Declaration
of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of
Power
Abridged
Adopted by General Assembly resolution
40/34 of 29 November 1985
B. Victims of Abuse of Power
18. "Victims" means persons who, individually
or collectively, have suffered harm, including physical or mental
injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment
of their fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that do not
yet constitute violations of national criminal laws but of internationally
recognized norms relating to human rights.
19. States should consider incorporating into the
national law norms proscribing abuses of power and providing remedies
to victims of such abuses. In particular, such remedies should include
restitution and/or compensation, and necessary material, medical,
psychological and social assistance and support.
20. States should consider negotiating multilateral
international treaties relating to victims, as defined in paragraph
18.
21. States should periodically
review existing legislation and practices to ensure their responsiveness
to changing circumstances, should enact and enforce, if necessary,
legislation proscribing acts that constitute serious abuses of political
or economic power, as well as promoting policies and mechanisms
for the prevention of such acts, and should develop and make readily
available appropriate rights and remedies for victims of such acts.
top |