ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with assistance for cyber-crime victims. The 1985 UN Declaration of the Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power and the 2005 Basic Principles and Guidelines emphasised assistance for victims of crimes and the abuse of power. Cyber-crime victims need assistance as well. Such assistance includes assistance in accessing justice, recovery of the data from the hackers, content removal from the web, protection from the perpetrator from future harm, compensation from the perpetrator––including from the tech companies that may have been negligent in responding to reports made by the victims, etc. Assistance also includes rescue and rehabilitation: there are victims who may be victimised in cyberspace, as well as in physical space. These may include victims of online trafficking. Even if they should be rescued from traffickers' dens or porn dens, their data, and images may remain accessible for further exploitation in the deep dark web. Victim assistance in cyber-crime victimisation cases cannot be carried out only by the police or courts. It should be a collective effort of stakeholders, including the tech companies, NGOs, and the criminal justice system. Chapter five discusses in detail about victim assistance from all these aspects.
