International Day of Support for Victims of Crime (22/02)

Every year on February 22, a number of countries celebrate the memorable date — Day of Support for Crime Victims, designed to draw attention to the problems of people affected by criminal actions.

The date was chosen due to the fact that on February 22, 1990, the English government published the «Victim's Charter: Statement of the Rights of Victims of Crime.

The problem of social rehabilitation of crime victims began to worry the community at the end of the last century. In September 1985, the Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders approved the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power On November 29, 1985, the United Nations General Assembly adopted this Declaration, for the first time developing universal principles for the support and protection of victims of crime and abuse of power.

According to the Declaration, the term «crime victims» refers to persons who, individually or collectively, have suffered harm, including bodily harm or moral damage, emotional suffering, material damage or significant impairment of their fundamental rights as a result of an act or omission that violates the existing national criminal laws of the States -members, including laws prohibiting criminal abuse of power.

Now a number of countries have adopted and are in force laws aimed at protecting victims from criminal acts, their social rehabilitation, and compensation for material and moral damage.

The system for restoring the rights of victims of crimes and terrorist acts in France is the most developed, and the National Institute for Assistance to Victims of Crime also operates there. In the UK, in order to ensure the safety of victims, a special Crime Victims Security Service has been created. In the United States, a system of specialized practical assistance to crime victims has been in effect since the 1960s and today covers a wide range of victims of criminal acts, including the provision of necessary medical and psychological assistance, legal services, including guardianship of victims during the investigation and trial.

In Russia, the legal status of the victim is regulated by several branches of law and the fundamental provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which guarantees everyone judicial protection of his rights and freedoms, and victims of crimes — have access to justice and compensation for harm and damage. The fundamental rights of victims in judicial proceedings, which arise in connection with the event of a crime, are clearly enshrined in the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation.

There are up to 200 crime victim assistance programs around the world. From programs to help victims of sexual violence to municipal services for crime cleaners and mechanics who insert locks free of charge and repair entrance doors in case of burglary.

Such programs really help people cope with stress, get out of the crisis, and finally, they simply provide financial assistance and moral support.

On the International Day of Support for Victims of Crime, educational events, public events, «Hotlines», conferences, fundraising in support of victims of crime are held in different countries, initiated mainly by human rights and public organizations with the involvement of representatives of government and human rights structures.



Postcard «22 February — International Day of Support for Crime Victims» Story «Shock Rehabilitation»

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