWomeninMilwaukee,Wisconsin.

InFresnoCounty,California,ChiefProbationOfficer JamesRowland creates the first victimimpactstatementtoprovidethejudiciarywithanobjectiveinventoryofvictiminjuriesandlossespriortosentencing.

Second International SymposiumonVictimologyheld inBoston,Massachusetts organizedbyStephenSchafer.

Women’sadvocatesinSt.Paul,Minnesotastartthefirsthotlineforbatteredwomen.

Women’sAdvocates andHavenHouse inPasadena,California establish the first shelters forbatteredwomen.

FirstscholarlyjournalpublishedbyEmilioVianno,Victimology:An International Journal .

• 1977:Oregonbecomesthefirststatetoenactmandatoryarrestindomesticviolencecases.

• 1978:

TheNationalCoalitionAgainstSexualAssault(NCASA)isformedtocombatsexualviolenceandpromoteservicesforrapevictims.

TheNationalCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolence (NCADV) is organized as a voice for thebatteredwomen’smovementonanationallevel.NCADVinitiatestheintroductionoftheFamilyViolencePreventionandServicesActintheU.S.Congress.

Parentsof theMurderedChildren (POMC), a self-help support group, is founded inCincinnati,Ohio.

Minnesota becomes the first state to allowprobable cause (warrentless) arrest in casesofdomesticassault,regardlessofwhetheraprotectionorderhadbeenissued.

• 1979:

Third InternationalSymposiumonVictimology inMunster,Germany.At this event theWorldSocietyofVictimologywasestablishedwithHansSchneiderasitspresidentandJohnDussichasitsSecretaryGeneral.

FrankG.Carrington, consideredbymany to be “the fatherof thevictims’ rightsmovement”,foundstheCrimeVictims’LegalAdvocacyInstitute,Inc.,topromotetherightsofcrimevictimsin the civil and criminal justice systems. Thenonprofit organizationwasnamedVALOR, theVictims’AssistanceLegalOrganization,Inc.,in1981.

TheOffice onDomesticViolence is established in theU.S.DepartmentofHealth andHumanServices,butislaterclosedin1981.

TheU.S.CongressfailstoenacttheFederalLawEnforcementAssistanceAdministration(LBAA)andfederalfundingforvictims’programmesisphasedout.Manygrassrootsand“system-based”programmesclose.

• 1980:

MothersAgainstDrunkDriving (MADD) is founded after thedeathof thirteen-year-oldCariLightner,whowaskilledby a repeat offender drunkdriver.The first twoMADDchapters are

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createdinSacramento,CaliforniaandAnnapolis,Maryland.

TheU.S.CongresspassestheParentalKidnappingPreventionActof1980.

Wisconsinpassesthefirst“CrimeVictims’BillofRights”.

The firstNationalDayofUnity inOctober isestablishedbyNCADVtomournbatteredwomenwhohavedied; celebratewomenwhohave survived suchviolence; andhonour allwhohaveworkedtodefeatdomesticviolence.ThisdaybecomesDomesticViolenceAwarenessWeekand,in1987,expandstoamonthofawarenessactivitieseachOctober.

NCADVholdsitsfirstnationalconferenceonWashingtonD.C.,whichgainsfederalrecognitionofcriticalissuesfacingbatteredwomen,andseesthebirthofseveralstatecoalitions.

The firstVictim ImpactPanel is sponsoredbyRemove IntoxicatedDrivers (RID) inOswegoCounty,NewYork.

• 1981:

RonaldReaganbecomesthefirstPresidenttoproclaim“CrimeVictims’RightsWeek”inApril.

Thedisappearance andmurderofAdamWalshprompts anational campaign to raisepublicawarenessaboutchildabductionandenactlawstobetterprotectchildren.

TheAttorneyGeneral’sTaskForceonViolentCrimerecommendsthataseparateTaskForcebecreatedtoconsidervictims’issues.

• 1982:

In aRoseGarden ceremony,PresidentReagan appoints theTaskForceonVictimsofCrime,whichholdspublichearings in six cities across thenation to create a greatlyneedednationalfocusontheneedsofcrimevictims.TheTaskForceFinal Reportoffers68recommendationsthatbecometheframeworkfortheadvancementofnewprogrammesandpolicies.

TheFederalVictimandWitnessProtectionAct of 1982brings “fair treatment standards” tovictimsandwitnessesinthefederalcriminaljusticesystem.

California votersoverwhelminglypassProposition8,whichguarantees restitution andotherstatutoryreformstocrimevictims.

Thepassageof theMissingChildren'sAct of 1982helpsparents guarantee that identifyinginformationofthen-missingchildrenispromptlyenteredintotheFBINationalCrimeInformationCenter(NCIC)computersystem.

The firstVictim ImpactPanel sponsoredbyMADD,whicheducates drunkdrivers about thedevastatingimpactoftheircriminalacts,isorganizedinRutland,Massachusetts.

• 1983:

The first victimadvocate certificateprogramme is launchedby JohnDussich atCSUFresno,offeringstandardizedvictimassistancetrainingforpractitioners.

TheU.S.AttorneyGeneralestablishesaTaskForceonFamilyViolence,whichholdssixpublichearingsacrosstheUnitedStates.

TheU.S.AttorneyGeneralissuesguidelinesforfederalvictimandwitnessassistance.

InApril,PresidentReaganhonourscrimevictimsinaWhiteHouseRoseGardenceremony.

TheFirstNationalConferenceoftheJudiciaryonVictimsofCrimeisheldattheNationalJudicialCollegeinReno,Nevada.

PresidentReaganproclaims the firstNationalMissingChildren'sDay inobservanceof thedisappearanceofmissingchildEtanPatz.

TheInternationalAssociationofChiefsofPoliceBoardofGovernorsadoptsaCrimeVictims’BillofRights andestablishes a victims’ rights committee to bring about renewedemphasis on theneedsofcrimevictimsbylawenforcementofficialsnationwide.

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• 1984:

TheOffice forVictimsofCrime (OVC) iscreatedby theU.S.Departmentof Justicewithin theOffice of JusticePrograms to implement recommendations from thePresident'sTaskForceonVictimsofCrime.

ThepassageoftheVictimsOfCrimeAct(VOCA)establishestheCrimeVictims’Fund,madeupoffederalcriminalfines,penaltiesandbondforfeitures,tosupportstatevictimcompensationandlocalvictimserviceprogrammes.

PresidentReagan signs the JusticeAssistanceAct,whichestablishes a financial assistanceprogrammeforstateandlocalgovernmentandfunds200newvictimserviceprogrammes.

TheNationalMinimumDrinkingAgeActof1984isenacted,providingstrongincentivestostateswithout“21”lawstoraisetheminimumagefordrinking,savingthousandsofyounglivesinyearstocome.

TheNationalCenter forMissing andExploitedChildren (NCMEC) is created as thenationalresource formissing children.Passageof theMissingChildren'sAssistanceAct provides aCongressionalmandatefortheCenter.

TheSpiritualDimension inVictimServices is founded to involve the religious community inviolencepreventionandvictimassistance.

TheU.S.Congress passes theFamilyViolencePrevention andServicesAct,whichearmarksfederalfundingforprogrammesservingvictimsofdomesticviolence.

ConcernsofPoliceSurvivors (COPS) is organized at the first police survivors’ seminarheld inWashington.D.C.by100relativesofofficerskilledinthelineofduty.

ThefirstNationalSymposiumonSexualAssaultisco-sponsoredbytheOfficeofJusticeProgramsandtheFederalBureauofInvestigation.

Avictim-witnessnotificationsystemisestablishedwithintheFederalBureauofPrisons.

TheOfficeforVictimsofCrimehoststhefirstnationalsymposiumonchildmolestation.

Victim-WitnessCoordinatorpositionsareestablishedintheU.S.Attorneys’officeswithintheU.S.DepartmentofJustice.

CaliforniaStateUniversity,Fresno,initiatesthefirstVictimServicesCertificateProgramofferedforacademiccreditbyauniversity.

RemoveIntoxicatedDrivers(RID)callsforacomprehensiveSaneNationalAlcoholPolicy(SNAP)tocurbaggressivepromotionsaimedatyouth.

• 1985:

TheFederalCrimeVictims’Funddepositstotal$68million.

