for the Victims Charter and open new court, Motherwell
4 December 2007
Government efforts to improve the justice system will move up a gear on
Thursday, 6 December 2007 when the Justice and Constitutional Development
Minister, Honourable Brigitte Mabandla officially launches the Five Year
Implementation Plan for the Victims Charter in Motherwell, Eastern Cape
province.
The launch of the Five Year Implementation Plan is a critical milestone for
the country and will improve the co-ordination of various state institutions in
placing victims' needs, material or emotional, central to the criminal justice
system.
"The full implementation of this Charter represents the flame that will
light the beacon of hope for many victims of crime," the Minister says.
The Victims Charter is government initiative rolled out by the Departments
of Justice and Constitutional Development; Social Development; Correctional
Services; Education; Health; the National Prosecutions Authority; the South
African Police Services; the South African Human Rights Commission and the
Commission on Gender Equality.
Through the Charter, these departments and institutions pledge to cultivate
a culture of human rights which challenges the perception that criminals have
more legal rights than victims. The Charter also emphasises strong victim
activism, encouraging, where possible, victims to be more active in demanding
their rights from those administering the justice system.
Since its approval and official launch three years ago, the Victims Charter
has led to the formation of a number of pro-victim initiatives in various
sectors. These include the setting up of multi-disciplinary rape care centres
(Thuthuzela Care Centres) which ensure that rape victims are treated with
dignity; the establishment of new Correctional Supervision Parole Boards which,
for the first time in the legal history of South Africa, give victims an
opportunity to make presentations to the Parole Board and attend parole
hearings. Government has also prioritised the creation of child victim/witness
rooms; with one-way glass partitions being installed in 35 courts across the
country.
The Charter is based on the following rights as prescribed by the
Constitution and various laws:
* the right to be treated with fairness and with respect for 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.
The Minister will also be officially opening the Motherwell Magistrates
Court which is expected to ensure that access to the justice system is made a
little bit easier for the Motherwell population, estimated to be at around 350
000 people.
All media are invited.
Details for the event are as follows:
Date: 6 December 2007
Time: 10h00
Venue: Motherwell Magistrates Court
Interested media are requested to RSVP to:
Zolile Nqayi
Cell: 082 898 6483
Phumla Sekhonyane
Cell: 079 528 4661.
Enquiries:
Phumla Sekhonyane
Tel: 012 357 8234
Cell: 079 528 4661
Issued by: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
4 December 2007
