Each and every day in America, people are murdered, killed by drunk drivers, sexually and physically assaulted, or battered by an intimate partner. Also, children are abused and neglected, homes are burglarized and many people become victims of identity theft. When you are victimized by crime, strength is something that is ripped away from you. You have no control over the criminal act, and often feel helpless in it's aftermath. Crime victims and survivors gain strength from the outpouring of compassion, understanding and assistance they receive from family, friends, advocates and neighbors that offer much needed support. Victims often become forgotten and there voices are not heard. As a nation, we must commit our energies to stand together against crime and show support for victims.
This week is National Crime Victims's Rights Week.This theme for this year's campaign is "Victims' Rights: Every Victim. Every Time." This is a week that often goes by without much emphasis because if you have never been a victim, you think it is not your concern. Whether you have been a victim or not, it is your concern. As Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently stated, " Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." With all that has gone on lately, we can no longer believe that it doesn't concern us. When a victim's life has been changed by the heinous actions of another, we must provide some sort resource to allow that victim to heal and rebuild their lives.
As we carry crime victims' rights into 2007 and beyond, we must strive to create a nation where the legal rights of victims are honored and individuals are accountable for their treatment of victims. Won't you join forces with your local victim service programs, criminal justice officials and concerned citizens in your area to raise awareness of victims' rights and observe National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
For more information, check out http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/.
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