TALKING POINTS FOR AILEEN ADAMS

9th INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON VICTIMOLOGY

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

AUGUST 28, 1997

IT IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY. THIS CONFERENCE HAS TRULY BEEN FANTASTIC, I THINK, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE INFORMATION THAT IS BEING SHARED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE NEW RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED BETWEEN PEOPLE FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE. IT IS TRULY INSPIRING TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE WHO WORK EVERY DAY IN THIEIR OWN COUNTRIES TO ADVANCE THE FIELD OF VICTIMOLOGY AND TO PROVIDE RIGHTS AND SERVICES TO CRIME VICTIMS, AND I AM HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS EVENT.

I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY GIVE SOME BACKGROUND ON THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE HANDBOOK AND MANUAL THAT WE WILL BE WORKING ON TODAY. AS MATTI SAID, THE IDEA FOR THIS HANDBOOK CAME OUT OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTED IN MAY OF 1995 AT THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF BOTH DOCUMENTS IS TO FOSTER WORLDWIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE U.N. DECLARATION OF BASIC PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME AND ABUSE OF POWER, ADOPTED BY THE U.N. IN 1985.

SINCE 1985, MANY COUNTRIES HAVE USED THE DECLARATION AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THEIR VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. OTHER COUNTRIES, HOWEVER, ARE STILL IN THE BEGINNING STAGES AND HAVE FEW SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR CRIME VICTIMS. THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE U.N. CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION FELT, I THINK, THAT SOMETHING MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE TO GIVE LIFE TO THE DECLARATION AND TO ENCOURAGE MORE COUNTRIES TO ADOPT ITS PRINCIPLES. THAT'S HOW THE CONCEPT OF A MANUAL WAS DEVELOPED.

WE NOW ACTUALLY HAVE TWO SEPARATE DOCUMENTS: THE FIRST IS AN INTERNATIONAL VICTIM ASSISTANCE HANDBOOK, WHICH IS REALLY A COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THE HANDBOOK DISCUSSES IN DEPTH THE IMPACT OF VICTIMIZATION, HOW TO START A VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, TYPES OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED, AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF OTHER ALLIED PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH CRIME VICTIMS -- SUCH AS THE POLICE, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, JUDGES, EDUCATORS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, AND OTHERS. THE HANDBOOK IS NOT MEANT TO BE PRESCRIPTIVE, BUT TO PROVIDE EXAMPLES AND SUGGESTIONS OF APPROACHES THAT SEEM TO BE WORKING IN SOME COUNTRIES.

THE SECOND DOCUMENT IS THE INTERNATIONAL VICTIM ASSISTANCE HANDBOOK, WHICH IS REALLY AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR POLICYMAKERS. THE MANUAL GOES THROUGH THE DECLARATION SECTION BY SECTION, AND TALKS ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HAVE DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE DECLARATION.

DURING THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, EXPERTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL VICTIMS FIELD FROM MORE THAN 30 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE DRAFT VICTIM ASSISTANCE HANDBOOK AND MANUAL. A MEETING WAS HELD IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA LAST SUMMER, FOLLOWED BY A MEETING IN THE HAGUE IN MARCH, AND LAST WEEK WE HELD AN INFORMAL WORKING GROUP OF PRACTITIONERS AND POLICYMAKERS FROM LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.

