NORWICH – This week marks the annual National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a week focused on promoting victims’ rights while also honoring the victims of various crimes, and paying tribute to the individuals and different agencies that advocate on their behalf.

In recognition of Crime Victim’s Rights Week, several local organizations are pulling together for a series of events that heighten awareness of the resources available to crime victims in Chenango County. On Monday, the week kicked-off with a special press conference on the steps of the Chenango County Courthouse. The gathering included several guest speakers who touted the rights of crime victims and applauded the people whose mission it is to lend a helping hand.

“Only 30 years ago, crime victims had no rights, access to crime victim compensation, or services to help rebuild their lives,” said Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, one of the speakers during the event. “Yet through decades of advocacy and hard work, I am pleased to say that much progress has been made. Today, all states have enacted crime victims’ rights laws and established compensation funds.”

McBride went on to say that more than 10,000 victim service agencies have been established nationwide, including the local Crime Victims Program, operated through Catholic Charities of Chenango County in Norwich.

According to the McBride, someone is sexually assaulted every two minutes in the United States, and more than half of those instances go unreported. Thousands of women and children are served in shelters nationwide every day. Moreover, approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence each year; and each day, four children die as a result of abuse or neglect.

“This week, we are recognizing the importance of ensuring that victims are served and that their voice is considered throughout the process,” said Daniel Auwarter, crime victims program director at Catholic Charities of Chenango County. “It is an important week for us as victim service provider ... it’s also important to recognize our relationship with the police and the prosecutor to ensure the course of criminal justice is fair.”