Victim Empowerment Programme

 

UNODC is supporting the Government of South Africa in addressing one of the major priorities of the National Crime Prevention Strategy. Through the European Union funded "Support to South Africa's Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP)" launched in 2008, UNODC is working in close partnership with the Department of Social Development and other key stakeholders to address the high rates of criminal victimization in the country, particularly with regards to women and children.

 

The main purpose of the UNODC support to the Victim Empowerment Programme is to facilitate the establishment and integration of interdepartmental/inter-sectoral programmes and policies for the support, protection and empowerment of victims of crime and violence. Building on this, the overall development objective is to contribute to building safe and peaceful communities, strengthening the human rights culture and providing more effective, multi-sectoral, coordinated responses to victims of crime and trauma.

 

Through extensive consultation with the Government, the project aims to:

  • Build institutional capacity within the South African Department of Social Development, at both national and provincial levels to lead, expand and sustain the Victim Empowerment Programme in South Africa.
  • Improve coordination and cooperation between government departments and civil society organizations in order to harmonize services to victims of crime. With the understanding that Victim Empowerment is a cross-cutting theme covering many government departments on a national and provincial level, the project aims to assist in implementing mechanisms and practices in order to strengthen coordination and cooperation amongst all relevant victim empowerment role players;
  • Promote awareness of South Africa's Victim Empowerment policies. A critical component of the project is sustained advocacy at both the political level and amongst the public at large. This will provide necessary political support, and develop public awareness of the rights of victims of crime, the assistance and services available to victims, and how to access these services; and
  • Build capacity amongst Civil Society Organizations to deliver Victim Empowerment interventions. As part of the programme, UNODC will work with civil society dealing with victims of crime, trauma and violence. As established and emerging organizations play a major role in delivering services to victims, the project's contribution will ensure assistance from both a technical advisory and funding perspective.