VICTIMOLOGY – PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
John P. J. Dussich*

I. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF VICTIMOLOGY
A. The Early Roots
The word “victim” has its roots in many ancient languages that covered a great distance from northwestern Europe to the southern tip of Asia and yet had a similar linguistic pattern: victima in Latin; víh,wéoh, wíg in Old European; wíh, wíhi in Old High German; vé in Old Norse; weihs in Gothic; and, vinak ti in
Sanskrit (Webster’s 1971).
Victimology as an academic term contains two elements:• One is the Latin word “Victima” which translates into “victim”.
• The other is the Greek word “logos” which means a system of knowledge, the direction ofsomething abstract, the direction of teaching, science, and a discipline.
Although writings about the victim appeared in many early works by such criminologists as Beccaria(1764), Lombroso (1876), Ferri (1892), Garófalo (1885), Sutherland (1924), Hentig (1948), Nagel (1949),
Ellenberger (1955), Wolfgang (1958) and Schafer (1968), the concept of a science to study victims and theword “victimology” had its origin with the early writings of Beniamin Mendelsohn (1937; 1940), theseleading to his seminal work where he actually proposed the term “victimology” in his article “A New Branchof Bio-Psycho-Social Science, Victimology” (1956). It was in this article that he suggested the establishmentof an international society of victimology which has come to fruition with the creation of the World Society ofVictimology, the establishment of a number of victimological institutes (including the creation here in Japanof the Tokiwa International Victimology Institute); and, the establishment of international journals which are
now also a part of this institute. Mendelsohn provided us with his victimology vision and blueprint; and, as
his disciples we have followed his guidance. We now refer to Mendelsohn as “The Father of Victimology”.

B. Critical Dates in Victimology• 1924 Edwin Sutherland includes a chapter on victims in his criminology textbook.
• 1937 Beniamin Mendelsohn publishes his writings on the rapist and his victim.
• 1941 Hans von Hentig publishes article on victim and criminal interactions.
• 1947 Beniamin Mendelsohn coins the term “victimology” in a French journal.
• 1948 Hans von Hentig publishes his book The Criminal and His Victim.
• 1949 Frederic Wertham first used the word “victimology” in a book Show of Violence.
• 1957 Margery Fry proposes victim compensation in the London Times.
• 1958 Marvin Wolfgang studies homicide victims; uses the term “victim precipitation”.
• 1963 New Zealand enacts the first Criminal Compensation Act.
• 1965 California is the first state in the USA to start Victim Compensation.
• 1966 Japan enacts Criminal Indemnity Law.
• 1966 USA starts to survey crime victims not reported to the police• 1967 Canada creates a Criminal Compensation Injuries Act as does Cuba and Switzerland.
• 1968 Stephan Schafer writes the first victimology textbook The Victim and His Criminal.
• 1972 The first three victim assistance programmes are created in St. Louis, Missouri, San Francisco,California and in Washington, D. C.
• 1973 the first international symposium on victimology is held in Jerusalem, Israel.
• 1974 the first police-based victim advocate project is started in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
• 1975 The first “Victim Rights’ Week” is organized by the Philadelphia District Attorney,* Associate Professor, Criminology Department, California State University, Fresno; Director, Tokiwa International
Victimology Institute, Tokiwa University Victimology Graduate School, Japan.

116

131ST INTERNATIONAL SENIOR SEMINAR
VISITING EXPERTS’ PAPERS

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

•

•

•

•

Pennsylvania, USA.
1976 John Dussich launches the National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA) in Fresno,
California, USA.
1976 Emilio Viano launches the first scholarly journal devoted to victimology.
1976 James Rowland creates the first Victim Impact Statement in Fresno, California, USA.
1979 The World Society of Victimology is founded in Munster, Germany.
1980 Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) is founded by Candi Lightner after one of her twin
daughters was killed by a drunk driver who was a repeat offender.
1981 President Ronald Reagan proclaims the first national Victims’ Rights Week in April.
1982 the first Victim Impact Panel established by MADD to educate drunk drivers about how their
victims suffered, started in Rutland, Massachusetts, USA.
1984 The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) establishes the national Crime Victims Fund from federal
crime fines to pay for state victim compensation and services.
1985 The United Nations unanimously adopts the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice forVictims of Crime and Abuse of Power.
1987 The US Department of Justice opens the National Victims Resource Centre in Rockville,
Maryland.
1988 The first “Indian Nations: Justice for Victims of Crime” conference is held by the Office forVictims of Crime in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA.
1990 The European Forum for Victim Services was founded by all the national organizations in
Europe working for victims of crime in consultative status with the Council of Europe and the UN.
1999 The United Nations and the US Office for Victims of Crime publish the Guide for Policymakers
on the Implementation of the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of
Crime and Abuse of Power and the Handbook on Justice for Victims: On the Use and Application of
the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse ofPower.
2002 On 11 April, 66 the Rome Statute was ratified & went into force on 1 July at which time theInternational Criminal Court became effective and it included the creation of a Victim and Witness
Unit.
2003 On October 2nd the Tokiwa International Victimology Institute, in Mito Japan opened its doors
to promote victim rights, to conduct seminars, courses, publish an international journal, and hostannual symposia and lectures and research about victimology.
2004 The World Society of Victimology at its annual Executive Committee meeting in Orlando,
Florida adopts a dramatic new strategic plan to commit itself to the ideals and promises of the UN
Declaration (see Appendix A).
2005 Japan puts the UN Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power into
their national legislation by adopting a new fundamental law for crime victims. To ensure that the
principles would be initiated, the Prime Minister established a cabinet level committee. The new law
includes services for victims, restitution from the offender, information about criminal justice and aright to formally participate in the criminal justice process.

