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International Activities

Part of the mission of the Office for Victims of Crime is to provide international leadership in promoting effective                  and sensitive victim services and rights around the world.                                                                                                                           -- Kathryn Turman, Acting Director, OVC 

As countries and their citizens become more  linked through tourism, internet usage, and  international trade, issues ofviolent crime and victimization increasingly become an international concern and focus. The Office for Victims of Crime(OVC) has recognized a growing need for services for American citizens victimized abroad and foreign nationals victimizedin the United States. For example,  OVC is responding to the plight of victims of terrorism, commercial exploitation,international trafficking of women and children, and international child abduction. As a result, OVC is working to improvecoordination among government and nongovernment agencies involved with international victimization cases and to   improve information sharing around the world on victims' issues. The following is a list of recent OVC initiatives andactivities to improve international awareness of and responsiveness to victims' rights and needs and to further the   integration of crime victim issues into all international discussions of crime.

**Assistance for Victims of Terrorism Abroad**

     The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 broadened OVC's authority to assist victims of terrorismabroad as demonstrated by the following examples: 

     *  Assistance for Victims of U.S. Embassy Bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. In the  aftermath of the simultaneousbombings of 2 U.S. Embassies in East Africa on August 7, 1998,  OVC has worked with many different Federal agenciesincluding the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Justice, Office of PersonnelManagement, the Agency for International Development, and the Central Intelligence Agency, to ensure that information,benefits, and services are made available to the victims of those attacks. OVC has funded positions at the U.S. Department ofState to assist these victims in accessing services; obtaining compensation for medical expenses; victim travel to Nairobi,Kenya to participate in memorial ceremonies; and getting information on the criminal trial. OVC also hosted a meeting forthe victims and surviving family members to provide information about benefits and the current status of the criminal case.

* **Assistance for Victims of Bombing in Dharain, Saudi Arabia.** Following the bombing of Khobar Towers in Dharain,Saudi Arabia, OVC used its new authority under the Antiterrorism Act to ensure that the survivors of the 19 military service members killed in that attack were aware of compensation and assistance benefits.OVC, in conjunction with the FBI, the Department of Defense and the Department of the Air Force, hosted a meeting at theFBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia for the surviving family members of the servicemen killed in the bombing of KhobarTowers and established a 1-800 line for the families and the other victims in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District ofColumbia to provide current information about the case investigation and the status of the alleged terrorists. 

*  **Development of Federal Protocol for Responding to Victims of Terrorism Abroad.** Recent international terroristattacks against the U.S. have illuminated many of the unique and complex problems in coordinating an appropriate short-and long-term response to victims of terrorism abroad and the need to develop a Federal protocol for responding to futureinternational terrorist incidents. Terrorism crimes tend to involve large numbers of victims and may include employees ofvarious Federal agencies, as well as tourists, business representatives, and foreign nationals. Obtaining critical information about victims and providing emergency relief and ongoing services may be complicated anddifficult. Access  to compensation, benefits, and services can depend on which agencies victims work for and their residencystatus. OVC has taken a leadership role in coordinating the development of a high-level working group to develop a Federalprotocol to ensure a more seamless response to victims of such incidents in the future.
Coordination with the U.S. Department of State to Assist American CitizensVictimized Abroad
*  **International Victim Compensation Program Resource Directory**. An increasing number of countries provide victimcompensation to foreign nationals; however, international victimization poses administrative obstacles both for victimsseeking compensation and for programs providing financial assistance. In response, OVC coordinated with the Departmentof State to find out how many countries have crime victim compensation programs and to publish this information in anInternational Victim Compensation Program Resource Directory. The first Resource Directory was published in 1996 andhas been updated annually. OVC received 115 responses to its latest survey, 28 of which described existing programs. Theprograms, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and compensable expenses covered by these 28 countries and theUnited States are described in the 1998-1999 edition of the Resource Directory. The directory is available through the OVCResource Center at 800-627-6872 and through the Web site at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/intdir/.

