What We Do

Within the Strategy for Victims and Survivors 2009, the Commission is identified as:

Being the primary source of advice to government on victims and survivors issues;
Having responsibility for the strategic assessment of need; and
Being responsible for ensuring that the correct structures are in place to meet those needs and identify gaps in provision.

The Commission will oversee and provide guidance to the Victims and Survivors Forum in relation to the three key areas of victims and survivors work to ensure that there is a clear focus and that it is productive. The Victims and Survivors Forum will act as an advisory body to the Commission.

The infrastructure envisaged in the 2009 Strategy for Victims and Survivors became fully operational for the first time with the establishment of the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) and also the Victims and Survivors Forum. The Commission's work on the Comprehensive Needs Assessment over the last two years formed the foundations for the planning and delivery of services by the VSS and resulted directly in policy which has shaped its structure and work. Consequently, in April 2012, the VSS was launched.

A copy of the Strategy for Victims and Survivors can be accessed here.

Vision, Mission and Values

Our Vision is to improve the lives of all victims and survivors of the Conflict.

Our Mission is to address the needs of all victim and survivors by ensuring excellent service provision, acknowledging the legacy of the past and building for a better future.

All our work is underpinned by a number of core values. We use these in our day to day work and we seek outcomes based on the fulfilment of these values.

These values are as follows:

Victim Centred - Victims and survivors are at the centre of all we do and we will encourage and value their participation.
Open and transparent - We are open, honest, accountable and responsive in all our work.
Equality and diversity - We will treat everyone equally and challenge inequality with impartiality, independence and integrity.
Respect - We will be courteous and professional in our approach to everyone who contacts us.
Impartiality - We will uphold our independence and maintain a critical distance to challenge Government and relevant authorities.
Delivering Quality - We will strive to deliver all of our programmes to a high standard

Advice to Ministers

One of the Commissioner's statutory duties is to provide advice to Government on matters affecting victims and survivors. You can view these papers here.

You can also read more about the statutory duties and powers of the Commissioner here.