Victims' needs
Individual victims will have different levels of need, but most victims will want:
- the harm they experienced to be recognised and their safety and the safety of their loved ones guaranteed
- to receive a genuine apology
- their voices to be listened to during the process
- to be treated with dignity and respect throughout their time in the criminal justice system
- to receive information about the criminal justice process and their involvement in it
- the offender to be held accountable and their harmful behaviour addressed to avoid future harm to themselves and/or others
- help to understand and take part in the system
- some compensation for their losses, their costs and/or the harm they suffered.
Victimisation of Māori
To improve our current justice system responses to Māori who have been victimised will require all stakeholders to embody the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi - the Treaty of Waitangi. The principles of good governance (kawanatanga), protection of rangatiratanga, and partnership underpin a Tiriti obligation to prevent Māori victimisation.
The good governance obligation obliges equal protection of the rights of all citizens, which must include the justice sector objective of keeping people safe. The protection of rangatiratanga principle obliges the Crown to protect Māori authority and culture, which must include Māori social institutions, including family formation and whanau empowerment. The partnership principle obliges Government to act in collaboration with Māori .
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