The 11
thAsian Postgraduate
Course
on Victimology and Victim
Assistance
History of Victimology By
In the sixties of last century, Israel Drapkin – medical doctor and historian from Chile living in Israel - traveled the world, from one university institute to another, in America, Asia and in Europe, and asked:
What research do you do in victimology
What would be your contribution to an international conference on victims?
1973 1st International Symposium on Victimology, in
Jerusalem
1976 2nd International Symposium on Victimology in Boston, USA
Stephan Schafer Chair of Criminology – Regina Ryan
Look at the first Executive Committee
4 law professors with a specialization in criminal law/ criminology
2 psychology professors with a specialization in treatment and community organization
1 sociologist
Today
2 directors of special Institutes (Jp, Nl)
2 professors of victimology (both Tokiwa University)
2 Police (Victim Commissioner, Police Academy Director) 6 professors of Law (South America, Japan, Australia, China, Indonesia)
2 psychologist (Dean of Criminology (South Africa) and 1 psychotraumatologist
Interest driven …..
Big split in the leadership of WSV
One group wanted WSV to promote victimology as a social science
One group wanted to promote
victimology as a part of criminology
One group wanted WSV to become an international vehicle for victim assistance Really not very much happened in
1973-2012
1983 The WSV EC discussed the document that later became the UN Declaration
1984 First Postgraduate Course
Dubrovnik 27, Mito,10, South Africa 3, San Salvador 2, USA 1
In these courses the teaching is developed Look at the history of the symposiums!
Israel, USA, Germany, Japan, Yugoslavia,
World Society of Victimology
1985 WSV Hans von Hentig - Award to Marlene Young
bridge between victimology and victim assistance, especially demanded by the influential American EC members
difficult to maintain a separation between victim assistance and victimology
– in victimology, victim assistance is included – consequences
1985 UN Declaration
1. Two years international discussion of victim in the criminal justice system
streamlines the international discussion 2. Zagreb Symposium prepares the
position of the block-free and the
communist countries for a success in the UN deliberations and consolidates the position of the Western countries together with Non Aligned countries. 3. UN Congress 1985 in Milan
Elections to the EC show a growing
influence of victim assistance activists to move the cause internationally
Very skilled leadership in USA, UK and Mexico, Argentina
Institutes of Victimology
Institutes of Victimology
(1968 - 1992 Koichi Miyazawa’s institute in Keio, Tokyo, Japan)
Bellagio Institute 1975 (Emilio Viano)
1998 Sarajevo Institute (WSV and University of Sarajevo, dormant)
2003 Tokiwa University (Hidemichi Morosawa, John Dussich)
The “home faculty”
Problem of finding a “home faculty” for a study that draws from sociology,
psychology, medicine, social work, political science, criminology and law, especially
criminal law and criminal procedure. Integrating knowledge from so many faculties, the field has no own single unifying theory
This is a reason that it is often not regarded as a science - but it behaves like a science. and it is more and more accepted as such.
Recognition of a problem
We can interpret this as a kind of “recognition”
Insights from the “Sociology of Social Movements”
The concern
The publics and “their” problem
Reactions of the host society
The different ways of the host society to react
indifferent rejecting
Incorporating, embracing
Recognition
This recognition is facilitated:
only if there is enough disquieting noise and unrest, the stakeholders of the traditional way of thinking (or the existing social order) will listen and finally politicians will react.
“Maus and the circles”
Outer circle of sympathizers Inner circle of supporters
Center of leaders of the movement
Recognizing reactions are applauded by the outer circle and often by the inner circle as well.
• Official recognition is a dangerous moment for a social movement:
• sympathizers start to leave the movement.
• The social auditorium believes that the problem is solved
• The “true believers” continue to fight for more improvements
The Themes in 2009
1. Theory on Victimology and Human Security
2. A Victim Convention in the light of International Instruments and national Norms
3. The Work of the UNHCR and victims of Abuse of Power, refugee Victims and Displaced Persons
4. The Development of Victim Issues in the National Justice Systems, especially in Asia
5. Responses to Disaster Victimization
6. Psycho – traumatological and Psychological
Interventions, building a network and coordination of victim specialized interveners (professionals and
Victimology and Human Security
7. Victimization of Indigenous People and other marginalized groups
8. Special Victimizations: Victims of Family Violence, Torture, Terrorist
Till now I have introduced into
victimology and I have tried to give you an idea where the field stands today.
In the following I will more formally describe victimology in a more
History of Victimology starts when
scientists look at victims abstractly and when they try to develop a theory that explains victimization.
The Example “Job”
The example “Beccaria” (1738-1794) 1764
The Example “von Hentig”
Ben David (2000): Victim’s Victimology
Post-Graduate Courses on
Victimology, Victim Assistance and Criminal Justice since 1984
Restorative Justice Transitional Justice
Mainstream victimologists can be found under an invisible umbrella who is centered in the UN Crime Commission and it Vienna Crime Center.
Traditional reasons UNHC HR
UNHC R ILO
IOM
Victimologists must not take over social constructions of the ruling groups
too long neglected: examples “Domestic Violence”
“Exploitation by human traffickers” “Man” as victims
