The 11th Asian
Postgraduate Course
on Victimology and Victim
Assistance
History of Victimology
By
Gerd Ferdinand Kirchhoff
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
1979 3rd International Symposium on Victimology in
Muenster, Germany. Foundation of the WSV.
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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
1 lawyer/victim assistance activist leader (Mexico)
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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
theoretical victimology and a lot
happened in victim assistance
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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,
Israel, Brazil, Australia, Netherlands, Canada,
South Africa, USA, Japan, Netherlands
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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
– sympathy between practitioners and scientists
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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
culminates in an UN Declaration
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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
Peak of influence of activists in 2006
Motto of the Symposium “Enhancing
the Mission” 2006 Orlando
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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)
2004 Intervict in University of Tilburg
(Groenhuijzen, van Dijck, Winkel)
Jakarta 2005, Spain ...
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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.
Social Reconstruction of Reality
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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
Getting heard: The creation of the
social problem
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Reactions of the host society
The different ways of the host society
to react
indifferent
rejecting
Incorporating, embracing
Politicians take notice and take positions
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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.
When is the problem solved?
Dangerous moment:
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• 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
• Inside the movement, a cleaning
process is tried
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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
volunteers)
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Victimology and Human Security
7. Victimization of Indigenous People
and other marginalized groups
8. Special Victimizations: Victims of
Family Violence, Torture, Terrorist
Attacks, Consumer Fraud and Cyber
Victims
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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
theoretical framework.
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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”
Schafer (Functional Responsibility 1967)
Wolfgang 1958 (Victim Precipitation)
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Ben David (2000): Victim’s
Victimology
Post-Graduate Courses on
Victimology, Victim Assistance and
Criminal Justice since 1984
Restorative Justice
Transitional Justice
Trauma and Psycho-Traumatology
(since 1990)( Winkel 2007)
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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
Victims of modern forms of slavery
Victims of poor social planning, poor preparations and rescue work for
disasters
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