Programme director
EU Commission Ambassador, Mr Lodewijk Briët
UNODC Representative, Dr Jonathan Lucas
Deputy Director-General, Dr Maria Mabetoa
Chairperson of the Integrated Justice System Development Committee, Mr Simon Jiyane
National Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) management team members
Representatives of national civil society organisations
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
It is my great pleasure to be here this morning to launch two important documents, namely, the national policy guidelines and the directory on services for victims of violence and crime. I appreciate the opportunity to address so many of you who are in the forefront of providing services to victims of violence and crime. From the outset let me acknowledge, on behalf of the government, the very important work you do to help restore the normal functioning of those who benefit from your services.
A special word of thanks should goes to the European Commission and the United Nations office on drugs and crime for their continued technical and financial support.
This is indeed a very timely exercise because violence and crime are major social problems, if not the most serious, in South Africa today. Our government recognises that violent crimes against women and children in our communities remain areas of major national concern. For this reason, government has made the fight against crime and violence a key priority.
As you are aware, this year 2009 marks the 11th anniversary of the victim empowerment programme. The victim empowerment programme was launched in August 1998 under pillar one of the national crime prevention strategy of 1996. The aim of this programme is to develop, strengthen and monitor the implementation of the integrated victim empowerment policies in partnership with civil society organisations. The emphasis of the programme is placed on prevention of victimisation, providing support, protecting and empowerment of victims of crime and violence with a special focus on vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly and people with disabilities.
I am happy with the progress we have made since the launch of the programme. However, we need to step up our collective efforts to ensure safer and more secure communities. As a matter of urgency, we will ensure the coverage of VEP services reach rural communities. Equally important, we intend to address the shortage of personnel to obviate secondary victimisation as well as improve our capacity to deal effectively render intermediary services for child victims of sexual offences.
Most often than not, our police officers are the first line of response to cases of violence and crime. We therefore need to ensure proper training of police officers dealing with such cases. At the same time, we need to ensure that we increase the number of police stations with victim friendly rooms and augment the capacity of forensic health services. You will agree with me that all these factors are essential elements of the victim support programme.
Today’s launch is the culmination of extensive work and consultation with all partners in the VEP sector. The policy guidelines provide a framework for intersectoral collaboration within the broader concept of restorative justice. This approach will facilitates partnerships and address the diverse and sensitive needs of victims of violence and crime in a holistic manner. Within this framework, the policy guidelines aim to:
* give strategic direction on the development of management structures for effective co-ordination of the programme at all levels
* identify and clarify sector specific roles and responsibilities
* guide the monitoring and evaluation of VEP as well as reporting procedures by implementing structures
* serve as a framework for the development of sector specific policies and strategies
The policy guidelines are meant to improve the quality of VEP services and underline our government’s commitment to address violence and crime. We view this as the most serious social problem for us. I therefore would like to urge you all to read the policy guidelines in full and familiarise yourselves with it.
The new resource directory which I am happy to launch today is an informative, easy to follow guide which will prove invaluable to the victims of violence and crime as well as service providers in the field of VEP. It contains a wealth of information running to just over 1 500 organisations in all nine provinces. These include services provided by government and civil society organisations.
It is intended to provide a reference point for all agencies working with victims of crime and violence in our country. The information contained will allow victims of violence and crime to know what services are available in their own areas and empower people to access those services. I am pleased that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has made a substantial contribution towards the publication of the two important documents that we are launching here today. I would like to thank the UNODC and the EU for the continued support of our government through the programme of assistance to the Victim Empowerment Programme.
The directory will be updated on a periodic basis and we are also exploring the possibility of developing an online format so that it is easy to update and it can become easily accessible on a worldwide basis.
The launch of the two documents today underlines the extent and scope of the national effort to combat and control the scourge of violence and crime. The prevention of violence against vulnerable groups such as women, children, people with disabilities and older persons, is one of our priorities. Accordingly, we have spearheaded the introduction of relevant legislation such as the Older Persons Act, Children’s Act, Sexual Offences Act and the national strategy on prevention and management of child abuse and neglect to combat this phenomenon.
As the lead department for government’s Victim Empowerment Programme, the department is working together with other departments notably, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the National Prosecuting Authority, Correctional Services, Department of Health and South African Police Services.
Just as the policy guidelines and the directory of services are the product of a remarkable partnership between government, civil society and development agencies, effective implementation will require a continuation of that partnership at all levels, including at community level. It is my firm belief that working together we can do more to restore the dignity of the victims of violence and crime. I am also confident that the Department of Social Development will provide the leadership required to implement the policy guidelines.
To conclude, I would like to thank you again for the opportunity to be with you today. I feel privileged, as the Minister of Social Development, to have a role in the launch of these two important documents.
On that note I would like to formally launch the national policy guidelines and the directory on services for victims of violence and crime.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Social Development
22 July 2009
