Victim Support National Conference Marks 20 Years Since the UN Declaration

29 November 2005

Victim Support Groups right across the country are converging on Queenstown this weekend for the National Victim Support Conference.

Organisers are expecting over 120 delegates to attend the three-day event, which will mark 20 years since the UN Declaration of the Rights of Victims and the beginning of Victim Support in New Zealand. .

Victim Support Chief Executive Steve Caldwell said this Conference is has been designed to provide a forum to celebrate the past and face the challenges of the present and future.

Since the last Conference Victim Support has put into place a new organisational structure aimed at enhancing the consistency and responsiveness of Victim Support services throughout the Country, said Mr Caldwell.

Key-note speakers at the conference include Marlene Young from USA who is regarded as a world leader on Victims Rights and Advocating for victims. She is currently President of the World Society of Victimology and has been the Executive Director of the National Office of Victim Support Assn for some 25 years.

Mike Dawson, CEO Victim Support, South Australia, another keynote speaker, has been very involved in re-organising the Victim Support services in South Australia, in particular the rural services.