Victim Assistance
Since the mid 1970s victim assistance programmes in America had to cope with the realization that thisnew field did not have a professional corps of people with special training in dealing with crime victims.
Those who were working in the programmes were a mixture of medical doctors, ministers, psychiatrists,
psychologists, social workers, nurses, on-the-job trained counsellors, persons outside the helping
professions and volunteers with all levels of training. There were no international or national professional
standards. There was no certificate or degree to prepare someone to do the work of helping victims recover.
However, before formal victim assistance programmes evolved, there were some people trained to workwith victim problems, especially people who had been helping child abuse and family violence victims. These
were social workers. Today, the victim services scene has changed. There are a wide array of professionals
and non-professionals working with victims. These would include: social workers, psychologists,
psychiatrists, nurses, medical doctors, non-specific professionals (who received their formal degrees inother fields but were trained to help victims in the numerous training schools which are both part andindependent of academic settings); and, volunteers (who also received their training in the numerous
training schools which are both part and independent of academic settings, many of which are 40 hourtraining modules offered by the victim service agencies where they work). Today the field of victim
assistance is the major career field in victimology for persons wanting to help victims of crime directly. The

117

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.70

single largest and oldest university offering a bachelor’s degree in victimology and a victim services
certificate is the California State University, Fresno. Worldwide, it can be estimated that there are about
20,000 victim service programmes now operating: reducing suffering and facilitating recovery.

II. KEY CONCEPTS IN VICTIMOLOGY
A. Concepts
1. “Victim” has it roots in the early religious notions of suffering, sacrifice and death. This concept of“victim” was well known in the ancient civilizations, especially in Babylonia, Palestine, Greece, andRome. In each of these civilizations the law mandated that the victim should be recognized as aperson who deserved to be made whole again by the offender.
2.

“Crime victim” is a person who has been physically, financially or emotionally injured and/or had
their property taken or damaged by someone committing a crime.

3.

“Victimogenesis” refers to the origin or cause of a victimization; the constellation of variables whichcaused a victimization to occur.

4.

“Victim Precipitation” a victimization where the victim causes, in part or totally, their own
victimization.

5.

“Vulnerability” is a physical, psychological, social, material or financial condition whereby a person oran object has a weakness which could render them a victim if another person or persons would
recognize these weaknesses and take advantage of them.

6.

“General Victim” is a person who has been physically, financially or emotionally injured and/or had
their property taken or damaged by someone, an event, an organization or a natural phenomenon.

7.

“Victimization” refers to an event where persons, communities and institutions are damaged or
injured in a significant way. Those persons who are impacted by persons or events suffer a violationof rights or significant disruption of their well being.

8.

“Victimology” is an academic scientific discipline which studies data that describes phenomena andcausal relationships related to victimizations. This includes events leading to the victimization, thevictim’s experience, its aftermath and the actions taken by society in response to thesevictimizations. Therefore, victimology includes the study of the precursors, vulnerabilities, events,
impacts, recoveries, and responses by people, organizations and cultures related to victimizations.

9.

“Abuse of Power” is the violation of a national or international standard in the use of organized
powerful forces such that persons are injured physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, or in
their rights, as a direct and intentional result of the misapplication of these forces.

10. “Victim Assistance, Support or Services” are those activities which are applied in response to
victimizations with the intention of relieving suffering and facilitating recovery. This includes
offering information, assessments, individual interventions, case advocacy, system advocacy, public
policy and programme development.
11. “Victim Recovery” is the resumption of the same or better level of functionality as was enjoyed prior
to victimization. Persons who have been victimized vary in their level of mental health and wellbeing prior to their victimization. Consequently, victimization affects each person in a different way
and causes differing degrees of injury or trauma. In their recovery it is necessary for victims to first
try to regain their previous level of functioning plus learn from their misfortune and hopefully
exceed their previous level of functionality. To be recovered suggests that a person has at least
regained their prior level of well-being and at best, has exceeded it. This state may be measured by
identifying their previous mental condition and determining if they have at least regained that priorstatus using the criteria of: trust in others, autonomy of self, individual initiative, competency indaily activities, self-identity, interpersonal intimacy, control over personal situations, successful
relationships, safety in daily activities, acknowledgment of memory, trauma symptoms have become
manageable, self esteem is restored, resourcefulness is achieved, and there is an improved ability toward off potential threats.

