Victims must know their rights
Crime Victims’ Rights week aims at providing information about what interventions and services are provided by government departments to victims of crime.
eMBALENHLE – Victims of crime have rights and are urged to know what they are.
That was the message of the local staff of the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development, the South African Social Security Agency, the Department of Justice, the police, Kohin, community development workers, loveLife, the South African National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, members of the sector crime policing forum and various non-profit organisations that take part in the Victims’ Rights Week from 15 to 26 September.
They are holding a workshop, an awareness campaign, a door-to-door visit, a road show, a community dialogue and an information session throughout the week.
The week is aimed providing integrated public awareness on rights and services available to victims of crime.
In addition to providing information, it also provides government officials with an opportunity to respond to issues faced by the public and crime victims, in a coordinated manner.
Crime Victims’ Rights Week uses the Victims’ Charter as the foundation for raising awareness about victims’ rights.
It is based on existing rights in the Constitution Act 108 of 1996 and other related legislation and contains seven rights:
* The right to be treated with fairness and with respect to your dignity and privacy.
* The right to offer information.
* The right to receive information.
* The right to protection.
* The right to assistance.
* The right to compensation.
* The right to restitution.
