Speaker, the ANC reaffirms that the focus should be placed on mobilising society to make life difficult for criminals in our midst. This includes improving gender and family relations and intolerance of abuse within communities, as well as the transformation of institutions dealing with crime.
Hence the ANC welcomes the North West province's steps to make its criminal justice system more victim-friendly. This is after the MEC for health and social development, Rebecca Kasienyane, unveiled the Victim Empowerment Integrated Plan on Tuesday, 2 November 2010.
The aim of the plan is to provide support, protection and empowerment to victims of crime and violence through a strategic partnership between government and civil society, with a special focus on vulnerable groups.
Finally, this initiative is in line with the ANC's serious commitment to combat violence and crime against women and children by increasing the capacity of the criminal justice system to deal with such violence. Thank you.