OUR GOAL FOR THIS MEETING TODAY IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE HANDBOOK AND MANUAL FOR WAYS THAT THEY CAN BE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED. WE ALSO WANT TO EXAMINE WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BRING THESE DOCUMENTS TO LIFE AROUND THE WORLD -- HOW THEY CAN BE UTLIZED AND THEIR IDEAS IMPLEMENTED.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS HANDBOOK HAS BEEN A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. IT HAS INTERESTED ME GREATLY TO FIND HOW OTHERS PROVIDE IMPORTANT RIGHTS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE IN THE U.S.. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME COUNTRIES ALLOW CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PROCEEDINGS TO BE HELD TOGETHER AND PERMIT VICTIMS TO BE REPRESENTED AT THESE HEARINGS BY ATTORNEYS. IN A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES, VICTIMS HAVE RIGHTS SIMILAR TO THOSE OF A PROSECUTOR, SUCH AS INTRODUCING EVIDENCE, ASKING QUESTIONS OF THE WITNESS OR THEIR OFFENDERS, AND APPEALING CASES. A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES ALLOW VICTIMS TO APPEAL THE DECISION OF A CRIMINAL COURT. A FEW COUNTRIES PAY FOR AN ATTORNEY FOR THE VICTIM. VICTIMS IN A FEW COUNTRIES MAY APPEAL THE DECISION OF A PROSECUTOR WHO DECLINES TO FILE THEIR CASE. IN ADDITION, A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES ALLOW VICTIMS TO LODGE COMPLAINTS WITH AN OMBUDSMAN ABOUT THE ACTION OR OMISSION OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO HELP VICTIMS ENFORCE THEIR RIGHTS.

MANY OTHER INTERESTING OR "PROMISING" PRACTICES ARE CONTAINED IN THE HANDBOOK. FOR EXAMPLE,

• IN SOME PARTS OF NEW ZEALAND, CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERTAKEN ONLY BY SPECIALLY SELECTED AND TRAINED POLICE OFFICERS WHO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS;
• IN BRAZIL, SPECIAL ALL-WOMEN POLICE STATIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO RESPOND MORE SENSITIVELY TO WOMEN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE;
• IN CHINA, LEGAL AID CENTERS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ESTABLISHED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL AID TO VICTIMS OF CRIME; AND
• IN NORWAY AND OTHER SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES, CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS ABOUT NON-VIOLENT CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND ABOUT VICTIM ASSISTANCE.
• LAST WEEK AT THE MEETING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, I LEARNED ABOUT A MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM IN CORDOBA, ARGENTINA, WHERE EVERY VICTIM WHO COMES TO THE PROGRAM IS MET BY TWO PEOPLE -- A MENTAL HEALTH WORKER, WHO HELPS THE VICTIM WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA OF VICTIMIZATION, AND A LAWYER, WHO HELPS THE VICTIM THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS.

AS WE WORK TOGETHER TODAY, I HOPE TO HEAR MORE EXAMPLES FROM EACH OF YOU ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED IN YOUR COUNTRIES.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE JUST A FEW MOMENTS TO DESCRIBE OUR OFFICE AND SOME OF THE UNIQUE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS THE CHIEF ADVOCATE FOR CRIME VICTIMS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. OUR FUNDS COME FROM FINES LEVELED AGAINST FEDERAL CRIMINAL OFFENDERS, NOT FROM TAX DOLLARS. MOST OF THIS MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE STATES TO SUPPORT APPROXIMATELY 3,000 VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, SUCH AS BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTERS, RAPE TREATMENT CENTERS, AND CHILD ABUSE CENTERS. WE ALSO PROVIDE A PERCENTAGE OF THE FUNDS TO STATE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS WHICH HELP VICTIMS WITH CRIME-RELATED EXPENSES SUCH AS MEDICAL CARE, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, LOST WAGES, AND FUNERAL EXPENSES.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY EXCITING TIME TO BE IN THE VICTIMS' FIELD IN THE U.S BECAUSE COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA ARE LITERALLY REVOLUTIONIZING VICTIM SERVICES -- PROVIDING THEM IN A FAR MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND COLLABORATIVE WAY THAN EVER BEFORE. I WANT TO FOCUS UPON SOME OF THESE INNOVATIONS FOR CRIME VICTIMS WHICH YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING IN YOUR COUNTRIES.

