The International Symposium on Victimology: The premier event of the Society. Held every three years in a different country, and attended by hundreds of WSV members as well as academics and professionals from a wide variety of related fields. Discussions at these events focus on the many theoretical and empirical aspects of victimology, including -- but not limited to -- victimization surveys, victim rights, victim compensation, the role of victim in offences, victimization prevention, re-victimization, assistance to victims and to service providers, psychological responses to disasters, the role of the victim in the criminal justice system, and victims of the abuse of power. The Symposium also represents a networking and information exchange opportunity not to be missed!

The next Symposium will be held in 2009, in Mito, Japan. Details on the Symposium will be published as they become available.

An event held at every Symposia is the:

Student Paper Competition: Any full-time university student may submit a paper with a relevance to victimology. The papers may not have been published before, and if selected as winner, the candidate must permit the WSV to publish the paper.

Results of the 2006 Student Paper Competition: Two papers tied as winners of the competition.

• Chie Maekoya, California State University, Fresno, USA
  Victimization and Levels of Aggression on Intimate Partner Violence


• Ben Roebuck, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
  Child Soldiers as Victim-Offenders: A Theoretical Challenge for Victimology

International Advocacy and Consulting: The WSV maintains accredited representatives to the Council of Europe, and to United Nations offices in New York, Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi, and at other locations where the UN meets; up to 10 accredited members may represent the Society at each CoE or UN event relevant to victim issues. Any member in good standing may apply to the Executive Committee to be accredited to represent the Society at a specific event, meeting or office.

WSV sponsored workshops, courses and seminars: These are held in many different countries. These have included four international workshops on Victim Rights, on Comprehensive Victim Assistance, on Minorities and Victimology, and on Abuse of Power.

Special two-week Post Graduate Courses in Victimology are held annually in Europe , Japan and South America. Announcements as to date, location and registration will be posted as they are made available.

The Victimologist, Newsletter of the Society: This quarterly newsletter has been published since 1982, keeping members informed and involved in Society matters, on news of interest, research within the field, and on victim assistance and victim rights in general. WSV members are encouraged to submit articles or information for publication.

Electronically archived editions of previous editions of The Victimologist are available in text, Microsoft Publisher and Adobe Acrobat Format in our Publications area, found by clicking on the Archived Editions link found at the end of this page.

Members are encouraged to submit articles or news for publication by contacting the Editor:

Michael O'Connell
Commissioner for Victims' Rights
South Australia
Phone: +61 +8 82071969
Facsimile: +61 +8 82071736
E-mail: oconnell.michael@agd.sa.gov.au

WSV Committees: In order to help accomplish the mission and goals of the WSV, the Society organizes a number of standing committees, inviting any interested member in good standing to take part.

In joining a committee, a member assists the Society in achieving its aims and goals while at the same time deepening both their understanding of the work of the Society, and their network of associates, friends and contacts. If you're interested in taking part, please see Committee and Chairs.