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OVERVIEW OF THE VICTIM EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

OVERVIEW OF THE VICTIM EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME. PRESENTED BY : Ms Conny Nxumalo 15 Sept 2009. Outline of the presentation. Introduction Vision and Purpose Priority target groups Institutional mechanism VEP stakeholders Roles of different stakeholders Achievements

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OVERVIEW OF THE VICTIM EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

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  1. OVERVIEW OF THE VICTIM EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME PRESENTED BY : Ms Conny Nxumalo 15 Sept 2009

  2. Outline of the presentation • Introduction • Vision and Purpose • Priority target groups • Institutional mechanism • VEP stakeholders • Roles of different stakeholders • Achievements • Shelters and one stop centres • EU/VEP Support Programme • Provincial services • Challenges • Conclusion

  3. INTRODUCTION • VEP is a programme under pillar one of the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) of 1996 which was later replaced by the Justice Crime Prevention Strategy in 1999 • NCPS advocated a victim centered, restorative justice system approach to crime prevention. • VEP was formally launched in August 1998,however full implementation only started in January 1999 on the availability of RDP funds • The programme is based on strong partnerships with government, civil society organisations, volunteers, business, academics and research institutions • The programme focuses on victim-centered approach to crime and strives towards developing knowledge of victim issues,strenghtening resources, addressing needs of the victims, and stimulating volunteer participation ,prevention of secondary victimisation etc

  4. INTRODUCTION CONT.. • VEP is an inter-sectoral and interdepartmental programme. • DSD is the lead department and host the secretariat for the VE Management Team. • DSD is responsible for the co-ordination, managing and facilitate development and implementation of victim empowerment policies, services and programmes. • National Victim Empowerment Management Team is responsible for providing strategic direction to Programme. • Provinces also have Provincial VEP Forums that facilitate interaction of all relevant stakeholders in each province.

  5. VISION & PURPOSE • VISION A society in which crime prevention is prioritised and the rights and needs of victims of crime and violence are acknowledged and effectively addressed within a restorative justice framework. • MISSION To develop, strengthen and monitor integrated victim empowerment policies, programmes and services at all levels through strategic partnerships within and between government and civil society organisations.

  6. OBJECTIVES • Objective 1: Policy and Legislation This objective aims at developing policy package to guide the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of integrated intersectoral programmes and services in VE sector. • Objective 2:Management This objective aims to establish and sustain effective VEP governance and management systems within government at all levels. • Objective 3:Service Delivery This objective aims to enhance the scope and quality of service to victims of crime and violence especially in rural areas.

  7. OBJECTIVES CONT.. • Objective 4: Training and Capacity Building The aim is to facilitate training and capacity building of VEP service providers in government and the CSO sector. Training ought to focus on victim empowerment and trauma support. • Objective 5: Research, Monitoring & Evaluation The objective focuses on monitoring and evaluating the impact of VEP projects on victims and the development of database of victim empowerment related research, norms, standards and practice guidelines

  8. Priority Target groups • Women and children • People with disabilities and older persons • Youth ( teenage girls and boys) • Men and boys • Victims of human trafficking • Victims of sexual assault and rape • Victims of domestic violence

  9. Institutional Mechanism • National VEP management team chaired by DSD • Provincial forums chaired by DSD • IJS development committee for the cluster wherein VEP reports to • DG ‘s Cluster and Cabinet

  10. VEP KEY STAKEHOLDERS • Department of Social Development (DSD) • Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) • National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) • Department of Health (DoH) • Department of Correctional Service (DCS) • Department of Education (DoE) • South African Police Service (SAPS) • Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)

  11. ROLES OF STAKEHOLDERS • DSD • Facilitate and co-ordinate the VEP sector. • Trauma counseling and debriefing. • Establish shelters and One Stop Centres • Training victim empowerment service providers on victim empowerment and trauma support. • Conduct campaigns to create awareness on victimisation related issues focusing on prevention and services available. • Strengthen and support civil society organizations ( technically and financially)

  12. ROLES OF STAKEHOLDERS CONT.. • Doj&cd • Co-ordinate development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Victims Charter. • Court preparation of evidence in private. • Providing support to victims in court. • Providing separate waiting facilities for victims and perpetrators in court. • Establishment of specialised Family Courts.

  13. ROLES OF STAKEHOLDERS CONT… • NPA • Establishment of specialised Sexual Offences Courts. • Co-ordinate the establishment of Thuthuzela Care Centres for victims of rape. • Development of an integrated, inter-department training manual on domestic violence. • Partnerships with NGOs to provide court support and court preparation services at the Sexual Offences Courts.

