The 11th Asian Postgraduate Courseon 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 Committee4 law professors with a specialization in criminal law/ criminology2 psychology professors with a specialization in treatment and community organization1 sociologist

Today2 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 WSVOne group wanted WSV to promote victimology as a social scienceOne group wanted to promote victimology as a part of criminologyOne group wanted WSV to become an international vehicle for victim assistanceReally 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 developedLook 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 discussion2. 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 theoryThis 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 sympathizersInner circle of supportersCenter 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 Norms3. The Work of the UNHCR and victims of Abuse of Power, refugee Victims and Displaced Persons4. The Development of Victim Issues in the National Justice Systems, especially in Asia5. Responses to Disaster Victimization6. 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)1764The Example “von Hentig”Schafer (Functional Responsibility 1967)Wolfgang 1958 (Victim Precipitation)

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Ben David (2000): Victim’s VictimologyPost-Graduate Courses on Victimology, Victim Assistance and Criminal Justice since 1984

Restorative JusticeTransitional 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 reasonsUNHC HRUNHC RILOIOMVictimologists must not take over social constructions of the ruling groupstoo 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 04/21/23 20Jakarta 2011 - Prof. Dr. Kirchhoff