Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 446626,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/446626/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 839,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Chea",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1694,
        "legal_name": "Mwinga Gunga Chea",
        "slug": "mwinga-gunga-chea"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for this opportunity. From the outset, I would wish to support this Bill and congratulate hon. Millie for it. Our own Constitution, Article 48, provides for access to justice. If you read that Article you will realize it talks of justice to all. All along, we have had only justice given to arrested persons. It has not been the case where we have had complainants being taken care of. I am happy with this particular Bill; we are going to see a situation where victims are actually going to be taken care of and their interests protected. I wish to mention three issues which are very important to this Bill. First, if you look at Clause 3 of this Bill, it brings in the concept of restorative justice. It is important to know that, this is a Bill that tries to incorporate issues of alternative dispute resolution. Those who come from various communities know that disputes can be settled at the local level, people can negotiate and settle issues. This is a very important concept instead of going through the rigors of the law. I wish to appreciate this Bill for the introduction of that bit. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the other issue is the security of the victim. The Bill suggests that there will be protection for these victims. Even in the case of insecurity that we have had in this country, it is because the victims do not feel safe to volunteer information when they are supposed to do so; they end up hiding information and eventually things do not go well. With the passage of this Bill such issues will be taken care of. The third issue is on victim restriction. We have seen even in traffic cases in this country--- Someone can be charged with careless driving and causing death by dangerous driving, but at the end of the day the fines that are paid just go to the State. The one who has had his car badly damaged, and those who suffer injuries are not taken care of. I have seen in Clause 14 of the Bill that these are the issues that will be addressed. This is a progressive Bill and I wish to support it."
}