Justice Even for the Crime Victim: Implementing International Standards

Abstract

In November 1985, the United Nations General Assembly (1985) adopted a charter of victim rights — the ‘Declaration on the Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power’. Governments and international organisations are now faced with the challenge of implementing these principles. The UN Declaration and the Recommendations of the Council of Europe propose specific ways by which justice and services can be improved.

Countries such as Canada, England, France and the United States are passing legislation. However, even there much more is required. All governments must ensure that the principles are put into practice by the police, in victim support agencies, in mental health approaches, in reparation to victims, and for acceptable participation by the person immediately hurt by crime. Further, the United Nations, governments, and private organisations need to establish commissions to assess the needs of victims, the state of services and justice, and solutions to meet needs better. However such commissions must have a role in implementation and prevention if communities are going to be safer and ‘Justice is going to open her eyes to victims’.