118

131ST INTERNATIONAL SENIOR SEMINAR
VISITING EXPERTS’ PAPERS

12. “Child Abuse” is the intentional application of sexual, physical, emotional or psychological injury to achild to include neglect at the hands of her or his parents or care-provider within the confines of
their family or place of care.
13. “Victim Offender Mediation” (VOM) is a formal process for face-to-face meetings in the presence ofa trained mediator between a victim of a crime and his/her offender who committed that crime. Thisis also called victim-offender dialogue, victim-offender conferencing, victim-offender reconciliation,or restorative justice. Often the victim and the offender are joined by their respective families andcommunity members or other persons related to the crime event. In these meetings, the offenderand the victim talk to each other about the victimization, the effects it had on their lives, and their
feelings about it. The aim is to create a mutually agreeable plan to repair any damage or injury that
occurred as a result of the crime in the hopes of permanently eliminating the conflict that caused thecrime in the first place.
14. “Restorative Justice” is a systematic formal legal response to crime victimization that emphasizes
healing the injuries that resulted from the crime and affected the victims, offenders andcommunities. This process is a departure from the traditional retributive form of dealing withcriminals and victims which traditionally have generally perpetuated the conflict which resulted in
the original crime.
15. “Victim Trauma” includes emotional and physical experiences that produce pain and injuries.
Emotional injury is a normal response to an extremely abnormal event. It results from the pairing ofa painful or frightening emotional experience with a specific memory which emerge and have a longlasting effect on the life of a person. The more direct the exposure to the traumatic event, the higher
the risk for emotional harm and prolonged effects.
16. “Crisis Intervention” is the provision of emergency psychological care to traumatized victims so as
to help them return to an adaptive level of functioning and to prevent or mitigate the negative impactof psychological and emotional trauma.
17. “Compensation” is a formal administrative procedure provided by law which provides only money tovictims for “out of pocket” real expenses directly resulting from the victimization to be paid by thestate after the victim is found to qualify according to specific criteria determined by the respective
state or federal law.
18. “Restitution” is a formal judicial procedure used by a judge after guilt is determined as part of asentence which can provide money and/or services to the victim for damages or suffering which
resulted from the victimization to be paid or performed by the offender.
19. “Victim Survey” is a periodic data collection and analysis process conducted usually by agovernment entity within the general population to study information about crime victims regardlesswhether they reported their victimization to the police or not. It typically uses a face-to-face or
telephone interview (or sent questionnaire) and covers demographics, attitudes about crime anddetails about the victimizations experienced over the previous six months.
20. “Victim Rights” are privileges and procedures required by written law which guarantee victims
specific considerations and treatment by the criminal justice system, the government and thecommunity at large.

B. Abuse of Power
1. BackgroundIn spite of the legal sanctions which exist throughout the world to prevent the abuse of power (AOP), it
continues to occur with growing frequency and relative impunity. There are essentially five considerations toabuse of power: the type of abuser; the specific abuser; the method used; the victims; and the extent of
injury and damage. In each of these five considerations there are numerous examples ranging from theGovernment of South Africa’s use of apartheid on Black South Africans causing extensive death andsuffering, to the criminal organization known as the MAFIA which uses racketeering, coercion, intimidation,
graft and corruption on innocent citizens causing extensive death, suffering and property loss. The most119

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.70

recent example of AOP is the government of Yugoslavia (now dominated by ethnic Serbs) using extreme
forms of aggression, against Croats, Bosnia Muslims, and most recently ethnic Kosovans with: mass killings;
mass rapes; extensive destruction of property; buildings, and sacred cultural symbols, for the most partignoring the protocols found in the Geneva Conventions for the conduct of warfare. This macro
criminological/victimological phenomenon has been extensively reported on by the media and by scholars,
but predominantly in narrative form. Thus far, very few attempts have been made to isolate the key
variables, explain the dynamics of these events and measure their occurrences.
2. Theoretical Problem
Like all phenomena, these abuse of power events lend themselves to definitions, theoretical organizationand measurement. The magnitude of these occurrences dramatically turn our heads away from thedispassionate evaluation of the facts. The drama of these events is so compelling, even trained theorists put
aside their research tools and yield to the subjective descriptions which overwhelm those chronicling these
massive abuses. In spite of the strong emotions, the magnitude of the problem calls for carefulmeasurement, analysis and synthesis so that a degree of understanding can emerge. This proposal willconsider using the social behavioural and conflict theories familiar to most criminologist who study macro
criminological phenomena.

