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Part II · Rights and Entitlements of Victims of Crime and Witnesses

3. Right of a victim of crime to a fair treatment

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

(1)

A victim of crime shall have the right-

(a)

to be treated with equality and with fairness and respect to the dignity and privacy of such victim of crime;

(b)

to receive prompt, adequate and fair redress including reparation and restitution which is commensurate with any injury, damage or loss suffered as a victim of crime;

(c)

to be protected from any injury or potential injury, including threats, intimidation, reprisal or retaliation;

(d)

to be treated for any physical, psychological, emotional or mental harm, including impairment or disability, suffered as a victim of crime;

(e)

where such victim of crime is a child, to be treated in a manner that ensures the best interest of such child;

(f)

where such victim of crime is a female who has to be medically examined, to make a request to be so examined, by a female medical professional; and

(g)

where the offence is of sexual nature, to specify the gender of the officer who is to carry out the investigation or inquiry into the offence.

(2)

Whenever a victim of crime, in exercising the right under paragraph (f) or paragraph (g) of subsection (1), makes a request to be examined by a female medical professional or specifies the gender of the officer who is to carry out the investigation or inquiry, as the case may be, it shall be the duty of the State to make all endeavors to ensure that such medical examination or investigation or inquiry is carried out by a medical professional or investigation or inquiring officer, as the case may be, of the gender requested or specified by the victim of crime.

Part III

Offences Against Victims of Crime and Witnesses

Part IV

Entitlement of a Victim of Crime or Witnesses to Seek Protection

Part V

Establishment of the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses

Part VI

Appointment of the Director-General and Staff of the Authority

Part VII

Victims of Crime and Witnesses Assistance and Protection Division

Part VIII

The Assistance and Protection Programme for Victims of Crime and Witnesses

Part IX

Compensation and Interim Awards

Part X

Testimony Through Contemporaneous Audio-Visual Linkage

Part XI

Finance

Part XII

General

Schedules