*  **Information to Embassies and Consulates. **OVC works closely with the State Department to provide information andassistance when U.S. citizens are victimized abroad. For example, OVC staff worked with the State Department to developdetailed informational materials on OVC's services and on victim compensation and assistance programs that exist in everyState in the United States. The State Department sent this information to all Embassies and Consulates overseas. Thismaterial provides a ready reference for Embassy and Consular staff to use when they are contacted by Americans who havebeen victimized abroad and are looking for information about the services and compensation available upon their return tothe United States. OVC is also providing funds to the State Department to establish a full-time victim assistance specialist towork in the Office of Overseas Citizens Services.
International Tourist Victims
*  International tourists who become victims often face unique issues, such as isolation, culture shock, lack of familiar socialsupports, travel stress, and language barriers.  OVC is funding a 2-year project to improve the capacity of communities in theUnited States to provide more effective services to foreign travelers who are victimized in the U.S. and to assist othercountries in improving their response to U.S. citizens who are victimized abroad.   

OVC has awarded the grant to the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). To accomplish this goal, NOVA,assisted by an international advisory committee, will conduct an international search for promising practices, policies, andprocedures for assisting international tourist victims. The resulting information will be made available through: 1) the NOVAdatabase of international programs and practices; 2) an OVC bulletin that addresses the range of unique issues facinginternational tourist victims and key elements of programs or practices that have been established to assist them; 3) succincttourist brochures that can be given to tourists going from and coming to the U.S. summarizing general information on formsof victimization that may affect them and general resources available; and 4) a companion handbook for use by victimassistance programs when they work with tourist victims that can be tailored to different cultures and populations.
International Trafficking of Women and Children
OVC is working in a number of areas to address the needs of victims who are trafficked across U.S. borders for exploitativepurposes. OVC staff currently serve on several departmental task forces that are working on issues relating to theinternational trafficking of women and children. In addition, OVC has undertaken the following projects: 

*  **Direct Services for Trafficked Victims (Grant). **In FY 1997, OVC funded the Filipino American Service Group, Inc.(FASGI) to provide direct services to Asian women and children trafficked and held as garment or sex industry workers.FASGI worked to assist trafficked women in re-establishing healthy and normal lives, ensure their availability for service aseffective material witnesses while reducing the costs to taxpayers, and provide a model that can be used in other regions ofthe country. The project developed guidelines for use by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and the U.S.Courts in releasing trafficked women to community care, and developed a preliminary curriculum for a continuum of care for"Southeast Asian Women in Transition." 

*  **Focus Group on Assisting Trafficked Victims. **In June 1998, OVC convened a focus group on assistance and outreachto victims of international trafficking. The victimization that flows from such trafficking is significant, yet for many reasons,these victims are largely without services. The purpose of the focus group was to gather views about how best to meet themyriad of needs of victims of international trafficking, including those who have been trafficked for commercial sexualexploitation, slave labor, and other unlawful purposes. Victim service providers, immigrant rights advocates, and others whocome directly in contact with trafficked victims attended the meeting. In addition, representatives from the U.S. Immigrationand Naturalization Service, the Federal   Bureau of Investigation, the Department of State, and the Department of Laborattended the meeting. Recommendations were made which OVC planned to incorporate in future program development.

*  **Law Enforcement Training Video.**OVC is currently working with the Department of Justice Worker-Exploitation TaskForce and various service providers throughout the country and numerous nongovernmental organizations to develop atraining video for Federal law enforcement personnel on the issues facing victims of trafficking. This video is expected to becompleted in August 1999.
Immigrant Victims
*  **Victim-Witness Unit, Immigration and Naturalization Service.**  Documented and undocumented immigrants areparticularly vulnerable to crime in the United States.  They are less likely to report crimes and access services for manyreasons: they may fear deportation; they may distrust law enforcement; and/or they may not be aware that services exist.OVC has been working with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to establish a victim-witness program toidentify victims of crime and refer them to services. Since its inception, INS has established 68 Victim-Witness Coordinatorsthroughout the country to assist crime victims. OVC, in conjunction with INS, has recently developed a training video, "ABalance to Maintain," for all INS employees on victim's issues, and a national training program is under development.

