Abstract
M.A. (Social Work)
After more than twelve years that the Victim Empowerment Programme has been in existence in South Africa, victims have finally been recognized, as have their rights that are to be upheld at all times. This is a programme of the National Crime Prevention Strategy under pillar one and programme number nine. Since its existence there has not been much research on either the programme, or the topic. The Victim Empowerment Programme aims to ensure that services to the victims of crime, violence and abuse are rendered in an effective and coordinated manner, and it emphasizes that a victim-centered approach is key. The research topic of this study is the Counselling staff’s perception of the effectiveness of the victim empowerment programme for victims-’.
The goal of the study is to understand how staff perceives the effectiveness of the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) for victims within the KOSH Crisis Centre. The research questions are attached as an annexure.
The objectives were as follows:
• To develop a theoretical framework on Victim Empowerment from a restorative justice perspective
• To explore staff experiences of the VEP when working with victims
• To make recommendations based on outcome of staff perceptions of the effectiveness of a VEP.
The literature on the study was gathered through text and information searched at the library and on websites. In this study the researcher realised how staff perceive this programme, especially when working with victims, and that, it is a complex and demanding undertaking for them. One of the factors that complicate working with victims who are repeatedly abused is that they are very different from the adult counsellors who work with them. Victims are not survivors; they have a different world view -different ways of communicating, different status and power, and different rights. The research methods that were applied to this research were interviews and focus groups that were used as data collection methods which concentrated on staff perceptions of the effectiveness of VEP in interventions with victims who suffered abuse. The researcher interviewed trained personnel who specifically offer therapeutic programmes to victims. The data collection from participants was collected, with their permission, through the use of field notes, interviews and tape recordings. The critical finding of the study was that all professionals dealing with victims, including the role players, must receive uniform training, on the Victim Empowerment Programme. This strengthens referrals, the type of services, and the roles of stakeholders. Additionally, legislation for this programme must be fast-tracked to facilitate its effectiveness and to ensure that the implementation process becomes paramount to all key stakeholders who carry the programme’s mandate.