Rights of victims of terrorism: Perspective of South Australia's Commissioner for Victims' Rights
Michael O’Connell*
'Terror and terrorism are.... difficult concepts to handle in normative terms' (Cooper 1976, p. 229).  Many acts of terror have attracted widespread recognition as terrorism (Letschert, Staiger and Pemberton 2010; Hamm 2007; Arena and Arrigon 2006) and in the aftermath been subject of near 'universal condemnation' (Cooper 1976, p. 229).  

Terrorism is often understood as unique in character and purpose from other crimes, however, the experiences, needs and rights of victims of terrorism and other crimes are similar. There are the immediate, real victims ‘targeted’ by the terrorist; the innocent other victims who happened to be in proximity, as well as those who survive the dead, the maimed, the injured; and, humanity itself.

This presentation will briefly canvas definitions of terrorism before outlining the impact of terrorism on people, highlighting victims' needs and rights, and describing the elements of 'good practice' victim assistance.  It will also point to South Australia’s law and practice in compensating its citizens who become victims of crime (including terrorism) overseas, as well as the recently introduced Australian Victims of Overseas Terrorism Payment Scheme.
 
References
Arena, M.P. and Arrigo, B.A. 2006, The Terrorist Identity: Explaining the Terrorist Threat, New York University Press, USA.

Cooper, A.H.H. 1976, ‘The Terrorist and the Victim’, Victimology: An International Journal, vol.1, no. 2, pp. 229-239.

Hamm, M.S. 2007, Terrorism as Crime: From Oklahoma City to Al-Qaeda and Beyond, New York University Press, USA.

Letschert, R. Staiger, I. and Pemberton, A. 2010, Assisting Victims of Terrorism: Towards a European Standard of Justice, Springer, UK.
 
* Mr Michael O’Connell is the Commissioner for Victims’ Rights, South Australia. Previously,  he was the state’s first Victims of Crime Co-ordinator and inaugural Victim Impact Statement Co-ordinator. Michael, a life member of the World Society of Victimology, is also the Society’s current Secretary-General. He lectures and writes on Victimology and Criminal Justice.  He was awarded the Australia Police Medal and the Victim Support Australia National Award for promoting victims’ rights and advancing Victimology. He has also been a finalist in the Australian of the Year Award.