Supporters of Victim’s Rights Movement propose that the movement needs continued advocacy. Since 1970s, there have been great advancements. For instance, 33 states have made changes to their constitution in order to address victims’ rights, and rest of the states have passed legislation to safeguard crime victims’ rights. (Tucker Davis, 2005, p.1) Moreover, the movement has enabled various forms of legislation, to become both socially and legally embedded in our society. Examples of legislation such as the Victims of Crime Act and the Violence Against Women Act show how the movement has allowed easy drafting of legislation. (“Victims’ Rights”) The movement advocates that there need to be an active role of a crime victim’s voice in the legal arena.
Proponents of this movement also suggest that the attainment of certain specific goals is highly crucial. One of these includes ensuring that the “pendulum does not swing the other way.” The movement gained popularity in the American society when movements such as Feminism and Civil Rights gained significance. ("National Crime Victim Law Institute") However, demands for equality are not always easily met, and such movements often face resistance. Another important goal would be to make sure that within the next ten years growth of this movement does not remain stunted believing that victims’ rights have been fully fulfilled. The movement requires constant advancements.
There are many regions in the world where Victims’ rights are not being recognized. For instance, there are many areas where violence against women, like sexual assaults and not readily punished under law. A woman may find it very difficult to lodge and process a claim of rape. Thus, such a movement is needed to solve above mentioned issues, and victims’ rights must not be limited to the state’s boundary but be recognized all over the world.
References
National Crime Victim Law Institute. (n.d.). History of Victims' Rights. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from http://law.lclark.edu/centers/national_crime_victim_law_institute/about_ncvli/history_of_victims_rights/
Davis, J. T. (2005, Spring). The Grassroot Beginnings of the Victims' Rights Movement. NCVLI News, 2, 1.
Victims' Rights. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victims%27_rights
