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The DVA and the Victim Empowerment Programme

The DVA and the Victim Empowerment Programme. Gender Advocacy Programme (GAP). Origin of the VEP. VEP is one of the key programmes of the National Crime Prevention Strategy (launched in January 1999). Four pillars of the national Crime Prevention Strategy:

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The DVA and the Victim Empowerment Programme

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  1. The DVA and the Victim Empowerment Programme Gender Advocacy Programme (GAP)

  2. Origin of the VEP VEP is one of the key programmes of the National Crime Prevention Strategy (launched in January 1999). Four pillars of the national Crime Prevention Strategy: Pillar 1: Making the criminal justice system more effective and efficient. Pillar 2: Reducing crime through environmental design. Pillar 3: Focusing on public values and education. Pillar 4: Reducing cross-border criminal activity. VEP is one of 9 programmes of Pillar 1.

  3. What is the VEP? An inter-sectoral, inter-departmental programme that seeks to promote a victim-centred approach to crime prevention. Seeks to develop services and programmes for victims of crime and violence to minimise the effects of crime on victims. VEP has a targeted focus on women and children, and is based on the principle that the roles and rights of the victim are central to addressing the effects of crime.

  4. Components of the VEP Training with Justice and SAPS officials to foster greater victim sensitivity. Victim support programme based on surveys of victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system. Provision of basic info to victims regarding the progress of cases as well as info that helps victims to lay complaints more easily. The DSD is the lead implementing agency, but works in collaboration with other depts such as Health, Justice, Correctional Services, SAPS and Education.

  5. Policy framework for VEP A. Service Charter for victims of crime outlines 7 rights of victims: The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for dignity and privacy The right to offer information (participate in criminal justice proceedings – i.e. bail hearings, trial, sentencing, Parole Board hearings) The right to receive information (re own rights, available services, role in and status of case, prosecutor to inform employer of proceedings) The right to protection (being free from intimidation, harassment and having access to witness protection)

  6. Policy framework for VEP 5. The right to assistance (access to legal, social, health and counseling services) 6. The right to compensation (for loss or damage to property) 7. The right to restitution (where unlawfully dispossessed of goods / damage to property)

  7. Policy framework for VEP The Minimum Standards for Service Delivery in Victim Empowerment defines services standards and makes special provisions for victims of domestic violence i.t.o. shelters, safety and security, healthcare, and access to education for children. Uniform Protocol on Victim Empowerment seeks specifically to address the needs of victims of sexual offences and domestic violence. Integrated Victim Empowerment Policy provides guidelines i.t.o. the establishment, development and delivery of victim empowerment services.

  8. Problems with the VEP On the whole, women do not know their rights in terms of the access to services that domestic violence complainants are entitled to. The component of the VEP that deals with training justice and police officials to introduce greater victim sensitivity is ineffectual and needs to be reassessed. The component of the VEP that deals with the provision of basic information to complainants regarding the progress of all cases as well as information that allows complainants to lay complaints more easily is not functioning as it should.

  9. Problems with the VEP The 7 rights of victims outlined in the Service Charter for Victims of Crime in South Africa are not being realised: W.r.t. the right to be treated with fairness and respect for dignity and privacy, complainants are often subjected to secondary victimisation by the lack of dignity afforded them by Government officials. W.r.t. the right to offer information, many women are denied this right by not beinggivenan opportunity to participate in criminal justice proceedings such as bail, trial sentencing and parole board hearings.

  10. Problems with the VEP W.r.t. the right to receive information, many women are not informed of their rights in their language of choice, are not informed of available services, their role in the case, the projected duration of the case, the status of the case and of their right to have the prosecutor inform their employer of their absence from work. W.r.t. the right to protection which entails being free from intimidation and harassment, inadequate resource allocation currently reduces this right to existing only on paper without any real means of its practical enforcement. W.r.t. the right to assistance such as access to social, health, counselling and legal services, much documented evidence exists of the extent to which this right has been violated.

  11. Problems with the VEP W.r.t. the right of victims of violent crime to compensation, many women are still unable to access compensation for loss of or damage to their property. W.r.t. the right to restitution, many women have been denied restitution where they have unlawfully been dispossessed of their goods and/ or property. While the Minimum Standards for Service Delivery in Victim Empowerment defines acceptable service levels and standards, Government service delivery appears to be largely oblivious to these stipulations.

  12. Problems with the VEP Secondary victimisation is not defined in the Victims’ Charter nor the Minimum Standards. The Uniform Protocol on Victim Empowerment and the Integrated Victim Empowerment Policy lack monitoring. The VEP currently does not have an M&E strategy. There is a need for Victim Empowerment legislation. Need to re-assess the grant-making process – e,g, shelters are unable to apply for grants as they are not considered a “direct service”.

  13. Recommendations Assessment of policy provisions and addressing the impediments to implementation of these provisions. Need for greater inter-sectoral collaboration to maximize the impact of VEP. Adequate resource allocation to give effect to policy provisions. Assessment and improvement of service delivery by SAPS and DoJ. Victim Empowerment legislation.

  14. Recommendations Creating a victim friendly legal system, including support for legal professionals in integrating victim support into legal service. Need for appropriate, adequate healthcare. Meeting basic needs of victims to avoid secondary victimisation (e.g. transport, shelter). Recognise the needs of secondary victims (e.g. children). Re-assess funding criteria for VEP grants to civil society organisations.

  15. Thank you

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