Taking up the challenge of turning the NCPS programme on victim support and empowerment into more than a paper strategy, the workshop produced several tangible steps towards operationalising such a programme. Consensus was reached that it was premature to establish a national co-ordinating body around victim support – one of the proposed goals of the workshop. However, a steering committee was elected to carry the process forward.

It was agreed that the departments of welfare and safety and security should be represented on the steering committee. Other nominees were:

Dr Rika Snyman (Unisa)



Vivi Stavrou /Sylvia Nduli (National Peace Accord Trust)



A representative of the trauma counselling field



A representative of the National Network on Violence Against Women



Captain Timothy Mabaso (Salvation Army)



Ann Skelton (Young People at Risk)



Lala Camerer (IDP)



Christiaan Bezuidenhout (University of Pretoria)



Stephen Bishop (National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality)

Those elected were Snyman, Stavrou, a trauma counselling representative, (Mary Robertson of the CSVR agreed to liaise on this issue), a representative of the National Network on Violence Against Women, Skelton, and Camerer.

It was agreed that the department of welfare would convene the first committee meeting, at which a chair would be elected. The committee's brief is to 'develop a national programme on victim support'.

More specifically, it has been tasked with:

establishing a list of representative stakeholders;



establishing a comprehensive resource directory;



conducting a needs assessment;



developing a draft victims' charter;



investigating training for professional service providers, as well as guidelines for conduct towards victims of crime (such as a patient's charter)



evaluating criteria for service providers, and setting standards of quality;



planning, organising and marketing National Victims' Day, proposed for 22 February 1997, the same day as in Europe;



disseminating information on victim support and empowerment through a public awareness campaign;



monitoring the activities of government departments in respect of victims of crime;



highlighting gaps in existing legislation;



approaching political parties for their policies towards victims of crime;



investigating the viability of victim support pilot projects;



liaising with the community, especially community police forums;



liaising closely with the national crime prevention strategy team;



facilitating the co-ordination and development of provincial networks around victims, in preparation for the NCPS provincial summits;



making contact with international networks; and



recommending the future co-ordination, design and structure of a national body for stakeholders in victim support and empowerment.

ENDNOTE

Letter from the department of welfare, 29 September 1996.