TheNationalVictimCenterisfoundedinhonourofSunnyvonBulowtopromotetherightsandneedsofcrimevictims,andtoeducateAmericansaboutthedevastatingeffectofcrimeontheirsociety.

29November:TheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemb1ypassesTheDeclarationofBasicPrinciplesofJusticeforVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPower.

PresidentReagan announces aChildSafetyPartnershipwith 26members. Itsmission isto enhanceprivate sector efforts to promote child safety, to clarify information about childvictimization,andtoincreasepublicawarenessofchildabuse.

TheU.S.SurgeonGeneralissuesareportidentifyingdomesticviolenceasamajorpublichealthproblem.

• 1986:

TheOfficeforVictimsofCrimeawardsthefirstgrantstosupportstatevictimcompensationandassistanceprogrammes.

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Rhode Islandpasses a constitutional amendment grantingvictims the right to restitution, tosubmitvictimimpactstatements,andtobetreatedwithdignityandrespect.

MADD’s“RedRibbonCampaign”enlistsmotoriststodisplayaredribbonontheirautomobiles,pledging to drive safe and soberduring theNovember-Decemberholidayperiod.Thisnationalpublicawarenessefforthassincebecomeanannualcampaign.

• 1987:

TheVictims’ConstitutionalAmendmentNetwork(VCAN)andSteeringCommitteeisformedatameetinghostedbytheNationalVictimCenter.

SecurityonCampus,Inc.(SOC)isestablishedbyHowardandConnieClery,followingthetragicrobbery, rape, andmurder of their daughter Jeanne atLehighUniversity inPennsylvania. SOCraisesnationalawarenessaboutthehiddenepidemicofviolenceonAmerica'scampuses.

TheAmericanCorrectionalAssociationestablishesaTaskForceonVictimsofCrime.

NCADVestablishesthefirstnationaltoll-freedomesticviolencehotline.

• 1988:

TheNationalAgingResourceCenteronElderAbuse(NARCEA)isestablishedinaco-operativeagreement among theAmericanPublicWelfareAssociation, theNationalAssociationofStateUnitsonAging,andtheUniversityofDelaware.RenamedtheNationalCenteronElderAbuse,itcontinuestoprovideinformationandstatistics.

State v . Ciskieisthefirstcasetoallowtheuseofexperttestimonytoexplainthebehaviourandmental state of an adult rapevictim.The testimony isused to showwhy a victimof repeatedphysicalandsexualassaultsbyherintimatepartnerwouldnotimmediatelycallthepoliceortakeaction.Thejuryconvictsthedefendantonfourcountsofrape.

TheFederalDrunkDrivingPreventionActispassed,andstatesraisetheminimumdrinkingageto21.

Constitutional amendments are introduced inArizona,California,Connecticut,Delaware,Michigan,SouthCarolinaandWashington.Florida'samendmentisplacedontheNovemberballotwhere it passeswith90percent of thevote.Michigan's constitutional amendment passeswithover80percentofthevote.

Thefirst“IndianNations:JusticeforVictimsofCrime”conferenceissponsoredbytheOfficeforVictimsofCrimeinRapidCity,SouthDakota.

VOCAamendments legislativelyestablish theOffice forVictimsofCrime, elevate thepositionofDirector bymakingSenate confirmation necessary for appointment, and induce statecompensationprogrammestocovervictimsofhomicideanddrunkdriving.

• 1989:The legislatures inTexas andWashingtonpass their respective constitutional amendments,whicharebothratifiedbyvotersinNovember.

• 1990:

TheFederalCrimeVictims'Funddepositstotalover$146million.

TheU.S.CongresspassestheHateCrimeStatisticsActrequiringtheU.S.AttorneyGeneraltocollectdataof incidenceofcertaincrimesmotivatedbyprejudicebasedonrace,religion,sexualorientation,orethnicity.

TheStudentRight-to-KnowandCampusSecurityAct,requiringinstitutionsofhighereducationto disclosemurder, rape, robbery, andother crimeson campus, is signed into lawbyPresidentBush.

TheChildProtectionAct of 1990,which features reforms tomake the federal criminal justicesystemlesstraumaticforchildvictimsandwitnesses,ispassedbytheU.S.Congress.

The firstNational IncidenceStudyonMissing,Abducted,Runaway,andThrowawayChildren inAmericashowsthatoveronemillionchildrenfallvictimtoabductionannually.

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TheNationalChildSearchAssistanceActrequires lawenforcementtoenterreportsofmissingchildrenandunidentifiedpersonsintheNCICcomputer.

• 1991:

U.S.Representative IlenaRos-Lehtinen (RepublicanParty,Florida) files the firstCongressionalJointResolution to placevictims' rights in theU.S.Constitution.TheViolenceAgainstWomenActof1991isconsideredbytheU.S.Congress.

CaliforniaStateUniversity,Fresno,approvesthefirstBachelorsDegreePrograminVictimologyinthenation.

TheCampusSexualAssaultVictims’BillofRightsActisintroducedintheU.S.Congress.

Theresultsof the firstnationalpublicopinionpoll toexaminecitizens’attitudesaboutviolenceandvictimization,America Speaks Out , are releasedby theNationalVictimCenter duringNationalCrimeVictims’RightsWeek.

TheU.S.AttorneyGeneral issuesnewcomprehensiveguidelines that establishprocedures forthefederalcriminaljusticesystemtorespondtotheneedsofcrimevictims.

The firstnational conference that addresses crimevictims’ rights andneeds in corrections issponsoredbytheOfficeforVictimsofCrimeinCalifornia.

ThefirstInternationalConferenceonCampusSexualAssaultisheldinOrlando,Florida.

TheAmericanProbationandParoleAssociation(APPA)establishesaVictimIssuesCommitteetoexaminevictims’issuesandconcernsrelatedtocommunitycorrections.

The InternationalParentalChildKidnappingActmakes the act of unlawfully removing a childoutsidetheUnitedStatesafederalfelony.

TheSpiritualDimensioninVictimServicesfacilitatesaconferenceofleadersofthirteenreligiousdenominationstoplanwaysinwhichtheselargereligiousbodiescanincreaseawarenessofcrimevictims'needsandprovideappropriateservices.

TheNewJerseylegislaturepassesavictims’rightsconstitutionalamendment,whichisratifiedbyvotersinNovember.

Colorado legislators introduce a constitutional amendmenton the first dayofNationalCrimeVictims’RightsWeek.Fifteenyears later, thebill isunanimouslypassedbybothHouses tobeplacedontheballotin1992.

Inan8-0decision,theU.S.SupremeCourtruledinSimon&Schuster v . New York Crime Victims Board thatNewYork’snotoriety-for-profit statutewasoverly broad and, in the final analysis,unconstitutional.

• 1992:

Rape in America:A Report to the Nation clarifies the scope anddevastatingeffect of rape inAmerica,inductingthefactthat683,000womenarerapedannuallyintheUnitedStates.

TheAssociationofParolingAuthorities, InternationalestablishesaVictimIssuesCommittee toexaminevictims’needs,rights,andservicesinparoleprocesses.

TheU.S.Congress reauthorizes theHigherEducationBillwhich includes theCampusSexualAssaultVictims’BillofRights.

TheBatteredWomen'sTestimonyAct,whichurgesstatestoacceptexperttestimonyincriminalcasesinvolvingbatteredwomen,ispassedbyCongressandsignedintolawbyPresidentBush.

Inaunanimousdecision,theU.S.SupremeCourt-inR .A .V . vs . City of St . PaulstruckdownalocalhatecrimesordinanceinMinnesota.

Five states:Colorado,Kansas, Illinois,Missouri, andNewMexico, ratify constitutionalamendmentsforvictims’rights.

Twenty-eightstatespassanti-stalkinglegislation.

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Massachusettspasses a landmarkbill creating a statewide computerizeddomestic violenceregistryandrequiresjudgestochecktheregistrywhenhandlingsuchcases.

• 1993:

Wisconsinratifies itsconstitutionalamendment forvictims’ rights,bringing the totalnumberofstateswiththeseamendmentsto14.

PresidentClintonsignsthe“BradyBill”requiringawaitingperiodforthepurchaseofhandguns.

Congress passes theChildSexualAbuseRegistryAct establishing anational repository forinformationonchildsexoffenders.

Twenty-twostatespassstalkingstatutes,bringingthetotalnumberofstateswithstalkinglawsto50,plustheDistrictofColumbia.