III. MEASURING VICTIMIZATION
A. The Importance and Limitations of Descriptive Research
Descriptive research is primarily concerned with generally characterizing a phenomenon to determine
basic information about amount, frequencies and categories of a particular theme. Thus, one of the basic
types of data in descriptive research is nominal level data or the counting of “apples and oranges”. The mostimportant type of victimological descriptive research are victimization surveys. These surveys have thus far
become the backbone of victimology information. Not only do these surveys give us the number and types ofvictims, they also give us trend information so that we can compare victims from one jurisdiction to another,from one type of victim to another, and we can measure the rate of victimization for a given population in agiven time period. Another important measurement using survey research is the measurement of
behaviours that exist as continua. These types of research give us information about the feelings, opinions
and responses the victims have. Thus, they are very important in understanding the impact of victimizationand the progress of recovery.
1. The Necessity of Evaluative Research
Another important type of research is the evaluative research used to measure the official government ororganizational responses to victimization and the programmes used to help victims cope. These types ofresearch are aimed at measuring the systemic aspects of the victim experience. This is usually focused on
the “Twin Criteria of Success”: effectiveness, which evaluates the achievement of programme objectives;
and, efficiency which evaluates the consumption of resources over the time needed to achieve objectives.
Another aspect of evaluative research is accountability, both economic and political. Economic
accountability focuses on whether the existence of a particular programme in a given community is justified
given the funds available and the value-system currently in existence. Political accountability focuses onwhether the existence of a victim programme and its costs are supported by those in power. A large part ofaccountability has to do with community values, outcome expectations and official responsibilities. The
measurement of these variables helps to socially contextualize a victim programme or response within thelarger society or culture.
2. Explaining the Victimization with Causal Research
Perhaps the most challenging and difficult form of victimological research is causal research. This
research attempts to explain why and how some variables are effected by other variables in thosephenomena dealing with victims. For example, it might try to understand why some victims are severely
traumatized by an event, while other victims are not seriously impacted by the same event. The usual
method of this form of research is to first create hypotheses about the relationships between cause variables
and effect variables. Then, to measure these variables and see if the data can support the hypotheses.
Ultimately, this process can lead to understanding not just one casual link, but many connected causal
links, or a causal chain. A victimologist can then develop a theoretical statement with the new facts

120

131ST INTERNATIONAL SENIOR SEMINAR
VISITING EXPERTS’ PAPERS

uncovered using causal research. These theoretical statements help to understand complex social andpsychological victim phenomenon.
Consequently persons working to prevent victimization could have empirically derived facts so as toreduce the vulnerability of potential victims. Crisis interveners could effectively reduce the suffering of
victims immediately after the victimization and prevent the escalation of trauma. Advocates and therapists,basing their response on protocol analysis, could better know what works to facilitate victim recovery andreduce or eliminate long-term suffering and promote the return to stable and functional lives for thosevictimized.

IV. THE FUTURE OF VICTIMOLOGY
A. Promising Practices
As new programmes and new laws evolve some prove effective and others not. In the search forprogrammes and laws that fulfil the fundamental aims of the United National Declaration “… to be treatedwith compassion and respect for their dignity… to be provided with access to the mechanisms of justice andto prompt redress… to be informed of their rights… to be informed of their role and the scope, timing andprogress of the proceedings and of the disposition of their cases… to be provided with proper assistancethroughout the legal process… to have their privacy protected and insure their safety… to be considered forreceipt of restitution… to be informed about receiving compensation…” These criteria determine the valueof programmes and laws so that they can be evaluated and ultimately recommended as worthy of duplication.
In each of the sub-categories of victim programmes, laws, practices and rights, specific examples havebecome known. Some of these are listed below (from the New Directions from the Field: Victims’ Rights
and Services for the 21st Century, U.S. Department of Justice, 1998).
1. Law Enforcement• In San Diego, California there is a partnership between the police and the YWCA which resulted in a
Community Domestic Violence Resource Network. This has resulted in a major resource for all thepolice agencies in the community for accurate information about the availability of shelters at any
given time.
•

In Provo, Utah victims participate in crime solving, called “victim-assisted” investigations.

•

In Orange County, California a group of five victim advocates working together in a non-profit
programme work with police and prosecutors to ensure comprehensive services for victims of gang
violence.

2. Prosecution• In Kenosha, Wisconsin, a programme established by the district attorney established special
prosecution units for domestic violence and sensitive crimes.
•

In Pinellas County, Florida, the state’s attorney’s office established a special prosecutor to be
responsible for all elder exploitation and neglect cases. This includes police training, community
outreach and education for other prosecutors.