  14. ROLES OF STAKEHOLDERS CONT… • DoH • Development of the patients’ Rights Charter in alignment with the implementation Plan of the Victim Empowerment Victim’s Charter. • Development of Sexual Assault Policy Guidelines for Medical personnel. • Develop of post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines. • Emergency and on-going medical, medico-legal services, anti-retroviral drugs, contraceptives.

  15. ROLES OF STAKEHOLDERS CONT… • DCS -Ensuring victim’s participation in the parole board hearings. - Notify victims about the release of offenders. • Effective rehabilitation and re-integration of offenders into society. • Victim Offender Mediation Programmes. • Reduction of victimisation of inmates in the correctional facilities.

  16. ROLES OF STAKEHOLDERS CONT.. • DoE • Prevention of victimisation of learners in schools environment. • Development of school safety policies relating sexual harassment, substance abuse and management of sexual abuse by educators and learners in school. • Training of educators and SGB members on gender-based violence in schools. • Develop a framework on health and wellness in Education.

  17. ROLES OF STAKEHOLDERS • SAPS • Informing victims of their rights, taking statement in private and referral to the victim support services. • Professional and sensitive treatment of victims and witnesses during statement taking and investigation of crime. • Establishment of victim support rooms. • Feedback regarding status of the case.

  18. ROLES OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS • CSO,S forms a strong component of VEP.Their major role is advocacy for vulnerable groups and partners with government in providing services: • Advocating for victims rights and providing services to victims of crime and violence. • Expanding knowledge in the field of victim empowerment especially in the areas of crime prevention, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. • Provision of professional and scientific programme support by academic and research institutions

  19. ACHIEVEMENTS • Various policy and legislative frame work developed to support the programme • The Victim’s Charter was approved in 2004, and currently being implemented. • Implementation of the Domestic ViolenceAct,116 of 1998 • Promulgation and implementation of Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act,32 of 2007 • Strategy for Shelters for Victims of Domestic Violence in SA • Minimum standards for service delivery in Victim Empowerment • Strategy for Engagement of Men and Boys in Prevention of Gender-Based Violence

  20. ACHIEVEMENTS • Five One Stop Centers for Victim’s of Crime and Violence established in five provinces viz Mpumalanga,E Cape, Northwest ,W Cape and Northern Cape. . • 19 Victim Empowerment Project run by NGO’S funded through the Criminal Asset Recovery Funds(CARA) • participation on the 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign • Participation in 365 Days Programme of Action to end Gender-Based Violence • Researches were conducted in the VEP sector for evidence based planning and programming e.g. impact analysis of the VEP projects, “From Policy to Practice” Victim Empowerment in SA and National Survey on Domestic Violence just to mention a few • Full time VEP co-ordinators appointed in all nine provinces.

  21. ACHIEVEMENTS • More shelters for abused women have been established from 39 in 2001 to 96 in 2009. • Establishment of Thuthuzela Care Centres by NPA–currently 17. • Guidelines for management of child abuse and neglect . • Clinical Forensic Medicine Policy developed. • Establishment of victim support rooms in police stations. • Policy guidelines for Victim empowerment programme • Resource directory finalized • DSD Guidelines on the services to domestic violence, serious and violent crimes, victims of sexual offences and human trafficking

  22. SHELTERS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE • Currently 96 shelters exist throughout SA as reflected in the database of the provincial offices of the department. • Significant milestone made by the department to ensure that there are safe shelters to protect, care and support victims of crime and violence. • The number of shelters per province are as follows: • Western Cape Province = 15 • Eastern Cape Province = 11 • Gauteng Province = 27 • Free State Province = 10 • Northern Cape Province = 5 • Limpopo Province = 9 • Mpumalanga Province = 3 • Kwa-Zulu Natal Province = 13 • North West Province = 3 • Total = 96 • Efforts are still made by the department to continue facilitating the establishment of shelters in province especially Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga and the Free State.

  23. EU/VEP SUPPORT PROGRAMME KRA’S • Implementation plan on Victim Empowerment Policies including the Victims Charter and Integrated Victim Empowerment Policy are disseminated to service providers and the public. • Improved coordination between relevant victim empowerment government departments both vertically and horizontally and with civil society organizations. • The capacity of government staff to implement policies and comply with minimum standards in all relevant government departments is strengthened. • The capacity of the National and Provincial Departments of Social Development and Victim empowerment Coordinators of other government agencies to manage, coordinate and lead the government’s VEP is strengthened. • Improving the capacity to CSOs in delivering services to victims of crime.

