“Some among our people believe that offenders have more rights than victims. We constantly hear disparaging and resentful comments about how the Constitution affords offenders greater protection than it does the victims of crime. As we know, this is a misrepresentation and is indicative, rather, of a society still coming to grips with the principle of human rights for all. In fact, the social justice imperatives of our Constitution presuppose a victim-centred approach to legal and court processes.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is close to finalizing the Victim Charter. Its implementation is expected to give additional support to victims of crime and reduce the secondary victimization that is frequently experienced, especially by women and children, which often leads to withdrawal of charges. ”

In the State of the Nation address, the President identified the Victims Charter as one of the priority programmes for 2008, ‘further give life to the Victims’ Charter’.