•

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Victim Services Unit located in the District Attorney’s Office,employs Vietnamese and Cambodian victim-witness coordinators to assist victims from Southeast
Asia throughout their case process, including translating information and helping victims withemergency medical and financial assistance.

3. Judiciary• In Tucson, Arizona, the Municipal Court established a partnership with the police, victim advocates,
prosecutors and health care professionals to form a Community Domestic Violence AwarenessCentre.
•In New York State, the Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children was established toprovide assistance to children in the courts so as to provide a special space for child care so thatthose children whose parents are in court have a safe haven during their stay.

121

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.70•

In Santa Clara County, California, the courts have established local family violence councils toprovide a comprehensive response to domestic violence.

4. Corrections• In Texas, the Department of Criminal Justice started a victim-offender mediation/dialogue
programme for victims of severe violence and their incarcerated offenders.
•

In California one of the best known victim-offender programmes is the Impact of Crime on Victims(IOC) initiated by the California Youth Authority. This programme is aimed at providing 40 hours ofeducation to inform offenders about how crimes affect victims and society.

•

The US Federal Bureau of Prisons piloted victim awareness classes on drug and domestic violence
crimes for offenders in halfway houses in Baltimore, Maryland, and Tampa, Florida.

B. Reality of Promising Practices
Although a wide variety of new programmes have been tried and dubbed as “promising” most of thesehave not been subjected to any form of empirical evaluation. Before these programme can be accepted as
worthy of duplication, they must be carefully scrutinized over a sufficient time period.
IV. RECOMMENDATIONS
A. InternationallySome of the main efforts that are being considered and implemented at the international levels are thefollowing:
1. The World Society of Victimology has begun the process of lobbying to convert the United Nations
Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power into a Convention
with the same name. This would give the instrument more “muscle” to implement the principles
embodied in the original declaration across the globe.
2.

The World Society of Victimology continues to serve as one of the main international organizations
to disseminate the message embodied in the UN Declaration through its members, its newsletter, itstriennial symposia, and its two-week courses (see the WSV’s Strategic Plan).

3.

The World Society of Victimology has launched a major campaign to create new responses on behalfof victims recently presented in Bangkok, Thailand earlier this year at the 11th UN Congress on
Crime (see Appendix C).

B. Nationally
A number of countries have become leaders in the field of victimology and victim services. The mostactive and productive countries which have had a major international influence have been: The United Statesof America, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Canada and recently Japan.
Each of these countries have produced model programmes in the area of services, laws, training,education and research:
1. The USA’s Office of Victims of Crime is one of the few governmental agencies in the world which
services people in all countries by producing documents, funding for research and hosts conferencesin the areas of victimology and victim assistance. Perhaps one of the most dramatic aspects of the
USA’s role in victim services is the large number of different types of victim service programmes
throughout the country (roughly 20,000 separate programmes for victims of sexual assault, childabuse, elder abuse, domestic violence, etc. In response to the UN Declaration for Victims the USA
established a special partnership with the United Nations, the USA produced the two follow-up
documents to the 1985 Declaration referred to above: the Handbook on Justice for Victims, and the
Guide for Policy Makers, both published in 1999 by the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime
Prevention.
2.

122

Great Britain was the origin of a number of significant and innovative practices in victim services,such as the concept of victim reparations all called compensation by Margery Fry in 1957; started
one of the first victim support services in the world in Bristol; nationwide victim support services in

131ST INTERNATIONAL SENIOR SEMINAR
VISITING EXPERTS’ PAPERS

all major cities controlled by a national office in London; home of the journal International Review ofVictimology and has over the last ten years provided leadership within the European community inthe area of victim services.
3.

The Netherlands has sponsored a number of very significant activities which continue to reflect theirgovernment’s support for the world victim rights activities. Set up by the Ministry of Justice in 1987,
which provided the early funding for the International Crime Victim Surveys working group whichlead to a series of publications about victimization in many countries across the globe. In 1997 theDutch hosted the 9th World Society of Victimology International Symposium and the website thatwas created for that event continues today as the most active and useful resource for international
victimological materials. In addition to the establishment of victim services throughout the nation,
The Netherlands also produces very high quality research in various aspects of victimology. The
most recent contribution is the creation of a new research institute dedicated to victimology called
the International Victimology Institute Tillburg (INTERVICT).

4.

Canada has also established a wide variety of sophisticated victim service programmes throughout
their country; hosted the 10th WSV International Symposium on Victimology; is home to a number ofleading Victimologists, especially Irvin Waller the prime mover of the UN Declaration and hosts theInternational Center for the Prevention of Crime in Montreal, established in 1997, which contributes
to the promotion of victim-friendly programmes and activities available to interested persons aroundthe world.

5.