• 1994:

TheAmericanCorrectionalAssociationVictimsCommitteepublishes the landmarkReport and Recommendations on Victims of Juvenile Crime,whichoffersguidelines for improvingvictims’rightsandserviceswhentheoffenderisajuvenile.

Sixadditionalstatespassconstitutionalamendmentsforvictims’rights-thelargestnumbereverin a singleyear - bringing the total numberof stateswith amendments to20.Stateswithnewamendmentsinclude:Alabama,Alaska,Idaho,Maryland,Ohio,andUtah.

PresidentClintonsignsacomprehensivepackageof federalvictims’rights legislationaspartoftheViolentCrimeControlandLawEnforcementAct.TheActincludes:

The ViolenceAgainstWomenAct,which authorizesmore than$1billion in funding forprogrammestocombatviolenceagainstwomen.

EnhancedVOCAfundingprovisions.

EstablishmentofaNationalChildSexOffenderRegistry.

Enhancedsentencesfordrunkdriverswithchildpassengers.

• 1995:

TheFederalCrimeVictims’Funddepositstotal$233,907,256.

TheCrimeVictims’RightsActof1995isintroducedintheU.S.Congress.

Legislatures in three states, Indiana,Nebraska, andNorthCarolina, pass constitutionalamendmentswhichwillbeplacedontheballot.

TheNationalVictims’ConstitutionalAmendmentNetworkproposesthefirstdraftoflanguageforafederalconstitutionalamendmentforvictims’rights.

TheU.S.DepartmentofJusticeconvenesanationalconferencetoencourageimplementationoftheViolenceAgainstWomenAct.

The first class graduates from theNationalVictimAssistanceAcademy inWashington,D.C.Supported by theOffice forVictimsofCrime, theuniversity-basedAcademyprovides anacademically credited45-hour curriculumonvictimology, victims’ rights, and amyriadothertopics.

• 1996:

FederalVictims’RightsConstitutionalAmendments are introduced in bothhousesofCongresswithbipartisansupport.

BothpresidentialcandidatesandtheAttorneyGeneralendorsetheconceptofaVictims’RightsConstitutionalAmendment.

TheFederalCrimeVictims’Fund reaches anhistorichighwithdeposits totallingover$500million.

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Eightstatesratifythepassageofconstitutionalamendmentsforvictims’rights,raisingthetotalnumberofstateconstitutionalamendmentsto29nationwide.

TheCommunityNotificationAct,knownas“Megan'sLaw,”providesfornotifyingcommunitiesofthelocationofconvictedsexoffendersbyamendmenttothenationalChildSexualAbuseRegistrylegislation.

PresidentClinton signs theAntiterrorismAct, providingonemilliondollars in funding tostrengthen antiterrorismefforts,making restitutionmandatory in violent crime cases, andexpanding the compensation and assistance services for victimsof terrorismboth at homeandabroad,includingvictimsinthemilitary.

TheNationalDomesticViolenceHotlineisestablishedtoprovidecrisisinterventioninformationandreferralstovictimsofdomesticviolenceandtheirfriendsandfamily.

TofullyrecognizethesovereigntyofIndianNations,theOVCforthefirsttimeprovidesallgrantsinIndianCountrydirectlytothetribes.

OVC launches anumberof international crimevictim initiatives, includingworking to fosterworldwide implementationof aUnitedNationsDeclarationonvictims’ rights andworking tobetterassistAmericanswhoarevictimizedabroad.

TheAmericanSociety ofVictimology is launched inTopeka,Kansasbyholding its first annualnationalsymposium.

• 1999:TheUnitedNationsandtheUSOfficeforVictimsofCrimepublishtheGuide for Policymakers on the Implementation of the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of PowerandtheHandbook on Justice for Victims:On the use and application of the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power .

• 2002:On11April theRomeStatutewas ratified andwent into forceon1 July, atwhich time theInternationalCriminalCourt becameeffective and it included the creationof aVictimandWitnessUnit.

• 2003:On2OctobertheTokiwaInternationalVictimologyInstitute,inMito,Japan,openeditsdoorstopromotevictimrights,toconductseminars,courses,publishaninternational journal,hostannualsymposiaandlecturesandresearchvictimology.

• 2004:TheWorldSocietyofVictimology at its annualExecutiveCommitteemeeting inOrlando,FloridaadoptedadramaticnewstrategicplantocommititselftotheidealsandpromisesoftheUNDeclaration(seeAppendixII).

• 2005: JapanputstheUNBasicPrinciplesofJusticeforVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPowerintoitsnationallegislationbyadoptinganewfundamentallawforcrimevictims.Toensurethattheprincipleswouldbeinitiated,thePrimeMinisterestablishedacabinetlevelcommittee.Thenewlawincludesservices for victims, restitution from theoffender, information about criminal justice and a right toformallyparticipateinthecriminaljusticeprocess.

• 2009: TheWorldSocietyofVictimologyheldits13InternationalSymposiuminMito,Japan,bringingtogether483participantsfrom51countries.

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APPENDIX IIUN DECLARATION OF BASIC PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF

CRIME AND ABUSE OF POWER

A/RES/40/3429November1985

96thplenarymeeting

Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power

TheGeneralAssembly, Recalling that theSixthUnitedNationsCongresson thePreventionofCrimeand theTreatmentof

Offendersrecommendedthat theUnitedNationsshouldcontinue itspresentworkonthedevelopmentofguidelinesandstandardsregardingabuseofeconomicandpoliticalpower,

Cognizantthatmillionsofpeoplethroughouttheworldsufferharmasaresultofcrimeandtheabuseof

powerandthattherightsofthesevictimshavenotbeenadequatelyrecognized, Recognizing that thevictimsof crime and thevictimsof abuseof power, and also frequently their

families,witnessesandotherswhoaidthem,areunjustlysubjectedtoloss,damageorinjuryandthattheymay,inaddition,sufferhardshipwhenassistingintheprosecutionofoffenders,

1.Affirmsthenecessityofadoptingnationalandinternationalmeasuresinordertosecuretheuniversalandeffectiverecognitionof,andrespectfor,therightsofvictimsofcrimeandofabuseofpower; 2.StressestheneedtopromoteprogressbyallStatesintheireffortstothatend,withoutprejudicetotherightsofsuspectsoroffenders; 3.AdoptstheDeclarationofBasicPrinciplesofJusticeforVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPower,annexedtothepresentresolution,whichisdesignedtoassistGovernmentsandtheinternationalcommunityintheireffortstosecurejusticeandassistanceforvictimsofcrimeandvictimsofabuseofpower; 4.CallsuponMemberStatestotakethenecessarystepstogiveeffecttotheprovisionscontainedintheDeclarationand,inordertocurtailvictimizationasreferredtohereinafter,endeavor:

(a)To implement social, health, includingmental health, educational, economic and specific crimepreventionpoliciestoreducevictimizationandencourageassistancetovictimsindistress;

(b)Topromotecommunityeffortsandpublicparticipationincrimeprevention;

(c)To reviewperiodically theirexisting legislationandpractices inorder toensure responsivenessto changing circumstances, and to enact and enforce legislation proscribing acts that violateinternationally recognizednorms relating tohuman rights, corporate conduct, andother abusesofpower;

(d)Toestablish and strengthen themeansof detecting, prosecuting and sentencing thoseguilty ofcrimes;

(e)Topromotedisclosureof relevant information toexposeofficial andcorporateconduct topublicscrutiny,andotherwaysofincreasingresponsivenesstopublicconcerns;

(f)Topromote theobservanceof codesof conduct andethical norms, in particular internationalstandards, bypublic servants, including lawenforcement, correctional,medical, social service andmilitarypersonnel,aswellasthestaffofeconomicenterprises;

(g)Toprohibitpracticesandproceduresconducive toabuse,suchassecretplacesofdetentionandincommunicadodetention;

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(h)To co-operatewithotherStates, throughmutual judicial and administrative assistance, in suchmattersasthedetectionandpursuitofoffenders,theirextraditionandtheseizureoftheirassets,tobeusedforrestitutiontothevictims;

5.Recommendsthat,attheinternationalandregionallevels,allappropriatemeasuresshouldbetaken:

(a)TopromotetrainingactivitiesdesignedtofosteradherencetoUnitedNationsstandardsandnormsandtocurtailpossibleabuses;

(b)To sponsor collaborative action-researchonways inwhichvictimization canbe reduced andvictimsaided,andtopromoteinformationexchangesonthemosteffectivemeansofsodoing;

(c)Torenderdirectaid to requestingGovernmentsdesigned tohelp themcurtailvictimizationandalleviatetheplightofvictims;

(d)Todevelopways andmeansof providing recourse for victimswherenational channelsmaybeinsufficient;

6.Requests theSecretary-General to inviteMemberStates to report periodically to theGeneralAssemblyontheimplementationoftheDeclaration,aswellasonmeasurestakenbythemtothiseffect; 7.AlsorequeststheSecretary-Generaltomakeuseoftheopportunities,whichallrelevantbodiesandorganizationswithin theUnitedNations systemoffer, to assistMemberStates,whenevernecessary,in improvingwaysandmeansofprotectingvictimsbothat thenational levelandthrough internationalco-operation; 8.FurtherrequeststheSecretary-GeneraltopromotetheobjectivesoftheDeclaration,inparticularbyensuringitswidestpossibledissemination; 9.Urges the specialized agencies andother entities andbodies of theUnitedNations system, otherrelevant intergovernmental andnon-governmental organizations and thepublic to co-operate in theimplementationoftheprovisionsoftheDeclaration.

ANNEXDeclaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power

A. Victims of Crime

1.“Victims”meanspersonswho, individuallyorcollectively,havesufferedharm, includingphysicalormentalinjury,emotionalsuffering,economiclossorsubstantialimpairmentoftheirfundamentalrights,throughactsoromissionsthatareinviolationofcriminallawsoperativewithinMemberStates,includingthoselawsproscribingcriminalabuseofpower. 2.Apersonmaybeconsideredavictim,underthisDeclaration,regardlessofwhethertheperpetratorisidentified,apprehended,prosecutedorconvictedandregardlessofthefamilialrelationshipbetweentheperpetratorandthevictim.Theterm"victim"alsoincludes,whereappropriate,theimmediatefamilyordependantsofthedirectvictimandpersonswhohavesufferedharmininterveningtoassistvictimsindistressortopreventvictimization. 3.Theprovisionscontainedhereinshallbeapplicabletoall,withoutdistinctionofanykind,suchasrace,color, sex, age, language, religion, nationality, political or otheropinion, cultural beliefs or practices,property,birthorfamilystatus,ethnicorsocialorigin,anddisability.

Accesstojusticeandfairtreatment 4.Victimsshouldbetreatedwithcompassionandrespectfortheirdignity.Theyareentitledtoaccesstothemechanismsofjusticeandtopromptredress,asprovidedforbynationallegislation,fortheharmthattheyhavesuffered.

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5. Judicial and administrativemechanisms shouldbeestablished and strengthenedwherenecessaryto enablevictims to obtain redress through formal or informal procedures that areexpeditious, fair,inexpensiveandaccessible.Victimsshouldbeinformedoftheirrightsinseekingredressthroughsuchmechanisms. 6.The responsivenessof judicial and administrativeprocesses to theneedsof victims shouldbefacilitatedby:

(a) Informingvictimsof their role and the scope, timing andprogressof theproceedings andofthedispositionof their cases, especiallywhere serious crimes are involved andwhere theyhaverequestedsuchinformation;

(b)Allowingtheviewsandconcernsofvictimstobepresentedandconsideredatappropriatestagesoftheproceedingswheretheirpersonal interestsareaffected,withoutprejudicetotheaccusedandconsistentwiththerelevantnationalcriminaljusticesystem;

(c)Providingproperassistancetovictimsthroughoutthelegalprocess;

(d)Takingmeasurestominimizeinconveniencetovictims,protecttheirprivacy,whennecessary,andensuretheirsafety,aswellasthatof their familiesandwitnessesontheirbehalf, fromintimidationandretaliation;

(e)Avoidingunnecessarydelayinthedispositionofcasesandtheexecutionofordersordecreesgrantingawardstovictims.

7. Informalmechanisms for the resolutionof disputes, includingmediation, arbitration and customaryjusticeorindigenouspractices,shouldbeutilizedwhereappropriatetofacilitateconciliationandredressforvictims.

Restitution 8.Offendersor thirdparties responsible for their behavior should,where appropriate,make fairrestitutiontovictims,theirfamiliesordependants.Suchrestitutionshouldincludethereturnofpropertyor payment for theharmor loss suffered, reimbursementof expenses incurred as a result of thevictimization,theprovisionofservicesandtherestorationofrights. 9.Governmentsshouldreviewtheirpractices,regulationsandlawstoconsiderrestitutionasanavailablesentencingoptionincriminalcases,inadditiontoothercriminalsanctions. 10. In casesof substantial harm to theenvironment, restitution, if ordered, should include, as far aspossible,restorationoftheenvironment,reconstructionoftheinfrastructure,replacementofcommunityfacilitiesandreimbursementoftheexpensesofrelocation,wheneversuchharmresultsinthedislocationofacommunity. 11.Wherepublic officials or other agents acting in anofficial or quasi-official capacityhaveviolatednational criminal laws, thevictims should receive restitution from theStatewhoseofficials or agentswere responsible for theharm inflicted. In caseswhere theGovernmentunderwhose authority thevictimizingactoromissionoccurredisnolongerinexistence,theStateorGovernmentsuccessorintitleshouldproviderestitutiontothevictims.

Compensation 12.Whencompensationisnotfullyavailablefromtheoffenderorothersources,Statesshouldendeavortoprovidefinancialcompensationto:

(a)Victimswhohavesustainedsignificantbodilyinjuryorimpairmentofphysicalormentalhealthasaresultofseriouscrimes;

(b)Thefamily, inparticulardependantsofpersonswhohavediedorbecomephysicallyormentallyincapacitatedasaresultofsuchvictimization.

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13.Theestablishment,strengtheningandexpansionofnationalfundsforcompensationtovictimsshouldbeencouraged.Whereappropriate,otherfundsmayalsobeestablishedforthispurpose,includingthosecaseswheretheStateofwhichthevictimisanationalisnotinapositiontocompensatethevictimfortheharm.

Assistance 14.Victimsshouldreceivethenecessarymaterial,medical,psychologicalandsocialassistancethroughgovernmental,voluntary,community-basedandindigenousmeans. 15.Victims shouldbe informedof the availabilityof health and social services andother relevantassistanceandbereadilyaffordedaccesstothem. 16.Police, justice, health, social service andotherpersonnel concerned should receive training tosensitizethemtotheneedsofvictims,andguidelinestoensureproperandpromptaid. 17.Inprovidingservicesandassistancetovictims,attentionshouldbegiventothosewhohavespecialneedsbecauseof thenatureof theharm inflictedor becauseof factors such as thosementioned inparagraph3above.

B. Victims of abuse of power 18. “Victims”meanspersonswho, individually or collectively, have sufferedharm, includingphysicalormental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamentalrights, through acts or omissions that donot yet constituteviolationsof national criminal lawsbut ofinternationallyrecognizednormsrelatingtohumanrights. 19.States should consider incorporating into thenational lawnormsproscribing abusesof power andprovidingremediestovictimsofsuchabuses.Inparticular,suchremediesshouldincluderestitutionand/orcompensation,andnecessarymaterial,medical,psychologicalandsocialassistanceandsupport.

20.Statesshouldconsidernegotiatingmultilateralinternationaltreatiesrelatingtovictims,asdefinedinparagraph18. 21.States shouldperiodically reviewexisting legislation andpractices to ensure their responsivenessto changing circumstances, shouldenact andenforce, if necessary, legislationproscribing acts thatconstituteseriousabusesofpoliticaloreconomicpower,aswellaspromotingpoliciesandmechanismsfor thepreventionof such acts, and shoulddevelop andmake readily available appropriate rights andremediesforvictimsofsuchacts.

