OTTAWA – The Green Party fully supports the recommendations
of Canada’s Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Sue O’Sullivan released in
a special report – Shifting the
Conversation.
“The Green Party of Canada is calling for a Victims First
approach to justice in this country,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth
May. “For far too long we have been
obsessed with a re-active justice system that knows only punishment. We can do
better.”
Shifting the
Conversation calls for an approach to justice that puts the needs of the
victims first and highlights three areas where practical changes need to be
made:
- ensuremore information is available to victims regarding their rights
and the offender who harmed them; - allow victims toparticipate more meaningfully throughout the criminal
justice process; and - increasetangible, financial supports for victims.
“There can be no justice until the needs of victims are
met,” said Jared Giesbrecht (Green Party Justice Critic). “The Green Party stands with victims,
victim advocates, and service providers in calling for a Victims First model of
justice as well as a greater focus upon crime prevention. The recommendations of this report should be
taken very seriously by this government and implemented as soon as possible.”
“This government is pouring tens of millions of tax dollars
into building prisons across the country, but has forgotten the whole point of
a justice system – support victims and prevent crime,” said Mr. Giesbrecht. “One of the best ways to acknowledge and
respect victims of crime is to make crime prevention a central priority of the
federal government. Crime prevention is
victim prevention.”
-30-