Japan entered the field of victimology early when Professor S. Nakata introduced Mendelsohn’sconcept of victimology in 1958 followed in 1966 with the publication of K. Miyazawa’s dissertation oninternational victimology. One of Miyazawa’s students, H. Morosawa established a degree
programme for students interested in victimology at his university in Mito, Japan and in the last ten
years this university has become internationally known for the innovations in victim services,victimological research, its hosting of WSV courses, and recently became the home of the new
Tokiwa International Victimology Institute. Today this university now boasts a new Graduate Schoolof Victimology supported by ten victimologists. The most dramatic recent event in Japan was theenactment of the new Fundamental Law for Victims of Crime.

123

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.70

APPENDIX A
Strategic Plan of the World Society of Victimology
The Challenge
The nature and extent of victimization is not adequately understood across the world. Millions of people
throughout the world suffer harm as a result of crime, the abuse of power, terrorism and other stark
misfortunes. Their rights and needs as victims of this harm have not been adequately recognized.
The UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime
and Abuse of Power in 1985. This provides a universal benchmark by which progress can be assessed inmeeting the needs of victims of crime and abuse of power.
Much progress has been made since 1985 primarily by governments in Western Europe, North America
and elsewhere. They have implemented programmes and laws to give effect to those basic principles but
even in affluent countries much work remains. Additional resources are needed everywhere especially forcountries that are developing and in transition.
The convention on transnational organized crime includes a specific section to protect the rights ofvictims as does the optional protocol on trafficking. By June, 2005, 99 nations had already ratified the Statuteof Rome that establishes a permanent International Criminal Court which gives effect to the principles in the
Declaration.
The rights of the victims of crime and abuse of power are still not adequately recognized in any part of
the world. Their families, witnesses and others, who aid them, are still unjustly subjected to loss, damage or
injury. They too often suffer hardship when assisting in the prosecution of offenders. The recent UN
Congress in Bangkok also drew attention to the victims of terrorism.
Victims of stark misfortunes such as natural disasters, accidents and diseases share similar trauma, loss
and suffering. Services to meet the needs of victims have much in common between victims of crime, abuseof power and stark misfortunes.
Action must be taken to advance research, services and awareness for victims across the world. Thisrequires persons committed to these ideals, better services, more research, innovative education andtraining and continued advocacy and rights. It requires a process of assessing progress and acting to makethe necessary improvements.

Mission of the World Society of Victimology
Advancing research, services and awareness for victims.
Purposes
1. To Promote Research in Victimology and on Victim Needs
WSV organizes research workshops on victimological issues and victim needs at its international
symposia, including national and international surveys on victims, analysis of the consequences ofvictimization and evaluations of the effectiveness of services and processes for victims. It fosters the
publication of the proceedings from its international symposia. It makes available on its web site aninternational bibliography of documents on victimology and victim issues. Its research committee wascreated to advance victimological research throughout the world and encourage interdisciplinary andcomparative work in this field. It is a partner with the Ministry of Justice of the Netherlands and the UN
Office for Drug and Crime Prevention in the www.victimology.nl which provides extensive documentation on
victim issues on the web.
Aims
• Foster more research on the implementation of the UN Declaration, including the extent to whichcountries have implemented the Declaration and the barriers that must be overcome for greater
implementation.
• Create the capacity to evaluate practices for victims according to recognized international standards

