The theme of this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week – “New Solutions, New Challenges” – reflects the increasingly complex mission of victim advocates today.

We face emerging challenges, such as globalization, changing demographics, immigration, human trafficking, terrorism, new types of crime, and the use of technology both to commit and solve crimes.

We also confront enduring challenges. Victims’ rights are not universal and often not enforced. Victims do not always receive the dignity and respect they deserve. Victims often absorb the physical, emotional, and financial costs of crime largely by themselves.

Over the past year and into the early part of this year, a number of high-profile crimes have highlighted the scope of the challenges we face.

The shooting massacres in Aurora, Colo., and the Sikh temple in Milwaukee, Wis.; the child sex abuse scandal at Penn State; the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newton, Conn.; and, most recently, the Boston Marathon bombing, have shown the public what we see every day – the searing impact of crime on victims and the inadequacy of our tools to meet their needs.

Our work to ensure the rights of child sexual abuse victims, prevent future violence, and reach all victims has never been more urgent.

Meeting these challenges requires insight and ingenuity. That is why the Office for Victims of Crime has launched its new strategic initiative, “Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services,” to find “new solutions” to the “new challenges” we face.

We applaud the Office for Victims of Crime’s efforts to set a comprehensive course for the future, find smarter and better ways to serve victims, and reach every victim in need.

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week provides an opportunity to revisit our history, celebrate our achievements and advance the progress of victims’ rights.

As we recommit ourselves to our mission, we look forward to observing 2013 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 21-27, with all of you.

Deborah Wallace is program administrator for the Lake County District Attorney’s Office/Victim-Witness Division, based in Lakeport, Calif.