*  **Torture Victims.**Thousands of victims of politically motivated torture currently reside in the United States. While thetorture took place in other countries, these victims are seeking treatment and assistance in the United States. In November1998, OVC conducted a focus group with the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) in Minneapolis, Minnesota to exploreways that OVC can work with CVT to educate victim service providers about the unique needs of these vulnerableimmigrant victims. CVT has conducted several training workshops for Federal law enforcement personnel and is exploring ways to broaden awareness of available training for victim service providers around the country.
United Nations Interface 
*  OVC staff has participated in the annual United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna,Austria a number of times. The United States has cosponsored resolutions to foster implementation of the 1985 UnitedNations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, and OVC has taken the lead incoordinating the development of the*United Nations Handbook on Justice for Victims* and the accompanying*Guide forPolicymakers* on implementing the principles set forth in the Declaration in countries around the world. OVC sponsored 2international expert group meetings to draft the handbook and guide;    

the first was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the second was in Washington, D.C. In total, experts from nearly 40 countries attendedthese meetings and participated in the development of the *Handbook*and *Guide for Policymakers.*
Kidnaped Children Taken Across International Borders
*  Since 1985, the Departments of Justice and State have had a cooperative agreement with the National Center for Missingand Exploited Children to track kidnaped children taken across international borders and to help their parents obtain lawfulcustody under the Hague Convention's Treaty on international child abductions. To assist in this effort, OVC established afund to help parents with inadequate resources accompany their children back to the United States.
Commercially Exploited Children
*  OVC staff helped prepare the U.S. Delegation to the World Congress Against the Commercial Exploitation of Childrenheld in Stockholm, Sweden, on August 27-31, 1996. OVC provided funds for the development of a publication entitled,"Child Sexual Exploitation: Improving Investigations and Protecting Victims -- A Blueprint for Action," which wasdistributed at the conference. Since the World Congress, OVC has participated in a working group comprised ofrepresentatives from the President's Interagency Council on Women, the State Department, the Department of Labor,Department of Defense, the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Education, andvarious Department of Justice agencies to develop a coordinated Federal strategy for prevention of, investigation of, andintervention in cases of commercial exploitation of children. 
Rape Victims
*  Several years ago, in collaboration with the State Department's Office of Diplomatic Security, OVC provided funding forthe development of forensic rape kits suitable for use in developing countries. These kits were then distributed to StateDepartment medical clinics worldwide, and training was provided on their use. 
Restorative Justice for Juveniles
*  For the past several years, OVC has been engaged in partnership with other Department of Justice agencies to advance theunderstanding of restorative justice principles and to provide forums for jurisdictions to network and exchange ideas aboutthese principles and their practical application. Restorative justice focuses on addressing the harm caused by crime, thusplacing the needs of the crime victims in a central position in the administration of justice. OVC is currently cosponsoring,with 4 other Department of Justice agencies, a series of 5 regional symposia in the United States on restorative justice. An International Conference on Restorative Justice for Juveniles was held in November 1998 in Florida. Additional conferencesare scheduled through the year 2002. The conference series grew out of a United Nations working group on restorativejustice.
OVC Resource Center Response to International Crime Victim Issues
*  The Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center (OVCRC) is a dynamic information resource that responds to querieson a variety of victim issues from victim service agencies, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from around theworld. OVCRC has responded to requests from multiple countries including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland,Japan, Malaysia, and New Zealand on a variety of subjects, such as child abuse, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault,victim compensation, restitution, victims' rights, and victim-offender mediation. OVCRC has recently expanded itsinternational outreach by establishing an international selection in the Victims Resources section of the National CriminalJustice Reference Service (NCJRS) home page (http://www.ncjrs.org).  OVCRC has also provided information and materialsat a number of international crime victim-related conferences. 

The following are publications that are currently available, or soon will be available, on the International Section of OVC'sWeb site:  * *International Victim Compensation Program Resource Directory.*

*  *United Nations Handbook on Justice for Victims*and *Guide for Policymakers* (in draft).

*  *Child Sexual Exploitation: Improving Investigations and Protecting Victims -- A Blueprint for Action.*

*  *New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century*(Chapter 18: "International Perspectivesin Victims' Services).

*  *National Victim Assistance Academy Text*(Chapter 21:  "Special Topics -- International Issues in Victim Assistance.)
International Visitors
*  Each year, OVC provides briefings to dozens of visitors from around the world who are interested in victim assistanceefforts in the United States. Recent visits have included officials from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Guatemala,Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, and Turkey. In addition, students from Australia, Germany, Nigeria,and Rwanda attended OVC's 1998 National Victim Assistance Academy.

*For more information about OVC's international activities, please call 202-307-5983, or visit the OVC Web site athttp://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/.*

This document was last updated on April 19, 2001