124

131ST INTERNATIONAL SENIOR SEMINAR
VISITING EXPERTS’ PAPERS• Foster research that compares the consequences and responses to victims of crime, abuse of power andother stark misfortunes.
• Be recognized internationally as the leader for advancing research on victim issues and theory.
• Foster research on the extent to which the ICC has implemented services that meet the legislated needsof victims.
2. To Provide Services for Victim Service Providers and Victimologists
WSV organizes workshops on services for victims at its international symposia. Its committee on victim
services was established to provide a network of victim services around the globe and to develop aknowledge basis for training and technical assistance based on the International Declaration on the Basic
Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power.
Aims• Support a database of victim service agencies across the world in order to facilitate the referral of victims
for services in countries where needed.
• Encourage list-serves for service providers, in major languages in addition to English.
• Bring together information on model practices so that reforms can benefit from best practices.
• Assist the International Criminal Court with its mandate to assist, protect and respect rights for victims.
• Determine the potential WSV role to facilitate financial, political leadership and bring together crisis
intervention and other services for victims in extraordinary crises such as catastrophic incidents.
• Encourage relevant institutions and agencies – e.g. Human Rights Commissions – to monitor theavailability and standards of services for victims.
3. To Provide Education and Training
WSV organizes International Courses on Victimology and Victim Assistance. The two week course on
victimology, victim assistance and criminal justice has been organized annually since 1984 in Dubrovnik.
Similar courses on victimology and victim assistance have been organized for Asia in Mito, Japan since 1998,
for Central America in San Salvador since 2001, for South America in Caracas since 2002, and a course wasorganized in South Africa in 2003. It worked with the UN to develop the Handbook on justice for victims on
the use and application of the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse ofPower. It has fostered the translation of this handbook into other languages including French and Spanish.
Aims• Convince law schools and others involved in the training of criminal justice professionals to include
courses on victimology, victim rights and issues, and convince those who certify qualifications, such as
bar associations, law enforcement and judicial bodies to require this knowledge.
• Encourage university courses and degree programmes on victimology, including victim assistance, victim
rights, crisis response, restorative justice and victimization prevention.
• Promote a system of credentials for victim service professionals (staff and volunteers) and establish
international standards.
• Establish a programme to mentor and develop leaders able to influence action on behalf of victims.
• Establish international courses in regions where they do not yet exist.
• Encourage reciprocal training of victim service practitioners from different countries.
• Host an annual training course for international victim service providers.
• Develop standards for curricula and disseminate training materials.
• Develop a mechanism for authorizing the use of the WSV logo and mission statements for courses andother activities.
4. To Advance Advocacy and Rights
WSV played a leadership role in promoting the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the UN
Declaration on Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power in 1985. It assisted the
UN in developing the Guide for policy makers on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration of
Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. It fostered the translation of the Guide
into major world languages including French and Spanish. It continues to lobby governments on theimportance of legislative and programme reforms to meet those basic principles, particularly through its UN
Liaison Committee at the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and at quinquennial
UN Congresses on crime. It has encouraged the adoption of the UN norm based on the IBCR’s Guidelines

125

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.70

on Child Victims and Witnesses. It has advocated project grants for pilot projects to implement the
Declaration as provided by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Aims• Advocate increased funding for research and services for victims to accelerate implementation of the
Declaration.
• Promote a convention on the implementation of the Declaration.
• Raise political and public awareness of victim issues and rights.
• Encourage organizations and others committed to reducing the number of victims of all types.
• Organize events to interest government officials in making greater progress in the implementation of the
Declaration.
• Establish a WSV representative in each country to assist with information on victim issues and rights andadvocate for improvements.
• Foster national societies for victimology to pursue national missions and activities similar to the WSV.
• Encourage mechanisms to provide an early warning system to prevent abuses of power and protect
potential victims from stark misfortunes.
5. To Provide Member Opportunities
WSV has organized an International Symposium on Victimology every three years since 1979 in all major
regions of the world (registration for members is reduced). It publishes a quarterly newsletter – The
Victimologist – to keep its members up to date on: developments in different countries, workshops andconferences, and opportunities to participate in the WSV committees and activities. It maintains a contact
list of members from over 60 countries. It enables individuals and national organizations to be members in
an international non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations and theCouncil of Europe devoted to victimological issues.
Aims• Provide members with a certificate of their membership which also identifies the mission of the WSV andits consultative status with the UN and the Council of Europe.
• Provide a web page with information on WSV, including a members’ only section with list-serv andoccasional newsflashes.
• Develop a house style that integrates the mission, including the logo, shirts and pins.
• Enrich the privileges in order to attract and retain the membership of the key academics, service
providers and policy makers who are currently involved in Victimology.
• Provide free thematic brochures on victim issues.
6. Administration
WSV is currently organized under an elected Executive Committee with three co-opted members. The
EC is supported by 14 standing committees which rely on volunteer and in-kind resources. The committees
are designed to organize the main activities of the WSV. These include Membership, Budget, Policy andProgramme, Public Relations, Publications, Research, Victim Services, Symposium, International Courses,
UN Liaison, Strategic Planning, Awards, Regional Development and the International Advisory Board. Its
expenditures are limited to publication of brochures, office support, publications and so on. The organization
is currently registered as a not for profit entity in Monchengladbach, Germany. The current President islocated in the USA. The Secretary General is in Canada. Other officers and executive board members arelocated in eight other countries.
Aims• Engage more of its active members in committee work.
• Hire professional staff to support the implementation of the priorities from the strategic plan approved by
the EC and coordinate day to day operations.
• Establish a permanent operating base to provide offices for these staff and administrative functions.
• Establish a technological system to support the WSV.
• Develop resources to achieve these objectives.
(Adopted by the EC in June 2005 Orlando Meeting)126

