Editors:  The Editorial Board  Jo-Anne Wemmers, Managing Editor  j.m.wemmers@wodc.minjust.nl  Gerd Ferdinand Kirchhoff  mail to: Gerd Ferdinand Kirchhoff Rika Snyman  snyman@tsamail.trsa.ac.za  Elmar Weitekamp   elmarweitekamp@uni-tuebingen.de   

Vol. 3 #1  

From the Editor’s Desk  In this issue of The Victimologist, we continue our series on the implementation of the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power in countries around the world. In her article, Dr. Dobrinka Chankova presents the Bulgarian situation.   In his Message the President, Dr. Jan van Dijk informs the members of recent developments in and around the Society.   An important event is of course the upcoming symposium in Montreal. Members are encouraged to respond to the call for papers found in this issue.   Another important development is the launching of the victimology website (www.victimology.nl). The website includes information on the UN Declaration as well as the recently completed Handbook for Practitioners and the Guide for Policymakers. In addition, the makers of the website – a joint project of the UN, the WSV and the Ministry of Justice of The Netherlands – want to develop a database of best practices in victim services. To this end, a questionnaire was included in the December 1998 (vol. 3 no. 3) issue of The Victimologist.   Unfortunately, the response to this questionnaire by the WSV membership was very low. The purpose of the database for best practices is to facilitate the implementation of the UN Declaration around the world. It is hoped that by sharing information on what works and what doesn’t we can learn from each other and thereby improve the level of services available in each of our countries. With 400 members around the world, the members of the WSV can play an important role in the enhancement of victim services throughout the world. The members of the WSV are strongly encouraged to contact the webmaster, Ron van Kaam at the Ministry of Justice in The Netherlands (e-mail: rvkaam@best-dep.minjus.nl).   

A Need for Papers and Ideas: A Call for Proposals!

The X International Symposium on Victimology calls out to all practitioners, professors and researchers in the field of victimology.    How can anyone be indifferent to an event that will bring together experts from across the globe?  The Symposium will provide a unique opportunity to share experiences and knowledge, to pool our efforts to prevent victimization and to provide a better response to the needs of victims. We invite you to be part of this Symposium held in Montreal.    We ask you to send  us the abstract of your paper you want to present . Or, if you have an interesting project and would like to share your knowledge and expertise, we strongly invite you to submit a project proposal. Whether you are part of the research community or involved in field intervention, the Scientific Committee awaits your contribution to our symposium!    Your proposal  can be in the form of a paper session, debate, round table, poster session or a training session. However, abstracts or proposals must meet certain criteria. Thus, it should consist of no more then 500 words and must be submitted on the official abstract submission form.  It must give a clear summary of the presentation and should describe the innovative aspect or nature of the contribution.    The closing date for the submission of proposals is  October 15, 1999.    All proposals will be evaluated according to the project’s interest, relevance, originality and feasibility. Following the evaluation, the Scientific Committee can accept or reject the proposal, or suggest that the communication be presented in another format.    The Committee’s final decision will be announced no later then February 2000.    Summaries of the accepted proposals will be published in the Symposium Proceedings and all registered participants will receive a copy.    For more information on submission and selection criteria, you can refer to the preliminary program. If you have not yet received the preliminary program or if you would like an official abstract submission form, please visit our website at www.victimology-2000.com. or contact us at:   X International Symposium on Victimology - JPDL  1555, Peel Street, suite 500  Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3L8 Canada  Telephone: 514-287-1070  Fax: 514-287-1248  E-mail: info@victimology-2000.com  

From the Presidents Desk - Meetings of Committees
Jan van Dijk   

The executive committee was scheduled to meet in Dubrovnik, during the victimology course.  Due to the war situation in the region this meeting had to be cancelled.  Instead members of the EC met twice in Vienna.  Highlights were the consultations with the Canadian organisers of the next symposium and the upgrading of the Society’s administration. It is now possible to pay membership dues with credit carts.  It is hoped that this option will facilitate payments and help to increase membership.  A new membership directory and a brochure are in the making.   Unfortunately the publication of the proceedings of the Amsterdam symposium was delayed because two keynote speakers kept the editors waiting for their papers. The book is now scheduled to be released in the autumn.    The EC has welcomed the offer of South Africa to host the symposium after Montreal.  The Research Committee met for the second time in May this year, under the chairmanship of Prof. Marc Groenhuysen.  Nine members as well as Marie Marthe Cousineau, of the Scientific Committee of the next Symposium, attended the meeting. A new version of the research agenda will be finalised by Jo Goodey. The Committee takes pride in its research agenda and hopes that it will be appreciated by the members - or annoy them- but in any case trigger many responses through the website (SEE BELOW).   

