Secondary Victimisation has many definitions. It can be defined as an indirect result of assault towards the victim after the crime has occurred through unsympathetic, disbelieving and inappropriate responses from individuals, organisations and at all stages of the criminal justice system. Examples are inappropriate behaviours or use of language and victim blaming by police officers, medical staff, family, communities or other organisations post the victims assault. The poor processes with failure to treat victims with respect, dignity, understanding and lack of insufficient support that is internationally or unintentionally expressed towards a victim may extend the traumatic experience causing the victim to feel further victimised. Due to
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South Africa’s Stance on Victim Empowerment
The South African government introduced the victim empowerment programme to focus on the importance of good quality support services that should be provided to all victims of crime. They did this by providing the government service providers and employees involved in the justice system to sensitivity training, to build a referral system amongst providers, to implement a multi-disciplinary victim support programme and to provide victims with information about the justice system.
Victim empowerment implies a method or process of helping individuals who have suffered harm, conflict and violence to help themselves. Each victim has unique skills and with the support from a skilled facilitator the victim will be able to overcome their grief and resentment enabling them to become more positive, proactive and self motivated. The victims will feel more able to cope with their experiences. “Strategies and public polices which provide communities with the skills and self confidence, support and tools to become more effective advocates of the rights and needs of victims in the light of institutionalised and historic discrimination” (Prof Marelize Schoeman (2010)) Communities have a huge responsibility to improve their own measures, together they
South Africa’s Stance on Victim Empowerment
The South African government introduced the victim empowerment programme to focus on the importance of good quality support services that should be provided to all victims of crime. They did this by providing the government service providers and employees involved in the justice system to sensitivity training, to build a referral system amongst providers, to implement a multi-disciplinary victim support programme and to provide victims with information about the justice system.
Victim empowerment implies a method or process of helping individuals who have suffered harm, conflict and violence to help themselves. Each victim has unique skills and with the support from a skilled facilitator the victim will be able to overcome their grief and resentment enabling them to become more positive, proactive and self motivated. The victims will feel more able to cope with their experiences. “Strategies and public polices which provide communities with the skills and self confidence, support and tools to become more effective advocates of the rights and needs of victims in the light of institutionalised and historic discrimination” (Prof Marelize Schoeman (2010)) Communities have a huge responsibility to improve their own measures, together they