131ST INTERNATIONAL SENIOR SEMINAR
VISITING EXPERTS’ PAPERS

APPENDIX B
World Society of Victimology
Recommendations to the 11th UN Crime Congress
Bangkok, Thailand
April, 2005
The WSV calls on Member States to take the following actions through the UN Crime Prevention andCriminal Justice Programme as well as through their national overseas development agencies:
1. Victim Assistance Programmes
Invest in projects to implement victim assistance and support, including services provided to women andchildren by non-governmental organizations, health and mental health, and police professionals.
2. Research and Surveys
Invest in research to assess the extent to which victims receive services and justice as well as surveys tomeasure the extent of victimization and its impact, including the international victim survey and a regularsurvey focused on domestic violence.
3. Education and Training
Develop standards for police, lawyers, health professionals and others as well as establish appropriate
training and educational courses.
4. Legislation
Adopt legislation that puts the principles in the UN Victim Declaration into the language of Member
States in a form that it provides a framework for the implementation of the Declaration.
5. Permanent Network for Victim Assistance and Justice
Establish a permanent network of centres concerned with research, training, education and action forvictims.
6. Prevention
Implement national crime prevention programmes consistent with the UN Guidelines and therecommendations of the World Health Organization to significantly reduce violence and criminal
victimization with a priority to violence within the family.
7. Convention
Establish the process to develop a draft convention for consideration by the UN Commission on Crime
Prevention and Criminal Justice in 2006 to foster universal implementation of the UN Victim Declaration.

127

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No.70

APPENDIX C
Five Global Challenges from the Field(New Directions from the Field: Victims’ Rights and Services for the 21st Century)
In the course of compiling the hundreds of recommendations from the field and in listening to the voicesof victims, their advocates, and allied professionals who work with crime victims throughout the nation,certain key recommendations emerged. The following five global challenges for responding to victims ofcrime in the 21st century form the core of the hundreds of ideas and recommendations presented in thisreport.
• To enact and enforce consistent, fundamental rights for crime victims in federal, state, juvenile, military,and tribal justice systems, and administrative proceedings.
• To provide crime victims with access to comprehensive, quality services regardless of the nature of their
victimization, age, race, religion, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, capability, or geographic location.
• To integrate crime victims’ issues into all levels of the nation’s educational system to ensure that justice
and allied professionals and other service providers receive comprehensive training on victims’ issues aspart of their academic education and continuing training in the field.
• To support, improve, and replicate promising practices in victims’ rights and services built upon soundresearch, advanced technology, and multidisciplinary partnerships.
• To ensure that the voices of crime victims play a central role in the nation’s responses to violence andthose victimized by crime.

New Directions provides recommendations that point specifically to the implementation of these fiveglobal challenges. Each section and chapter is based upon papers submitted by leading experts in the field aswell as the input of victim advocates, justice system and allied professionals, crime victims, and others who
participated in public hearings, working group meetings, and those who provided individual comments andreview as the document progressed towards completion.

128

131ST INTERNATIONAL SENIOR SEMINAR
VISITING EXPERTS’ PAPERSREFERENCES
Beccaria, Cesare. 1764. Dei dellitti e delle pene. Livorno.
Dussich, John and Kiyoko Kishimoto. 2000. “Victim Assistance in Japan: History, Culture and Programmes.”
In Paul C. Friday and Gerd Ferdinand Kirchhoff (editors) Victimology at the Transition: From the 20 th
to the 21st Century: Essays in Honor of Hans Joachim Schneider . M nchengladbach, Germany:
Shaker Verlag.
Ellenberger, Henri. 1955. “Relations psychologiques entre le criminel et la victime.” Revue International deCriminologie et de Police Technique Vol. 8: 757-790.
Ferri, Enrico. 1892. Sociologia Criminale, 3ed. Torino: Fratelli Bocca, Editori.
Garófalo, Raffaelle. 1885. Criminologia. Torino, Italia: Bocca Editori.
Hentig, Hans von. 1948. The Criminal and His Victim: Studies in the Sociology of Crime. New Haven, CT:
Yale University Press.
Lombroso, Cesare. 1876. L’Uomo Delinquente. Torino: Fratelli Bocca, Editori.
Mendelsohn, Beniamin. 1937. “Methods to be used by Counsel for the Defense in the Researches made into
the Personality of the Criminal.” Revue de Droit Penal et de Criminologie. France. August-October.
———. 1940. “Il Stupro dentro la Criminologia.” Giustizia Penale. Italy.
———.1956. “Une nouvelle branche de la science bio-psycho-sociale, la victimologie.” Etudes
Internationales de Psycho-Sociologie Criminelle. France. July-September.
Nagel, Willem Hendrik. 1949. De criminaliteit van Oss. Antwerpen, Netherlands: de Sikke.
Schafer, Stephen. 1968. The Victim and His Criminal. New York: Random House.
Sutherland, Edwin H. 1924. Criminology. Philadelphia, PA: J. B. Lippincott Company.
Webster’s. 1971. Third New International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged, ed., Philip
Babcock Gove and the Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff. Springfield, MA: GG. & C. Merriam
Company, Publishers.
Wertham, Frederic. 1949. The Show of Violence. New York, New York: Doubleday.
Wolfgang, Marvin. 1958. Patterns in Criminal Homicide. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.

129