NCJ Number
228861
Date Published
February 2009
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This report presents information based on survey responses from United Nations member states regarding their compliance and needs in relation to the United Nations General Assembly's resolution 40/34, entitled "Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power."
Abstract
This resolution recommends that at the international and regional levels, judicial and administrative mechanisms be developed to enable crime victims to obtain redress through formal or informal procedures in order to receive the necessary material, medical, psychological, and social assistance. In addition, criminal justice personnel should receive training that sensitizes them to victim needs and victim access to justice mechanisms. Survey responses from 28 member states and 7 international organizations indicate that member states have implemented, at least in part, the measures recommended in resolution 40/34. Approaches to implementing the recommendations have varied widely; for example, legislative measures regarding crime victims range from the creation of special assistance services to the enactment of procedural legislation. The difficulties encountered in implementing legislative measures also differ significantly from country to country; they range from a lack of awareness of available service to cultural restraints. Some difficulties are due to difference in the judicial process. Most reporting member states indicate that they have provided material and psychological assistance to victims and have adopted national policies and standards for the delivery of victim assistance. Most states reported that crime victims have access to state-funded legal assistance throughout the criminal justice process. Most countries have provided victims appropriate information on various issues in a timely manner and in a language they understood. Most countries have also trained criminal justice personnel and victim-assistance staff in victim-related issues; and most national legislation authorizes victims to receive restitution from the offender, and state-funded compensation schemes are available to victims as well.