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APPENDIX III

DraftConvention–5December2009

UN Convention on Justice and Support for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power

PREAMBLEThe State Parties to this Convention:RecallingtheresolutionoftheUNGeneralAssembly(GA/RES/50/34)in1985whichcalleduponMemberState to take thenecessary steps to giveeffect to theprovisions contained in the

DeclarationofBasicPrinciplesofJusticeforVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPower,Recognizingthatmillionsofpeople,includingmanywomenandchildren,throughouttheworldstillsufferharmasaresultofcrime,abuseofpowerandterrorism,andthattherightsofthesevictimsstillhavenotbeenadequatelyrecognized,andthattheymay,inaddition,sufferhardshipwhenassistingintheprosecutionofperpetrators,

NotingthepartialprogressachievedbysomeMemberStatein

• legislating thebasic principlesof justice intodomestic laws combinedwith ahigh level office toimplementpoliciesandprogramstoprovidecomprehensivemeasuresforvictimsofcrime;

• providingvictimsof crimewithbetter information, support services, reparation fromoffenders,compensationfromthestateandaroleincriminalproceedings;

• establishingprogrammes toprotect victimsof crimewho arevulnerable, for instancebecauseofgenderorage;

• launchingpermanentboardsandlegislationtopromotetheuseofeffectiveandprovenpreventionofvictimizationatalllevelsofgovernment.

NotingtheinitiativesattheUNtoimplementtheDeclaration,including:

• UNCommissionendorsementofthewebsiteVictimology.nlin1998;

• UNCommissionapprovalofTheGuideforPolicyMakersandtheHandbookonJusticeforVictimsin1999;

• StatuteofRomein1998(andlatertheRulesofProcedureandEvidence)toestablishtheInternationalCriminalCourt;

• ConventiononTrans-nationalOrganizedCrimein2000anditsoptionalprotocolin2002ontraffickingthatincludespecificsectionsforvictims;

• ECOSOCadoptionin2002oftheGuidelinesonRestorativeJustice;

• UNCommissionfundingin2003for19pilotprojects;

• ECOSOCadoptionin2005oftheGuidelinesforChildVictimsandWitnesses;

• ECOSOCacceptancein2002ofcrimepreventionguidelines;

• UNGeneralAssemblyadoptionoftheBasicPrinciplesandGuidelinesontheRightstoaRemedyandReparationforVictimsofGrossViolationsofInternationalHumanRightsLawandSeriousViolationsofInternationalHumanitarianLawin2005.

Recognizingthatsomeissuesrelatingtojusticeandsupportforvictimsarehandledincreasinglythrougha varietyof processesoften referred to as restorative justice.This includes systems found in indigenoussocieties and incorporatesprinciplesof community involvement in dispute reconciliation; perpetratoraccountability; victimempowerment; and restorationof harmony in relationships and community.Someexamplesincludemediation,familygroupconferencingandindigenouscommunityjusticesystems.

Notingin2005theinclusionintheDeclarationoftheUNCrimeCongressinBangkokbytheMemberStateofthefollowingparagraph:

“17.Werecognizetheimportanceofgivingspecialattentiontotheneedtoprotectwitnessesandvictims

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of crimeand terrorism,andwecommitourselves tostrengthening,whereneeded, the legal and financialframework for providing support to suchvictims, taking into account, inter alia, theDeclarationofBasicPrinciplesofJusticeforVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPower.”

Recognizing the importanceof promoting full use and applicationof theUNDeclarationon theBasicPrinciplesofJusticeforVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPower.

Have agreed as follows:

PART I GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Article 1Definitions

(1) ‘Victims’meansnatural personswho, individually or collectively, have sufferedharm includingphysical ormental injury, emotional sufferingor economic loss or violations of fundamental rights inrelationtovictimizationsidentifiedunder‘scope’.

(2)Apersonisavictimregardlessofwhetherthecrimeisreportedtothepolice,regardlessofwhetheraperpetratorisidentified,apprehended,prosecutedorconvictedandregardlessofthefamilialrelationshipbetween theperpetrator and thevictim.The term ‘victims’ also includes,where appropriate, theimmediate familyordependantsof thedirectvictimsandpersonswhohavesuffered in intervening toassistvictimsindistressortopreventvictimization.

(3)A‘witness’isapersonwhocouldbecalledtoacourtorotherappropriateforumtoprovidetestimony.

(4)An ‘expert’ is a personwhobyvirtueof specialized training, particular knowledgeor experienceassiststhelegalsystem.

Article 2Scope

Thisconventioncoversnaturalpersonswhoarevictimizedbyactsoromissionsthat:

(a)areviolationsofcriminallawsofStatePartiesor;

(b) are abusesof power; defined as acts or omissions that arenot violationsof national criminal lawsbutareviolationsofinternationallyrecognizedjus cogensnorms,and/orareviolationsbyperson(s)inapositionofpowerwithinapoliticalstructure,whomisapply thatpoweragainstvulnerablepersonsandsufferharmordeathasaresult.

(c)areactsofterrorism,asdefinedininternationalinstrumentsrelevanttoterrorism,intendedtocausedeathor seriousbodilyharm to civiliansornoncombatants, or damage toproperty,when thepurposeofsuchanact,by itsnatureorcontext, isto intimidateapopulation,ortocompelagovernmentoraninternationalorganizationtodoortoabstainfromdoinganyact.

(d)areactsofhumantrafficking,whichincludespersonswhohavebeenkidnapped,coercedordeceivedawayfromtheirhomesandcommunitieswiththepromiseoflegitimateemploymentbutinactualfactissexualexploitation,forcedprostitution,bondedlabor,debtbondageorslavery.

Article 3General application

(1)Nothing in thisConvention shall diminish anyprovisionswhichprotect the rights and interests ofvictimswhicharecontainedinthelawandpracticeofaStatePartyorinternationallawinforceinthatState.

(2)StatePartiesshallundertaketoimplementtheseprovisionstothemaximumextentoftheiravailable

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resources.Forplanningpurposes,StatePartiesshallsetprioritiesfor implementingtheprovisionsandseektoprovidethemovertimethroughprogressiverealizationofgoals.

(3)StateParties shall ensure that theprovisions containedherein shall be applicable to all,withoutdiscriminationof anykind, such as race, color, gender, age, language, religion,nationality, political orother opinion, cultural beliefs or practices, property, birth or family status, ethnic or social origin, anddisability.Thiswillbewithoutprejudice toprovidingspecial justiceandsupportbestsuited tovictimswhoareparticularlyvulnerablebecauseofage,gender,disabilityorothercharacteristics.

(4)StateParties shall ensure that all officials andother personsdealingwithvictims treat themwithcourtesy,compassion,culturalsensitivity,andrespectfortheirrightsanddignity.

Article 4Commitment to reduce victimization

StateParties shall commit to provideboth justice and support for victims and to reducevictimizationconsistentwithinternationalguidelinesby,inter alia,developing:

(a)moreeffectivedetection,prosecution,sentencingandcorrectionsofperpetrators,

consistentwithinternationallyrecognizednorms;

(b)measures to reduce the riskof occurrenceof victimizationby consideringvulnerablegroups andidentifying resourcedeficiencies andvulnerability factors; and, creatingways toneutralize theseweaknesses;

(c) strategies to reduce theopportunity for repeatvictimizationby improvingservicesandsupport forthosealreadyvictimized;

(d)internationalcooperationtoexchangeprovenandpromisingpracticesandseek

trans-nationalsolutions.

PART II RIGHTS AND DUTIESArticle 5Access to justice and fair treatment

(1)StateParties shall providevictimswith access to themechanismsof justice and redresswhich isexpeditious,fair,inexpensiveandaccessible,asprovidedforbydomesticlegislation,through:

(a)judicialandadministrativemechanismswhichwillenablevictimstoobtainredress;

(b) informalmechanisms for the resolution of disputes, includingmediation, arbitration, andcustomaryjusticeprocessesorindigenouspractices,whereappropriate,tofacilitateconciliationandredressforvictims;

(c)informationabouttheirrightsinseekingredressthroughallthesemechanisms.

(2)StatePartiesshallensurethat the judicial,administrativeand informalprocessesareresponsivetotheneedsofvictims.Thisshouldbefacilitatedby:

(a)givingthevictimafairhearingwithinareasonabletimeinthedeterminationoftheirentitlementtoaremedyfortheinjury,lossordamagesufferedbythemasaresultoftheirvictimizationwithoutprejudicetotheaccused;

(b)allowingtheviewsandconcernsofvictimstobepresentedandconsideredatappropriatestagesof proceedingswhere their personal interests are affected,without prejudice to the accused andconsistentwiththerelevantdomesticcriminaljusticesystem;

(c) allowingvictims topresent their views and concerns themselvesor through legal or otherrepresentativeswithout prejudice to thediscretionof the court, tribunal or other appropriateauthority,andinconsonancewiththerelevantdomesticcriminaljusticesystem;

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(d) theprompt return to victimsof their property, takenor recoveredby thepolice or anyotheragencyforthepurposeoftheinvestigation,whennolongerneeded;

(e)providingtovictims,whereappropriate,therightofappealagainstdecisionsoftheprosecutorialauthoritynottoprosecuteincaseswheretheywerevictimized.

