Staff
“Every Victim Matters” is the theme of this year’s National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, which runs from April 18-24.
“The theme that ‘Every Victim Matters’ is really important,” said Peggy Loyie, executive director with the Rainy River District Victim Services, which is organizing locally-based activities for the week.
“Because sometimes when people have been victimized, they can get kind of lost in the process,” she reasoned.
“Of course, the focus is on making sure that justice is done from the police perspective and they do the good work of investigation and that,” Loyie added.
“But that’s where we [RRDVSP] are able to help, and organizations like Victim Witness Assistance Program are able to help, and make sure that the victims are a part of that process,” she explained.
As part of the upcoming week, the RRDVSP is aiming to raise awareness about the local services available to “victims of crime or any other tragic circumstances,” Loyie said.
This includes an open house the RRDVSP is hosting next Thursday (April 22) from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 334 Scott St.
“We just want people to stop in and see where we are, see the physical location,” said Loyie, adding there will be refreshments.
“Also, we’re going to have other services in our community that are here to meet the needs of people who have been victimized.”
They will include Trudy McCormick of the Northwestern Legal Clinic, Cheryl Horne from VWAP, and a representative from both the Treaty #3 Police and the OPP.
As well, they are hoping to have volunteers with the RRDVSP program available if people want to ask questions about what their experience has been volunteering with the organization, added Loyie.
As part of the awareness campaign, the RRDVSP also will be distributing placemats to local restaurants which contain information, such as what the Victim Bill of rights is.
“[The bill is] a statement of principle that speaks to making sure that people who have been victimized are a part of that process,” Loyie said, explaining this piece of legislation includes such measures as victims having a right to being fully informed of the court process, being interviewed by a police officer or official of the same gender, and other such things to ensure their needs are met.
The RRDVSP also will be holding an appreciation dinner for volunteers and community partners on the Friday evening of the week.
“Because not just this organization, but I don’t think any organization, can do it on their own,” Loyie remarked.
“You need the partnership, the networking organization, to be successful in your service delivery,” she stressed.
