Letter to the editor

As we prepare to commemorate National Victims of Crime Awareness Week in Canada from April 26 to May 2, we are reminded that, like the global economic crisis, crime impacts the lives and livelihoods of individuals, families and communities in both the short and long term. 

The theme of this year’s Week is Supporting, Connecting, Evolving.  Now, more than ever, we must raise awareness of the issues faced by victims of crime.  We must also work hard to ensure that when someone is victimized, they are aware of the various services and supports that are available to them.  We must connect victims, their families and friends to the right people and programs that will help them rebuild their lives.

We must also continue to evolve in our thinking and explore new ways to reach out and support victims of crime.  In recent years, we have seen a growing increase in the number of ‘cyber-crimes’ such as identity theft and on-line child sexual exploitation and luring.   The nature of these crimes presents challenges in developing effective responses.  Indeed these new types of victimization will require all of us to ‘evolve’ in our thinking.  

Earlier this year, victims of crime in Canada lost a longtime friend and advocate with the passing of Gary Rosenfeldt.  After their 16-year-old son Daryn was brutally murdered in 1981, Gary and his wife Sharon spearheaded a long and hard lobby for change at the legislative, program and service levels for victims.  Through the efforts of the Rosenfeldts and many others, tremendous progress has been made over the years in how victims are treated.  Those closest to the victims’ rights movement in Canada describe these efforts as ‘pioneering’.

As volunteers and professionals who work in the area of victim services come together to commemorate National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, they do so in the realization that still more needs to be done.   The ‘pioneering’ work must continue to evolve to better meet the needs of victims.