(f) providingproper assistance to victims throughout informal, administrative, investigative andjudicialprocesses;

(g) takingmeasures tominimize inconvenience to victims andprotect their privacywhereverappropriate;

(h)ensuringthesafetyofvictims,aswellasthatoftheirfamiliesandwitnessesontheirbehalf,fromintimidationandretaliation;

(i) avoidingunnecessarydelay in thedisposition of cases and theexecutionof orders or decreesgrantingawardstovictims;

(j)ensuringtheenforcementofanyorderordecreegrantingawardstovictims.

(3)StateParties shall reimbursevictims andwitnesses for their reasonable expenses related to theprocedureincurredasaresultoftheirlegitimateparticipationincriminalproceedings.

Article 6Protection of victims,witnesses and experts

(1)StateParties shall take appropriatemeasures in accordancewith their domestic legal systems toprotectthesafety,physical,psychological,andsocialwell-being,dignityandprivacyofvictims,witnessesandexperts frompotential retaliationor intimidation and, as appropriate, for their relatives andotherpersonsclosetothem.

(2)Themeasuresenvisagedinparagraph1ofthisarticlemayinclude:

(a)establishingprocedures for thephysicalprotectionof suchpersons, suchas,whereappropriate,non-disclosure or limitations on the disclosure of information concerning the identity andwhereaboutsofsuchpersons;and/ortotheextentnecessaryandfeasible,relocatingthem,changingtheiridentityandanyothermeasuresneededfortheirprotection;

(b) providingevidentiary rules to permit victims,witnesses andexperts to give testimony in amannerthatensuresthesafetyofsuchpersons,suchaspermittingtestimonytobegiventhroughtheuseofcommunicationstechnologysuchasvideoorotherappropriatemeans;

(c)agreementsorarrangementswithotherStatePartiesfortherelocationofpersons.

Article 7Information

(1)StateParties shall ensure that victimshave a right to information, andmust be informedof this,fromtheir firstcontactwith lawenforcementorotheragencies.StatePartiesshallensurethatvictimsreceivegeneral information in themost expeditious andefficientmethod appropriate to the culturesuch as throughoral orwritten communicationwith concern for literacy and literary traditions.Specific information should begivenperson toperson.Such information should facilitate an informedunderstandingforvictimsandshallbeatleastasfollows:

(a)thetypeofservicesororganizationstowhichtheycanturnforsupport;

(b)thetypeofsupportwhichtheycanobtain, includingtheavailabilityofhealthandsocialservicesandotherrelevantassistance;

(c)whereandhowtheycanreportanoffence;

(d)proceduresfollowingsuchareportandtheirroleinconnectionwithsuchprocedures;

(e) their roleand thescope, timingandprogressof theproceedingsandof the,dispositionof their

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cases,especiallywhereseriouscrimesareinvolvedandwheretheyhaverequestedsuchinformation;

(f)howandunderwhatconditionstheycanobtainprotection;

(g)towhatextentandonwhattermstheyhaveaccesstolegaladviceorlegalaid;

(h)requirementsforthemtobeentitledtocompensation;

(i)iftheyareresidentinanotherState,anyspecialarrangementsavailabletotheminordertoprotecttheirinterests;

(j)whereandhowvictimscouldobtainmoreinformation.

(2)StatePartiesshallensurethatvictimswhohaveexpressedawishtothiseffectarekeptinformedof:

(a)theoutcomeoftheircomplaint;

(b) relevant factors enabling them, in the event of prosecution, to know the conduct of theproceedings regarding thepersonprosecuted for offences concerning them,except in exceptionalcaseswheretheproperhandlingofthecasemaybeadverselyaffected;

(c)thecourt’ssentence.

(3)StatePartiesshalltakethenecessarymeasurestoensurethatthevictimisnotified,atleastincaseswheretheremightbedangertothevictim,whenthepersonprosecutedorsentencedforanoffenceisreleased.

(4)InsofarasStatePartiestakeforwardontheirowninitiativetheinformationreferredtoinparagraphs2and3,theyshallensurethatvictimshavetherightnottoreceiveit,unlesscommunicationthereofiscompulsoryunderthetermsoftherelevantcriminalproceedings.

Article 8Assistance

(1)StateParties shall ensure that thenecessarymaterial,medical, psychological and social assistanceto victims is provided throughgovernment, voluntary, community-based and indigenousmeans.Suchassistancemaybeprovidedthroughanyagenciesorcomprehensiveprogramsthatareappropriateunderdomesticlawsornorms.

(2)StatePartiesshouldbeencouragedtodevelopnetworksofcriminaljustice,socialservices,healthandmentalhealthservices,victimassistanceservicesandotherrelevantgroupsor institutions inordertofacilitatereferrals,coordinationandplanningamongthoseprovidingassistance.

(3)StateParties should beencouraged to establish local and regional victimassistance centers tocoordinatenetworks, develop andmake referrals, andprovideoutreach to victims anddirect serviceswhereappropriate.

(4)StatePartiesshallfacilitatethereferralofvictimsbythepoliceandotherrelevantagenciestovictimassistancecentersorotherserviceinstitutions.

(5)Languageunderstoodbyvictims should beencouraged. If translators areneeded, they should betrained in thesubjectmatter that theyareaddressingandvictimsupportpersonnel shouldbe familiarwithcommontermsthatwillbeused.

(6)StatePartiesshallseektoestablishthefollowingkindsofassistancetovictims:

A.ImmediateAssistance:

(a)medical attention and accompaniment tomedical exams, including first aid, emergencymedicalattention andmedical transport.Support services shouldbeprovided to victimswhen forensicexaminationsarecalledfororintheaftermathofdeath;

(b)materialsupportsuchasshelter,housing,transportation,orpropertyrepair;

(c)crisisintervention,involvingcrisiscounselingandproblemsolving;

(d) information andnotification aboutwhathappened to theextent that such informationdoesnot

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interferewith investigation, includingnotificationof any immediate responsibilities to the criminaljusticesystem.Assistanceshouldbeofferedinnotifyingfamilyorfriendsofwhathappened;

(e) protection from repeat victimization shouldbeprovided through thedevelopmentof safetyand security plans.Thismay include informationonpolice surveillance, relocation, emergencycommunicationandthelike.Itmayalsoinvolveassistancewithobtainingprotectionordersthroughthejudicialsystem;

(f)victimsshouldbeprotectedfrommediaintrusion;

(g) general support and advocacy should beofferedwhenvictims interactwith social, justice andmedicalinstitutionsaswellasappropriatereferralsforurgentneeds;

(h) confidentiality andprivacy shouldbeguaranteed to theextent allowableunder current lawandpolicy.

B.MediumtermAssistance:

(a)thecontinuationoftheservicesprovidedunderA‘ImmediateAssistance’;

(b)psycho/socialhealthandspiritual interventionsthatmayincludepost-traumacounseling,mentalhealththerapy,familycounseling,pastoralcounseling,ortraditionalhealingintercessions;

(c) assistancewith financial needsor claims including filing and advocacy for compensation claims,restitution,insurance,oremergencyfunds.

(d) legalreferralsshouldbeprovidedfor legalassistanceinthecriminalorcivil justicesystems.Totheextentpossiblesuchlegalassistanceshouldbefree.

(e) Information, support and assistance concerningoptions for participation in alternative justiceforumsshouldbeprovided.

C.LongtermAssistance:

(a) the continuationof the servicesprovidedunderA ‘ImmediateAssistance’ andB ‘MediumAssistance’;

(b)assurancesandre-establishmentof thevictim’splace inthe family,community,educationand intheworkplaceshouldbeencouraged;

Article 9Restorative justice

(1)StateParties shall endeavor,where appropriate, to establishor enhance systemsof restorativejustice, that seek to represent victims’ interests as a priority. State shall emphasize theneed foracceptancebytheoffenderofhisorherresponsibility fortheoffenceandtheacknowledgementof theadverseconsequencesoftheoffenceforthevictim.

