ARTICLE
“Victims should be treated with compassion
and respect for their dignity. They are entitled to access to the mechanisms
of justice and to prompt redress, as provided for by national legislation,
for the harm they have suffered.”
– U.N. Victims Declaration, paragraph four
When crimes happen, the victims suffer. There is no such thing as a ‘victimless crime’ even though focus on part of prosecutors, defense attorneys, or the media may not highlight the role of the victim. As well, numbers and statistics pay little heed to the pain and suffering the victims and their families endure when acts of violence are perpetrated – which can manifest itself in many ways, from anguish to frustration to being ignored. This is mostly attributed to the legal process being embroiled in pursuing ‘justice’ in the form of punishing the criminal and fulfilling the norms for social behavior.
Nowadays, however, beginning with prominent cases in the US, there is increasing attention being devoted to this subject. As well, this seems to riding the wave of general weight given to the importance of basic human rights, which includes that of victims along with a host of other marginalized group, such as women, minorities, aboriginals, and so on. This means that a just and fair legal system incorporates due consideration for the experience of victims when a crime has been committed.
In 2003, in Trinidad, the British Home Office declared a public commitment to reform the criminal justice system so the rights of victims are pushed forward in importance and be at the core of everything the legal system does. It was a fitting demonstration of the fact the subject has reached the shores of this country and all the more appropriate given the dire need for giving it its due attention. The actions of the Home Office are aimed principally to victims of non-lethal crimes, as opposed to that of relatives of murdered victims.
Universal Rights
“Victims have the right to truth, justice and
reparation. They have the right to be treated with humanity and respect for
their dignity. Appropriate measures should be taken to ensure their safety,
physical and psychological well-being, and privacy, as well as that of their
families. Victims have the right to participate in the proceedings and to
adequate, effective and prompt reparation, which should be proportional to
the gravity of the violations and the harm suffered.”
Amnesty International
Along with statutes and provisions being followed by countries like the US or member states of the EU, the actual victims’ rights being focused on aim at preventing secondary victimization. This is bolstered by initiatives to provide suitable and adequate training for those that interface with victims, such as police officers and legal officials.
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