Victim Support International

In April this year, the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held its eight session in Vienna.  The topic of victim support was discussed on the basis of a report of the secretariat. The report reflected the responses of governments to a draft action plan for victim support. Regrettably only some twenty governments had sent in responses. Those governments that did respond expressed support for the action plan.  Paul Friday and Maria de la Luz Lima contributed to the debate on behalf the Society.    For a proper understanding of the draft action plan it is important to know that it has been under consideration for some time and that major parts have already been implemented, notably the preparation of a manual and policy guide on the UN declaration on rights of victims and the opening of a website with best practices. The Centre for International Crime Prevention will shortly publish the said documents in several UN languages.  They are also available on the newly opened website: WWW. VICIMOLOGY.NL. Members are invited to visit the site and make an active use of it.  The site should be seen as an important tool for the society to exchange information and facilitate communication worldwide.    The commission has decided to make the proposal for national and regional action plans on victim support as well as the proposal to explore the feasibility of an international Fund for victim support part of the agenda of the Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal justice which will take place on 10-17 April in Vienna next year.  These proposals are integrated in the draft for the political Declaration of the Congress.    The topic of victim support is also otherwise central to the agenda of the Congress.  One of the four themes of the Congress is Offenders and victims: accountability and fairness in the justice process.  As most members know, the UN’s current crime programme focuses on transnational crime.  The centrepiece is the draft Convention against Transnation Organised Crime that will be ready for adoption in September/October 2000.This does not imply less attention for victim issues, though.   The draft convention itself contains an article on the protection of witnesses and victims (Art. 18).  Paragraph four reads as follows:   “States Parties shall take measures to provide assistance to victims of crimes covered by this convention, enable views and concerns of victims to be presented and considered at appropriate stages of the criminal proceedings against the offender in a manner not prejudicial to the rights of the defence, and establish procedures relating to restitution by offenders to victims of such crimes “. Attached to the convention will be protocols against trafficking in human beings, in particular women and children and against smuggling of migrants. It goes without saying that victim protection is an integral part of these protocols.     Victim protection is particularly important in cases of trafficking in women and children.  Organised crime syndicates involved in this evil but profitable trade are rarely brought to justice because the women and children involved refrain from reporting or testifying. The Centre has recently started with a global programme against trafficking. A mission headed by Winnie Sorgdrager, former minister of Justice of the Netherlands and speaker at the Amsterdam symposium, will initiate technical cooperation in the Philippines.  Strengthening of local support facilities in countries of destination for victims might well be one of the priorities.      In the meantime the European Commission has taken up an interest in provisions for travellers within the Union who are victimised by crime as part of its policies to ensure the free flow of persons in the Union. A policy document on a possible initiative of the Commission is soon to be released for consultation.  The document will mainly cover practical assistance, legal aid and state compensation for tourists but also touch on over all provisions for crime victims in the Union. Several members of the WSV have advised the Commission on these issues as members of an expert committee.  The administrative responsibility lies with Mrs Gisele Vernimmen of the Task Force for Cooperation on Justice and Home Affairs, Judicial Cooperation.    SARAJEWO  The war in Kosovo has cast a shadow over the first months of 1999.  Many citizens were victimised.  Victim support in the Balkans will remain an important priority. The WSV- affiliated Victimology Institute in Sarajewo has had a difficult start.  The political situation in the country is a complicating factor. A study was carried out on the needs of repatriated refugees at the request of the German government. The Dutch Ministry of Justice has pledged to continue its financial support for the Institutes overhead.  More contributions are needed.  Members who take an interest in the institute’s work are kindly invited to contact its office. The address is:    Zmaja od Bosne 8  71000 Sarajewo  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Tel   + 38771214246  Fax  + 38771214247  E-mail:  instvikt@bih.net.ba    The board is now in the process of appointing a new visiting director.  The institute will focus on the evaluation of victim support delivered and on the training of police and other professionals.        TO CONCLUDE  The cancellation of the course in Dubrovnik and the various other meetings planned in relation to it, was a major setback.  It was the only right decision, though. It was irresponsible to bring students to Dubrovnik at the time. Let’s hope the situation will be much better next year.  Fortunately some fifteen members were able to meet and consult with each other in Vienna. In the meantime modern means of communication have become available. Let’s make use of the website: WWW.VICTIMOLOGY.NL.