Nasjonal støttegruppe for pårørende, overlevende og berørte etter ...

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NKVTS-RappORT 1/2008
that some of the needs that these parts were directed against were taken care
of by others (general practitioners, friends, authorities).
Other support groups also seem to have functioned effectively as pressure
groups towards companies and authorities, for example in the fight to continue
the search for missed ones or to resume investigation. As pressure groups
the support groups fulfil an important need in the society by representing
interests that otherwise are not represented. This has a positive effect when
it comes to investigating disasters and to make the responsible responsible,
if this is not done otherwise.
Support groups also play an important role to further user interests in society
sectors where ordinary consumer interests are not well enough represented.
This may apply to the transport sector and passenger transport at sea. Some
support groups have also worked to ameliorate disaster preparedness.
The report concluded with the following recommendations:
Support groups seem to have an important function by supplementing
public and professional interventions directed at the individual victim. Groups
also play an important role as pressure and interest groups to further collective
interests and needs. We therefore recommend that the authorities prepare
for speedy setup of support groups in case of disaster and catastrophes. This
can be done by giving the established secretariat good limits and that the
authorities emphasise good cooperation with the authorities. The secretariat
may give assistance with establishment and running of new support groups.
The secretariat may also have an important function in securing a satisfactory
closure of the activities of the groups to all parties.
The report also contains recommendations to the support groups. In order
to take care of and balance the different needs and interests it is important
that the boards of the groups have a wide representation.
In concluding we point to some substantial questions in the report for
further research and recommend a more accentuated consumer perspective
in research.