| Maximizing Communication and Awareness
Commemorative
Calendar
Throughout 2005,
there are numerous
commemorative days,
weeks and months that
pay tribute to crime
victims, and/or
highlight important
issues relevant to
justice and public
safety. Contact
information is provided
for the sponsors of each observance, many of whom
provide public awareness materials (similar to this
Resource Guide) to help generate greater media
and community awareness. The dates on the
Commemorative Calendar are also incorporated into
some of the artwork included in the "Camera-Ready
Artwork" section of this Resource Guide.
Notable Quotables
In keeping with the 2005 NCVRW theme, this year's
Notable Quotables focus on the combined themes of
"justice" and "service," and highlight the President's
Task Force on Victims of Crime. Included is a quotation
from President Ronald Reagan about the inception of
NCVRW; a quotation from OVC Director John W. Gillis
about the purpose and importance of the President's
Task Force on Victims of Crime; insights from a 2003
"reunion" interview of members and staff of the
President's Task Force on Victims of Crime; and
quotations from victims and survivors who testified at
Task Force hearings across the country in 1982. These
quotations offer a valuable perspective on the plight of
victims 25 years ago, as well as the progress that has
been made since then.
Putting Victims First
The theme of the Office for Victims of Crime – "Putting
Victims First" – challenges us to do what we can to
make crime victims' rights and services a priority. This
document offers suggestions for victims' family
members and friends, victim service providers, justice
officials, and community members to help them "put victims first" in a manner that is sensitive and
supportive. These concepts can be incorporated into
virtually all of the suggested victim and public outreach
activities included in this Resource Guide.
Sample Proclamation
An excellent way to promote greater awareness of
NCVRW is to seek public proclamations or resolutions
from state and local governments (including Governors,
Attorneys General, state legislatures, county boards of
supervisors, mayors, and city or parish councils) that
officially proclaim the week of April 10 to 16, 2005, to
be "(State or Local) Crime Victims' Rights Week." The
sample proclamation highlights this year's theme and
the many accomplishments of our field over the past 25
years, and should be personalized to reflect state and
local interests, as well as state and local victims' rights
and services. Victim assistance organizations and
coalitions should coordinate efforts to seek
proclamations, and request multiple copies that can be
"officially" presented to them. These proclamations can
be framed and displayed in the offices of programs that
co-sponsor 2005 NCVRW activities.
Sample Speech
NCVRW provides excellent opportunities to deliver
speeches and other presentations to crime victims and
survivors, criminal and juvenile justice and allied
professionals, civic organizations, public policy makers,
institutions of higher education and schools, multi-faith
entities, and community members about crime victims'
rights and needs. The sample speech provides a
comprehensive overview of the many accomplishments
of the victim assistance field since the first NCVRW
commenced in 1981, and reflects the theme of the
25th anniversary of NCVRW. It also includes a quotation
from President Reagan to provide a historical
perspective of the inception of NCVRW, as well as the
creation of his President's Task Force on Victims of
Crime that provided a foundation for victims' rights and
services as we know them today.
Other Resource Guide documents that can enhance
speeches and other public presentations during NCVRW
include:
Third Annual National Candlelight Observance
The Third Annual National Candlelight Observance to
commemorate the Silver Anniversary of NCVRW, and to
pay tribute to crime victims and survivors and those
who serve them, is scheduled for Thursday, April 7,
2005, in Washington, D.C. (Additional information about
the National Observance - including the time and
location - will be available at OVC's Web site:
www.ovc.gov/ncvrw2005/welcome.html). All are
welcome and encouraged to attend this special event,
which is the premiere national tribute to 2005 NCVRW
and crime victims and survivors. If you are unable to
attend the National Observance in Washington, D.C.,
you may wish to organize a similar event in your
community on this day.
Tips for Outreach to and Collaboration
With Multi-faith Communities
Communities that represent various faiths in America
are important partners in efforts to assist victims of
crime, and to promote the availability of victims' rights
and services. Many crime victims and survivors turn to
their spiritual advisors and communities for help to
cope with the aftermath of crime. These tips can help
engage multi-faith communities in efforts to create
victim outreach and education efforts within their
churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, and
through their member activities, not only during 2005
NCVRW, but throughout the year.
Tips to Promote Victim and Community Awareness
A unique feature of this year's tips is 23 creative
activities that were sponsored during 2004 NCVRW by
programs and coalitions that received NCVRW funding
support from the Office for Victims of Crime. These
innovative initiatives included news media outreach,
creative uses of the NCVRW Resource Guide camera-ready
artwork, the creation of public memorials to honor
victims, and outreach to traditionally underserved victim
populations. More detailed information about each of
these NCVRW projects is available from OVC by
contacting ovc.ncjrs.gov/askovc.
In addition, this section includes "25 Rights and
Services" that can be highlighted to commemorate the
25th anniversary of NCVRW, along with other tips that
can help promote the 2005 NCVRW theme.
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| National Crime Victims' Rights
Week: Justice Isn't Served Until Crime Victims Are |
April 10–16, 2005 |
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The information on this page is archived and provided for reference purposes only.
