REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA    Private Testifying Room to allow the victim to testify outside the physical presence of the accused, which may cause more trauma; A Bench Monitor to give the presiding officer the close view of the victim from the testifying room so as to assess her demeanour and quickly respond to possible signs trauma or tiredness; 2 x Large screen monitors that can be titled and zoomed at 360 degrees to give the clear view of the courtroom and the Private Testifying Room. Victim empowerment 415. As the lead department on the issue of Victim Empowerment, the Department of Social Development has, as part of its mandate, the responsibility of promoting the wider government goal of protecting the rights of women and children. This is also inspired by the fact that South Africa is a signatory to the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. 416. Victims are entitled to access the mechanisms of justice and seek prompt redress for the harm and loss suffered and should receive adequate specialized assistance in dealing with emotional trauma and other problems caused by the impact of victimization. In order to give effect to these obligations, an Integrated National Policy Guidelines for Victim Empowerment was developed in 2007 to ensure that holistic and integrated services are rendered to victims of crime and violence. 417. The VEP Policy Guidelines seek to create a society in which the rights and needs of victims of crime and violence are acknowledged and effectively addressed within a restorative justice approach. This approach is in-line with international trends to promote a victimfriendly approach in criminal justice. The policy guidelines provide a framework for sound inter-departmental and inter-sectoral collaboration and for the integration of effective institutional arrangements for multi-pronged approach in managing victim empowerment. Such approach facilitated the establishment of partnerships in the VEP sector to effectively address the diverse and sensitive needs of victims holistically. 418. The policy also serves as a guide for sector-specific victim empowerment policies, capacity development and a greater emphasis on the implementation of victim empowerment programmes by all relevant partners. Partnership between various government departments and civil society organizations on service delivery to victims of crime and violence holds key to the success of the integrated Victim Empowerment Programme. The VEP sector’s specific roles and responsibilities of all relevant partners and stakeholders are clearly defined in the policy guidelines. 419. The Department of Social Development released the National Policy Guidelines for Victim Empowerment in July 2009. The Victim Empowerment Policy is based upon the concept of restorative justice. Whereas formerly the focus was almost exclusively on the progress of the perpetrator through the system, the current focus is also strongly on serving the 115