CONFERENCE IN DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA: 18 – 20 AUGUST 2008
TO COMMEMORATE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICTIM EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME (VEP)

The Department of Social Development in partnership with the European Commission and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime is planning to host a conference at ICC, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province from 18 to 20 August 2008, to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP). The proposed theme of the conference is:

"From Policy to Practice: Offering effective and efficient services to empower victims of crime and violence in the context of poverty and underdevelopment”. This is a call for presentations by academics, researchers, practitioners and volunteers on any good practice models or research at a national, provincial or local level related to the prevention of crime and violence and support to victims thereof. Presentations can be in the form of academic papers, posters or story telling informed by own experiences.

The VEP was officially launched in August 1998 as one of the key programmes under pillar one of the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS). It is inter-sectoral and inter-departmental in nature to holistically address the diverse needs of victims of crime and violence. Representation on the VEP comprises of the following core NCPS government departments, namely, Social Development, as the lead and co-ordinating department; Health; Correctional Services; Education; Justice and Constitutional Development; South African Police Services; and Community Safety.

VEP aims to promote and implement a victim-centred approach to crime prevention focusing on minimizing the negative impact of crime on victims and on breaking the cycle of violence as well as creating a victim friendly criminal justice system.

The approach of the VEP is strongly based on building and maintaining partnerships between government and civil society organizations, volunteers, research institutions, academics and business sector.

The planned conference will be used as a vehicle to reflect on progress with regard to achievements, challenges and limitations of the VEP and the sector since its inception in 1998. The deliberations at the conference will also assist future planning.

Please confirm your interest to present during the conference by submitting an abstract (please note, no more than 120 words) before or on 15 May 2008, as follows:

• Fax: 012 312 7370/7476 for Attention Ms Athalia Shabangu.
• E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and cc to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  

The registration form can be obtained from the Department of Social Development Website: www.dsd.gov.za .

It will be expected from you to submit your presentation prior to the conference on or before 18 June 2008.

The Department is looking forward to hearing from you.