translated from Spanish: President Piñera signs bill seeking to create victim advocacy

President Sebastián Piñera signed the bill that creates the National Service for Access to Justice and the Ombudsman’s Office.” The Victims’ Ombudsman’s Office will provide legal advice and defence to victims of crime and will also provide them with psychological and social assistance, with particular concern from victims of crimes against life, physical or psychic integrity, sexual integrity and freedom,” explained the Mandatario.La Ombudsman, said the Head of State, will also provide a special care service to the most vulnerable victims such as children , older adults and victims of human rights abuses.The project unifies in the new National Service for Access to Justice and in the Ombudsman’s Office all the public offering that exists “very dispersed” in this area, including the four Judicial Assistance Corporations, the specialized programs for children and adolescents (My Advocate), the Comprehensive Defense Program of the Elderly and the Victim Support Program of the Ministry of the Interior.The Service National Access to Justice will provide support in civil, labour and family matters and in criminal matters through the new Ombudsman’s Office, the ruler added.” We have often heard well-founded criticisms of citizens, because the state treats criminals better than victims (…) That is why we are presenting this bill, because universal and timely access to justice is a fundamental right of all citizens,” the authority said. With this, the bill seeks to ensure equal access to justice for all citizens, and to ensure the defence of victims of crime, President Piñera added.

Original source in Spanish