Background
The basic concepts of the Project have developed slowly over the past few years. During this time Victim Assistance Online -- a Canadian non-profit organization which provides free e-mail discussion lists and other Internet-based communications mediums for victim service agencies/providers and professionals in related fields -- received a number of inquiries from victim advocates in a variety of countries about whether an advocate exchange program already existed, or on the possibility of organizing such a program.
Seeing the amount of interest being expressed, Victim Assistance Online -- with the support of several organizations/agencies in various countries, particularly Victim Support Services Inc. of South Australia -- instigated a coordinated discussion between victim assistance agencies on the development of such a project. During these talks it became apparent that no resources were available to fully fund such a global service. Additionally, concerns about a number of legal issues, including: passports and visas, working status and national law, health and security, etc., complicated the development of the project, as laws and regulations varied greatly from country to country.
It was eventually decided the Project could be carried out as a voluntary service which would only seek to place interested agencies and individuals in contact with each other. These agencies and individuals would then accept the risk and responsibility of planning and executing the exchanges or visitations between themselves. The parties involved will be responsible for their own funding, and for determining what documents or arrangements needed to be made for travel, for compliance with national laws, and for accommodation and security.