• A NOVEL MEANS FOR BRINGING SERVICES TO VICTIMS IN REMOTE, RURAL AREAS HAS BEEN PIONEERED BY DR. ASTRID HEGER AT THE LOS ANGELES CENTER FOR THE VULNERABLE CHILD. THIS PROGRAM USES PHOTO-DOCUMENTATION TECHNIQUES IN CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES PERMITTING A NURSE PRACTITIONER OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL IN A RURAL AREA TO "CONSULT" VIA THE INTERNET WITH EXPERTS LOCATED HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY. IN THIS WAY, DR. HEGER HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE CONSULTATION FROM HER OFFICE IN LOS ANGELES TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE ON THE NORTHERN UTE RESERVATION IN UTAH -- WHICH IS 150 MILES FROM ANY CITY, AND EVEN FARTHER FROM LOS ANGELES.

• IN NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, POLICE OFFICERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AT YALE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE'S CHILD STUDY CENTER PROVIDE TRAINING FOR EACH OTHER AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO HELP CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS AND WITNESSES TO CRIME.
• IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA A NEW APPROACH TO HANDLING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASES WAS PIONEERED. TRADITIONALLY, SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN WERE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO MANY DIFFERENT INTERVIEWS AND EXAMINATIONS -- BY POLICE, SOCIAL WORKERS, PROSECUTORS -- IN MANY DIFFERENT AND, TO THEM, STRANGE AND SCARY SETTINGS -- SUCH AS POLICE STATIONS. AN ADVOCACY CENTER DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WAS SET UP WHERE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS AND EXAMINATIONS AND TO COORDINATE CASES IN A CHILD-FRIENDLY FACILITY. THERE IS ONE INTERVIEW CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY THE PROSECUTOR AND THE POLICE OFFICER. IT IS WATCHED BY THE DEPENDENCY WORKER AND CHILD ADVOCATE. THE FACILITY PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE, THERAPY SERVICES, AND HAS A COURT ORIENTATION PROGRAM. TODAY, THERE ARE OVER 300 CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
• IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, A UNIQUE COMPREHENSIVE VICTIM SERVICE CENTER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. IT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES IN ONE LOCATION FOR ALL CRIME VICTIMS, EXPANDING ON THE MODEL USED IN CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS. CENTER STAFF OPERATE AN EMERGENCY FUND FOR VICTIMS AND CAN PAY FOR SUCH THINGS AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL ITEMS AND CHANGING THE LOCKS AT HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN BURGLARIZED. COUNSELORS PROVIDE NEEDED THERAPY. THEY ALSO RESPOND TO MAJOR CATASTROPHES AS PART OF A CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM, AS WELL AS TO ALL HOMICIDES, ALONG WITH THE POLICE. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAM AND SELF-HELP GROUPS, SUCH AS MADD AND PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN ARE ALSO LOCATED AT THE FACILITY. THE CO-LOCATION OF THESE GROUPS FACILITATES THE SYSTEM'S RAPID RESPONSE TO VICTIMS: VICTIMS HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO SUPPORT GROUPS AND COUNSELING, AND ARE GIVEN NEEDED ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING FOR COMPENSATION AWARDS. THE PROGRAM HAS ITS OWN CABLE TV SHOW AND SCHOOL CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM , AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.
• IN MANY COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY -- MORE THAN 400 AS OF THIS PAST MARCH -- SPECIAL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SET UP TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY CRIME VICTIMS. DEVELOPED BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE, AND THE NATIONAL SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION, TRIADS WORK TO REDUCE CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY, IMPROVE PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND IMPROVE LAW ENFORCEMENT'S RESPONSE TO THE ELDERLY. FOR EXAMPLE, IN ONE TOWN IN CONNECTICUT, THE SHERIFF HIRED A BUS TO TAKE SENIORS TO THE MARKET ONCE A WEEK AFTER THEY COMPLAINED THAT THEY FELT UNSAFE WHILE SHOPPING FOR FOOD. MANY OF THESE SAME SENIORS THEN CROCHETED OUTFITS FOR TEDDY BEARS THAT THE SHERIFFS GIVE TO SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN.
• IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, A COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A HOSPITAL HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. TOGETHER, THEY ESTABLISHED A WIDELY ACCLAIMED NURSE PRACTITIONERS PROGRAM WHERE SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS RECEIVE A FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAM FROM HIGHLY TRAINED NURSES IN A QUIET SETTING AWAY FROM THE BUSY EMERGENCY ROOMS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THESE EXAMS SAVE MONEY BECAUSE DOCTORS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE; THERE IS A HIGHER LEVEL OF SATISFACTION AMONG VICTIMS WHO ARE MORE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS, AND THEY ARE JUST AS EFFECTIVE IN COURT.
• IN OTHER ARENAS, VICTIMS HAVE BECOME INVOLVED IN THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEMS. MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING -- MADD -- HELPED TO DEVELOP THE CONCEPT OF "VICTIM IMPACT PANELS," NOW FOUND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN MANY SETTINGS. IN THESE PANELS, VICTIMS OF DRUNK DRIVING CRASHES COME IN AND TALK TO OFFENDERS ABOUT THE IMPACT THE CRIME HAD ON THEIR LIVES.

EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS OFFERS A SPECIAL VIEW OF HOW WE CAN BRING JUSTICE AND HEALING TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY ALL DEMONSTRATE AN OVERARCHING PHILOSOPHY THAT VICTIMS SHOULD NOT BE RE-VICTIMIZED BY THE SYSTEM. LAST YEAR, DURING A CEREMONY AT THE WHITE HOUSE, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID, "VICTIMS SHOULD BE AT THE CENTER OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, NOT ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN." EACH OF THE PROGRAMS THAT I HAVE MENTIONED BRINGS US ONE STEP CLOSER TO THAT ULTIMATE GOAL.

BUT IF WE REALLY LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF CRIME VICTIMS, WE WILL HAVE TO GO A STEP FURTHER. AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED AS A VICTIM ADVOCATE FOR 20 YEARS IN THE FIELD, WHAT VICTIMS SAID TO ME MOST OFTEN WAS, "IF I COULD HAVE HAD ONE WISH, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO HAVE PREVENTED THE CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE." PREVENTION MUST BE A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF ALL OF OUR WORK, ESPECIALLY PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH. SOME OF YOUR COUNTRIES ARE, I THINK, BETTER THAN WE ARE IN TERMS OF INCORPORATING PREVENTION INTO YOUR VICTIM SERVICES PHILOSOPHY. I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT TODAY.

WE BELIEVE THAT OUR INTERACTION WITH YOU TODAY AND IN THE YEARS AHEAD WILL NOT ONLY BENEFIT VICTIMS AROUND THE WORLD, BUT WILL ALSO PROVIDE US WITH NEW PERSPECTIVES ABOUT WAYS TO ENHANCE OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. NO TWO COUNTRIES APPROACH VICTIM ASSISTANCE IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, BUT IN THIS GLOBAL VILLAGE, IT IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE TO CONFINE VICTIM ASSISTANCE TO THE BORDERS OF A PARTICULAR COUNTRY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW EACH OF YOU PERSONALLY, TO LEARNING FROM YOU, AND TO PARTICIPATING WITH YOU IN THIS IMPORTANT UNITED NATIONS ENDEAVOR. TOGETHER, I KNOW WE CAN PRODUCE A HANDBOOK THAT WILL HELP TO MAKE THE FUNDAMENTAL VICTIMS' RIGHTS CONTAINED IN THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER A REALITY FOR VICTIMS EVERYWHERE.

AS THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE HERE LAST YEAR KNOW, I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT INTERACTION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, GIVES ONE MANY NEW PERSPECTIVES -- BOTH ON A PERSONAL AND A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL -- ABOUT ONE'S OWN COUNTRY.

THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK OR STUDY IN MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. IN HIGH SCHOOL, I SPENT A SUMMER LIVING IN JAPAN WITH A JAPANESE FAMILY. IN COLLEGE, I SPENT A YEAR IN SPAIN AND TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY IN EASTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA. LATER, I SPENT MANY MONTHS STUDYING AND TRAVELING IN INDIA, AND THEN WENT INTO THE PEACE CORPS WHERE I LIVED FOR THREE YEARS IN A SMALL COMMUNITY IN NORTHEAST OF BRAZIL.