(2)StateParties shall ensure that victims shall have theopportunity to chooseor tonot chooserestorative justice forumsunderdomestic laws, and if theydodecide to choose such forums, thesemechanismsmust accordwithvictims’ dignity, compassion and similar rights and services to thosedescribedinthisConvention.

Article 10Restitution including reparation

(1)StateParties shall legislate tomakeoffenders responsible for paying fair restitution to victims,their familiesordependants.Suchrestitutionshould includethereturnofpropertyorpayment fortheharmorlosssuffered,reimbursementofexpensesincurredasaresultofthevictimization,providetheopportunityforasincereapologywhereappropriateplacein9above,theprovisionofservicesandtherestorationofrights.

(a)StatePartiesshall reviewtheirpractices, regulations, lawsand theirconstitution toensure that

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restitutionisanavailablesentencingoptionincriminalcases.

(b) In casesof environmental crime,StateParties shall legislate to include restitution to restoretheenvironment, reconstructionof the infrastructure, replacementof community facilities andreimbursementof theexpensesof relocation,wheneversuchharmresults in thedislocationof thecommunity.

(c)Wherepublicofficialsorotheragentsacting inanofficialorquasi-official capacityhaveviolateddomestic criminal laws,StatePartiesshall legislate toprovide restitution tovictims from theStatewhoseofficials or agentswere responsible for theharm inflicted. In caseswhere theGovernmentunderwhoseauthority thevictimizingactoromissionoccurs isno longer inexistence, theStateorGovernmentsuccessorintitleshallproviderestitutiontothevictims.

(d)Whenthereisacourtorderforrestitution,theStatePartyshallberesponsibleforenforcingtheorder.

(e)Incaseswheretheoffenderisunderalegalobligationtopayrestitutionaswellasotherpecuniarysanctions,theformershallhaveprecedenceoverthelatter.

(f) In caseswhere thevictimseeks restitution through civil remedies,State shall endeavor toexpeditetheseproceedingsandminimizeexpenses.

Article 11Compensation

(1)Whenrestitutionisnotfullyavailablefromtheoffenderorothersources,StatePartiesshallendeavortoprovidefinancialcompensationto:

(a)victimswhohavesustainedsignificantbodilyinjuryorimpairmentofphysicalormentalhealthasaresultofintentionalviolentcrime;

(b) thevictims’ family, inparticulardependantsofpersonswhohavedied (orbecomephysicallyormentallyincapacitated)asaresultofsuchvictimization.

(2)Compensationshallbeprovidedfor:

(a)treatmentandrehabilitationforphysicalinjuries;

(b)painandsufferingandotherpsychologicalinjuriescausedtovictims;

(3)Stateshouldalsoconsidercompensationforlossofincome,funeralexpensesandlossofmaintenancefordependants.

(4)Theestablishment,strengtheningandexpansionofnational,regionalorlocalfundsforcompensationtovictimsshouldbeencouraged.StatePartiesmayconsiderproviding funds throughgeneral revenue,specialtaxes,fines,privatecontributions,andothersources.

(5)These funds shall guarantee fair, appropriate and timely compensation.They should also allow foremergency and/or interimpayments.Special care should be taken tomake the funds accessible.Thisrequires,inter alia,extensivedisseminationofinformationontheeligibilitycriteriaandtheproceduretobefollowed.Stateshouldalsoconsiderothermeanstoraisepublicawarenessoftheexistenceofthesefunds.

(6)Where appropriate, other fundsmay alsobeestablished for this purpose, including in those caseswhere theStateofwhich thevictim isanational isnot inaposition tocompensate thevictim for theharm.

(7) In cases of cross border victimization, the Statewhere the crime has occurred should paycompensationtotheforeignnational,subjecttotheprincipleofreciprocity.

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PART III IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND COOPERATIONArticle 12

Implementation

(1)StatePartiesshalltakeappropriatemeasuresto:

(a) bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary for theimplementationofthisConvention;

(b)establishandenhancesuchinstitutionsandmechanismsasmaybenecessaryfortheachievementoftheobjectivesofthisConvention;

(c)ensuretheestablishmentand/orenhancementofappropriateprocedures,whicharevictim-friendlyandwhichmustbeadheredto.

(2)StateParties shall ensure that personnel dealingwithvictims andwitnessesmakeeveryeffort toadoptaninterdisciplinaryandcooperativeapproachinaidingthem.Thisapproachmayincludeprotocolsfor thedifferent stagesof the justiceprocess to encourage cooperation amongbodies that provideservicestovictimsandwitnesses.

(3)StateParties shall ensure thebuildingof partnerships among local, national and internationalstakeholders, including intergovernmental andnon-governmentalorganizations, civil societyaswell astheprivate sector in the implementationprocess.To this end, all stakeholders shall beencouraged tocontributetotheresourcesrequiredforimplementation.

(4)StatePartiesshallfoster,developandimproveinternationalcooperationinorderto:

(a) facilitatethemoreeffectiveprotectionofvictims’ interests in informal,administrativeor judicialproceedings;

(b)promotemutual assistance for thepurposeof facilitatingcollectionandexchangeof informationandthedetection,investigationandprosecutionofcrimes.

(5)StatePartiesshallprovideadequatetraining,educationandinformationtoallpersonsworkingwithvictims andwitnesseswith a view to improving and sustainingparticularmethods, approaches andattitudesthatprotectanddealeffectivelyandsensitivelywithvictimsandwitnesses.Thistrainingshouldparticularlybeaimedatavoidingsecondaryvictimization.

(6)StatePartiesshallensurethatsufficientinformation,adviceandassistancebeprovidedto:

(a)victimsinordertoenablethemtobeempoweredtoseekassistancefromappropriatequarterssoastobeabletoreceivejustice,supportandassistanceinrespectoftheirvictimization;

(b)membersofthepublicinordertoenablethemtounderstandthereasonsforprovisionofjustice,supportandassistancetovictims.

(7)StateParties shall foster, develop and improve cooperationbetweenState in order to facilitate themoreeffective implementationof theprovisions contained in thisConvention and themoreeffectiveprotectionofvictims´interestsincriminalproceedings,whetherintheformofnetworksdirectlylinkedtothejudicialsystemoroflinksbetweenorganizationswhichprovidesupporttovictims.

Article 13Monitoring

(1)StatePartiesshall takeappropriatemeasurestomonitortheefficiencyandeffectivenessofpoliciesandmeasuresdesigned for the implementationof thisConvention. Inparticular, they shall undertakeperiodical reviewandevaluationof their legislation, regulations andprocedures, including theuseofresearch.

(2)StateParties shall ensure that thevarious agencies, organsor bodiesdealingwithvictims shallsubmitperiodicreportstoanappropriateauthoritywithintheirdomesticjurisdictiondesignatedforthispurpose.

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(3)StatePartiesundertake tomake theprinciplesandprovisionsof thisConventionwidelyknownbyappropriateandactivemeans.

Article 14Committee on Justice and Support for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power

(1)ForthepurposeofexaminingtheprogressmadebyStatePartiesinachievingtherealizationoftheobligationsundertakenintheConvention,thereshallbeestablishedaCommitteeonJusticeandSupportofVictimsofCrimeandAbuseofPower,whichshallcarryoutthefunctionshereinafterprovided.

(a)TheCommitteeshallconsistoftenexpertsofhighmoralstandingandrecognizedcompetenceinthefieldcoveredbythisConvention.ThemembersoftheCommitteeshallbeelectedbyStatePartiesfromamong their nationals and shall serve in their personal capacity, considerationbeinggiven toequitablegeographicaldistribution,aswellastotheprincipallegalsystems.

(b)ThemembersoftheCommitteeshallbeelectedbysecretballotfromalistofpersonsnominatedbyStateParties.EachStatePartymaynominateonepersonfromamongitsownnationals.

(c)TheinitialelectiontotheCommitteeshallbeheldnolaterthansixmonthsafterthedateoftheentry into forceof thepresentConvention and thereafter every secondyear.At least fourmonthsbeforethedateofeachelection,theSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNationsshalladdressalettertoStateParties inviting them tosubmit theirnominationswithin twomonths.TheSecretary-Generalshall subsequently prepare a list in alphabetical orderof all persons thusnominated, indicatingStatePartieswhichhavenominated them, and shall submit it to theStateParties to thepresentConvention.

