Victims

A victim is a person who has suffered harm due to crime, accident, natural disaster, or deliberate wrongdoing. The term is used in legal, sociological, and psychological contexts to describe someone who has experienced injury, loss, or injustice as a result of actions by others or by circumstances.

Victims can be direct, experiencing physical or psychological harm themselves; indirect are family members or others affected. Collective victims are groups who share harm. Examples include those harmed by violence, accidents, or disasters.

In victimology, researchers study risk factors, patterns, and the consequences; common impacts include physical injury, mental health problems, economic hardship, and social stigma. Recovery often involves medical care, counseling, social support, and formal services.

Legal and policy frameworks recognize victims' rights, such as information, protection, restitution, and participation in proceedings. Many jurisdictions have victim advocacy groups and compensation programs; international instruments include the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power.

Terminology varies: some prefer "survivor" for abuse victims; others retain "victim." Data on victims often rely on reporting, which can be incomplete due to underreporting, fear, or retraumatization.