  24. EU/VEP SUPPORT PROGRAMME Implementation plan on Victim Empowerment Policies including the Victims Charter and Integrated Victim Empowerment Policy are disseminated to service providers and the public. • 50,000 copies of the Service Charter for Victims of Crime in South Africa and the Minimum Standards for Service Delivery in Victim Empowerment printed and disseminated; • 20,000 copies of the National Policy Guidelines on Victim Empowerment printed; • National Policy Guidelines for Victim Empowerment and a National Directory of VE Resources launched in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Social Development; • Workshops to disseminate the Victim Empowerment Policy; Minimum Standards on Service Delivery in Victim Empowerment; the Shelter Strategy; and the Victims Charter held for approximately 300 government and civil society service providers

  25. EU/VEP SUPPORT PROGRAMME . Implementation plan on Victim Empowerment Policies including the Victims Charter and Integrated Victim Empowerment Policy are disseminated to service providers and the public. • In June 2008, a major conference for Civil Society Organisations was held in Birchwood to discuss VE activities and gaps in services, attended by over 200 delegates; • In August 2008, a national conference in Durban marked the 10th Anniversary of the Victim Empowerment Programme in South Africa. • In the 16 Days of Activism 2008 copies of policy documents referred to above and other promotional materials were distributed; • A One Stop Centre for victims of violence was launched in Vryburg, North West Province; • On International Drugs Day 2009 4,000 T-shirts were distributed with messages against drug abuse and violence against women and children

  26. EU/VEP SUPPORT PROGRAMME Improved coordination between relevant victim empowerment government departments both vertically and horizontally and with civil society organizations. • As of August 2009 all Project Coordinators and their Assistants were in post and in eight of the nine provinces were occupying offices provided by the Department of Social Development; • Six of nine provinces (Gauteng, North West, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Western Cape and KZN) held provincial Forum Meetings bringing together key stakeholders from government and civil society; • District level forums were established or revived in North West, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal and Northern Cape where a Junior Forum of High School students was also established.

  27. EU/VEP SUPPORT PROGRAMME The capacity of government staff to implement policies and comply with minimum standards in all relevant government departments is strengthened. • Capacity Development Assessment conducted through participatory workshops, interviews and circulation of questionnaires involving staff from all national and provincial government departments with Victim Empowerment mandates; • Results of the above assessment were presented to and approved by the Programme Steering Committee meetings in February and May 2009. • Technical evaluation of proposals for service providers for Integrated Trauma Service completed and contracting process near completion;

  28. EU/VEP SUPPORT PROGRAMME • Capacity of the National and Provincial Departments of Social Development and Victim empowerment Coordinators of other government agencies to manage, coordinate and lead the government’s VEP is strengthened. • Capacity Development Strategy in place • Capacity Development Expert recruited to “shadow” PMU Expert; • “Facilitating Learning” training manuals completed and distributed; • Eighty five (85) staff members from National and Provincial Departments of Social Development trained as trainers; • Tool to assess Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) of M & E in key departments; • National and Provincial workshops to develop a generic monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework.

  29. EU/VEP SUPPORT PROGRAMME Improving the capacity to CSOs in delivering services to victims of crime. • CSO survey and grant applicants used to develop a database with geo-mapping to show location and specialization of civil sector service providers; • Grants scheme was developed and approved by the Project Steering Committee in February 2009; • To assist CSOs in developing strong proposals, 21 Proposal Writing workshops were held attended by 400+ representatives of CSOs and 32 from Provincial Departments of Social Development. Future events will involve a further 270 CSO representatives and 85 from DSD; • Training manual “Finance Management for Non Financial Managers”.

  30. EU/VEP SUPPORT PROGRAMME

  31. Other provincial services • VICTIM SUPPORT PROGRAMMES • Life Skills Programme • Parenting Skills • Healthy life styles • Skills Development/ Economic Development • Income generation projects e.g. catering, beadwork etc • Psycho social intervention programmes • Counseling – individual, group or family • Debriefing • Trauma counseling • Help lines (in specific provinces) • Prevention programmes • Awareness campaigns

  32. CHALLENGES • Lack of Monitoring and evaluation mechanism • Inadequate facilities for victims of crime and geographic spread of such facilities. • Few civil society organizations providing services in rural areas in the sector • High staff turnover in provinces • Lack of marketing/communication strategies for the programme

  33. Conclusion • The Process of strengthening VEP through the EU Programme of Assistance to VEP is in progress. • Specific Budget to fund NGO’s VEP initiatives has been set aside. • Project Co-ordinators have been recruited in all nine provinces through EU funding. • Plans to strengthen Provincial &Local VEP Fora are in place with EU funding . • In the process of conducting a feasibility study through EU Programme of Assistance to develop a Victim Empowerment Legislation

  34. THANK YOU

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