(d)Theelections shall beheld atmeetingsofStateParties convenedby theSecretary-General atUnitedNationsHeadquarters.Atthosemeetings,forwhichtwothirdsofStatePartiesshallconstitutea quorum, thepersonselected to theCommittee shall be thosewhoobtain the largestnumberofvotesandanabsolutemajorityofthevotesoftherepresentativesofStatePartiespresentandvoting.

(e)ThemembersoftheCommitteeshallbeelectedforatermoffouryears.Theyshallbeeligibleforre-electionifre-nominated.Thetermoffiveofthememberselectedatthefirstelectionshallexpireattheendoftwoyears;immediatelyafterthefirstelection,thenamesofthesefivemembersshallbechosenbylotbytheChairmanofthemeeting.

(f)IfamemberoftheCommitteediesorresignsordeclaresthatforanyothercauseheorshecannolongerperformthedutiesoftheCommittee,theStatePartywhichnominatedthemembershallappointanotherexpertfromamongitsnationalstoservefortheremainderoftheterm,subjecttotheapprovaloftheCommittee.

(g)TheCommitteeshallestablishitsownrulesofprocedure.

(h)TheCommitteeshallelectitsofficersforaperiodoftwoyears.

(i)Themeetingsof theCommittee shall normally beheld atUnitedNationsHeadquarters or atanyother convenient place as determinedby theCommittee.TheCommittee shall normallymeetannually.Thedurationof themeetingsof theCommittee shall bedetermined, and reviewed, ifnecessary,byameetingoftheStatePartiestothepresentConvention,subjecttotheapprovaloftheGeneralAssembly.

(j)TheSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNationsshallprovidethenecessarystaffandfacilitiesfortheeffectiveperformanceofthefunctionsoftheCommitteeunderthepresentConvention.

(k)With the approval of theGeneralAssembly, themembersof theCommitteeestablishedunderthepresentConventionshallreceiveemolumentsfromUnitedNationsresourcesonsuchtermsandconditionsastheAssemblymaydecide.

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Article 15(1)StatePartiesundertake to submit to theCommittee, through theSecretary-General of theUnitedNations,reportsonthemeasurestheyhaveadoptedwhichgiveeffecttotherightsrecognizedhereinandontheprogressmadeontheenjoymentofthoserights:

(a)withintwoyearsoftheentryintoforceoftheConventionfortheStatePartyconcerned;

(b)thereaftereveryfiveyears.

(2)Reportsmadeunder thepresentArticle shall indicate factors anddifficulties, if any, affecting thedegreeoffulfillmentoftheobligationsunderthepresentConvention.ReportsshallalsocontainsufficientinformationtoprovidetheCommitteewithacomprehensiveunderstandingoftheimplementationoftheConventioninthecountryconcerned.

(3)AStatePartywhichhassubmittedacomprehensiveinitialreporttotheCommitteeneednot,initssubsequent reports submitted in accordancewithparagraph1 (b) of thepresent article, repeat basicinformationpreviouslyprovided.

(4)TheCommitteemayrequestfromStatePartiesfurtherinformationrelevanttotheimplementationoftheConvention.

(5)TheCommittee shall submit to theGeneralAssembly, through theEconomic andSocialCouncil,everytwoyears,reportsonitsactivities.

(6)StatePartiesshallmaketheirreportswidelyavailabletothepublicintheirowncountries.

(7)TheCommitteeisentitled,whereappropriate,tomakeon-sitevisitstoassessprogressmadeintheimplementationoftheConvention.

Article 16Cooperation

(1) Inorder to foster theeffective implementationof theConvention and to encourage internationalco-operationinthefieldcoveredbytheConvention:

(a)TheUnitedNationsOfficeonDrugs andCrime, the specialized agencies andotherUnitedNationsorgansshallbeentitledtoberepresentedattheconsiderationoftheimplementationofsuchprovisionsofthepresentConventionasfallwithinthescopeoftheirmandate.TheCommitteemayinvitetheUnitedNationsOfficeonDrugsandCrime,thespecializedagenciesandothercompetentbodies as itmay consider appropriate to provide expert advice on the implementation of theConventioninareasfallingwithinthescopeoftheirrespectivemandates.TheCommitteemayinvitetheUnitedNationsOffice forDrugs andCrime, the specialized agencies andotherUnitedNationsorganstosubmitreportsontheimplementationoftheConventioninareasfallingwithinthescopeoftheiractivities;

(b)TheCommitteeshalldeveloparegulardialogueanddiscusspossibleareasofcooperationwithallrelevant actors, includingnational human rights institutions, governments, relevantUnitedNationbodies, specialized agencies andprograms, in particularwith theUnitedNationsOffice onDrugsandCrime,theCounter-TerrorismCommitteeoftheSecurityCouncilandtheOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRights.

(c)TheCommittee shall transmit, as itmay consider appropriate, to theUnitedNationsOfficeforDrugs andCrime, specialized agencies andother competent bodies, any reports fromStateParties that containa request,or indicate aneed, for technical adviceor assistance, alongwith theCommittee’sobservationsandsuggestions,ifany,ontheserequestsorindications;

(d)TheCommitteemay recommend to theGeneralAssembly to request theSecretary-Generaltoundertakeon its behalf studieson specific issues relating to thematters coveredunder thisConvention.

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PART IV CONCLUDING PROVISIONSArticle 17ThepresentConventionshallbeopenforsignaturebyallState.

Article 18ThepresentConventionissubjecttoratification.Instrumentsofratificationshallbedepositedwiththe

Secretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNations.

Article 19ThepresentConventionshallremainopenforaccessionbyanyState.Theinstrumentsofaccessionshall

bedepositedwiththeSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNations.

Article 20(1)ThepresentConventionshallenterintoforceonthethirtiethdayfollowingthedateofdepositwiththeSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNationsofthetwentiethinstrumentofratificationoraccession.

(2)ForeachStateratifyingoraccedingtotheConventionafterthedepositofthetwentiethinstrumentofratificationoraccession,theConventionshallenterintoforceonthethirtiethdayafterthedepositbysuchStateofitsinstrumentofratificationoraccession.

Article 21(1)AnyStatePartymaypropose an amendment and file itwith theSecretary-General of theUnitedNations.TheSecretary-GeneralshallthereuponcommunicatetheproposedamendmenttoStateParties,with a request that they indicatewhether they favor a conferenceofStateParties for thepurposeofconsideringandvotingupontheproposals.Intheeventthat,withinfourmonthsfromthedateofsuchcommunication, at least one thirdof theStateParties favor such a conference, theSecretary-Generalshall convene the conferenceunder the auspicesof theUnitedNations.Any amendment adoptedbyamajorityofStatePartiespresent andvoting at the conference shall be submitted to theGeneralAssemblyforapproval.

(2)Anamendmentadopted inaccordancewithparagraph1of thepresentarticleshallenter into forcewhenithasbeenapprovedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNationsandacceptedbyatwo-thirdsmajorityofStateParties.

(3)Whenanamendmententersintoforce,itshallbebindingonthoseStatePartieswhichhaveacceptedit, otherStateParties still beingboundby theprovisionsof thepresentConvention and anyearlieramendmentswhichtheyhaveaccepted.

Article 22(1)TheSecretary-General of theUnitedNations shall receive and circulate to all State the text ofreservationsmadebyStateatthetimeofratificationoraccession.

(2)A reservation incompatiblewith theobject andpurposeof thepresentConvention shall not bepermitted.

(3)ReservationsmaybewithdrawnatanytimebynotificationtothateffectaddressedtotheSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNations,whoshalltheninformallState.SuchnotificationshalltakeeffectonthedateonwhichitisreceivedbytheSecretary-General

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Article 23AStatePartymaydenouncethepresentConventionbywrittennotificationtotheSecretaryGeneralof

theUnitedNations.DenunciationbecomeseffectiveoneyearafterthedateofreceiptofthenotificationbytheSecretary-General.

Article 24TheSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNationsisdesignatedasthedepositaryofthepresentConvention.

Article 25Theoriginal of thepresentConvention, ofwhich theArabic,Chinese,English,French,Russian and

Spanishtextsareequallyauthentic,shallbedepositedwiththeSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNations.

INWITNESSTHEREOF theundersignedplenipotentiaries, beingduly authorized theretoby theirrespectivegovernments,havesignedthepresentConvention.

i. introduction - unafei · governments have established special offices dedicated to victims of...

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