In traditional justice systems, victimsof aggression have usually found support and assistance from their family, village or tribe. The informal social network softens the impact of victimization and assists the victim in recovery. This same network often assists in the resolution of the conflict and in ensuring that any decisions made are actually implemented. Within this context, it is taken for granted that the victim (and his or her kin), the victimizer (and his or her kin) and the entire social group will share the burden of dealing with the conflict.
on the family’s financial position. Research shows that the shock waves from victimization touch not only the victimbut also the victim’s immediate family and relatives,neighbours and acquaintances. This holds true for the emotional as well as the financial consequences, and the effects can endure for years or even a lifetime. In the case of genocide, child abuse, exposure to violence and abuse of power, the effects can be passed on from one generation to the next. While this is to be expected in connection with offences such as murder, torture and rape, the crimes of assault, robbery and burglary can also leave lasting feelings of powerlessness, insecurity, anger and fear. Not only individuals but also communities and organizations can be victimized, leading to their deterioration over time as confidence ebbs, fear increases and the economic burden of victimization becomes insupportable. The effects of victimization strike particularly hard at the poor, the powerless, the disabled and the socially isolated. Research shows that those already affected by prior victimization are particularly susceptible to subsequent victimization by the same or other forms of crime. These repeat victims are often found in many countries to reside in communities with high crime levels and are also a common phenomenon during times of war.
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or tribe. The informal social network softens the impact of victimization and assists the victim in recovery. This same network
often assists in the resolution of the conflict and in ensuring that any decisions made are actually implemented. Within this
context, it is taken for granted that the victim (and his or her kin), the victimizer (and his or her kin) and the entire social group
will share the burden of dealing with the conflict.
Research shows that the shock waves from victimization touch not only the victimbut also the victim’s immediate family
and relatives,neighbours and acquaintances. This holds true for the emotional as well as the financial consequences, and the
effects can endure for years or even a lifetime. In the case of genocide, child abuse, exposure to violence and abuse of power,
the effects can be passed on from one generation to the next. While this is to be expected in connection with offences such as
murder, torture and rape, the crimes of assault, robbery and burglary can also leave lasting feelings of powerlessness, insecurity,
anger and fear. Not only individuals but also communities and organizations can be victimized, leading to their deterioration
over time as confidence ebbs, fear increases and the economic burden of victimization becomes insupportable.
The effects of victimization strike particularly hard at the poor, the powerless, the disabled and the socially isolated.
Research shows that those already affected by prior victimization are particularly susceptible to subsequent victimization by
the same or other forms of crime. These repeat victims are often found in many countries to reside in communities with high
crime levels and are also a common phenomenon during times of war.
Would you like to comment?
Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.