World Society of Victimology

Basic Standards of Incorporations

Name, legal form, registered office

  1. The name of the society is “World Society of Victimology e.V.”
  2. The society is registered as a legal entity with legal capacity in the register of associations at the court in Moenchengladbach, Germany.
  3. The legal locality of the Society is Moenchengladbach, Relocations can be made by the Executive Committee.
  4. The business year corresponds to the calendar year.
  5. The business language is English and the official language is German.

Purpose and task of the Society

  1. The World Society of Victimology (WSV) pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of the tax-privileged purposes section of the German Tax Code. No person may be favoured by expenses that are alien to the purpose of the corporation or by disproportionately high remuneration.
  2. The purpose of the organisation is to promote science and research.
  3. The purpose of the statutes is achieved in particular by:
    • a) Promoting victimological research and practice throughout the world
    • b) Encouraging interdisciplinary and comparative work and research in this field and promoting co-operation between international national regional and local institutions and working groups concerned with the problems of victims throughout the world.
    • b) To encourage interdisciplinary and comparative work and research in this field and to promote co-operation between international national regional and local bodies and working groups concerned with the problems of victims throughout the world.
    • c) The purpose of these Statutes shall be achieved in particular by organising an International Symposium on Victimology, usually every three years, which will serve as a forum for international scholars, practitioners and students.
    • d) Through periodic seminars, workshops and institutes
    • e) Through a number of publications
    • f) Through co-operation between victimologists throughout the world, so that an active
      exchange of ideas is initiated and maintained
  4. The World Society of Victimology may give and receive financial aid, scholarships or grants.

Selflessness / Unselfishness

  1. The Society is selflessly active; it does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes. The Society is active in altruistic endeavors.
  2. Funds of the corporation may only be used for the statutory purposes. The members do not receive any payments from the corporation’s funds.
  3. In the event of dissolution of the corporation or discontinuation of tax-privileged purposes, the assets of the corporation shall pass to the German Red Cross e.V. with its registered office in Berlin, which must use them directly and exclusively for charitable purposes.

 Members

  1. Members of the World Society of Victimology may be natural persons and organisations dedicated to the study of victimology and the improvement of the plight of victims. These may be academics, students, organisations, victim support workers, lay persons and others.
  2. Membership of natural persons shall be acquired in the following ways: The member may become an active member, a student member, an honorary member or a life member. The Executive Committee determine further regulations. Collective membership may be acquired by local, regional or international organisations or institutions involved in victimology and dedicated to improving the plight of victims, research, education and the provision of services to victims.

Membership

  1. Membership is acquired through admission to the World Society of Victimology following a written application. The President shall accept the application.
  2. No qualified applicant may be rejected on the grounds of ethnic origin, creed, political orientation, gender or religion.
  3. Membership shall terminate:
    • a) upon written cancellation by the member at the end of a financial year,
    • b) by death,
    • c) automatically after non-payment of membership fees for a period of three consecutive years
      d) if the organisation is dissolved as a cooperative member
  4. Membership fees can only be increased by resolution of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall set the fees in advance.
  5. Membership rights, including the right to vote, can only be exercised after payment of the membership fees and/or a member is declared to be in ‘good standing’ (for example, a life member).

The bodies of the membership

  1. The General Assembly is the highest body of the Association. It is composed of all members of the WSV.
  2. In its place is the General Assembly, which is composed of all members who have paid their dues, who have assembled and expressed their will, at the invitation of the President.
  3. The Executive Committee is the leading authority of the Association and executes all decisions under the mandate of the General Assembly.
  4. The Organising Committee is a working group that assists the respective host of a symposium. The host of the symposium always chairs it. He or she selects the members of the committee.
  5. The International Advisory Board of a specific symposium is composed of persons who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to the field of victimology. The Executive Committee select the group. The size and composition of this board will be the responsibility of the Executive Committee.

The Membership Meeting

  1. The Membership Meeting shall be held at each Symposium. It is normally convened every three years. This began with the inaugural meeting in Muenster in 1979.
  2. The meeting is normally organised by written invitation, for example by invitation to a symposium, stating the place, time and agenda of the meeting. Invitations are sent out at least three months before the meeting is to take place (the date of the email or postmark is recognised as proof). The meeting may be convened via email, or an announcement in the International Newsletter of the World Society of Victimology, and may be held by attendance, an online platform (if practical) or hybrid mode.
  3. The General Assembly represents the highest authority of the World Society of Victimology and makes decisions on the President’s Triennial Report. It decides on the general direction of the work of the Society and gives directives to the Executive Committee.
  4. Decisions are made at the General Meeting regardless of the number of members present. Decisions are made by a simple majority of the members present and voting.
  5. General meetings must be convened by the Secretary General if 45% of the members request this, stating the purpose and necessity of the meeting.
  6. The results of the General Membership Meeting shall be recorded in minutes signed by the Secretary General.

The General Membership

  1. The expression of the will of the General Membership can only be made by written vote (Mail Ballot, which includes e-mail). The decision to hold a Mail Ballot shall be communicated to the Membership in writing (for example, via email). The announcement must include the items to be voted on in the voting form. If these Statutes are to be amended and if elections to the Executive Committee have to be made, these decisions may only be made in the form of a written ballot (ballot form).
  2. The General Membership may take decisions regardless of the number of votes returned. A majority of 2/3 of the returning votes is required for amendments to these Articles of Association. In all other cases, a simple majority of the returning votes is sufficient.
  3. The results of the written votes can be announced either in the WSV Newsletter or in another suitable form.

The Executive Committee

  1. The Executive Committee is the executive body of the company. It is composed of members of the of the Company and comprises 15 persons (12 elected, 3 co-opted, see 9 chapter 8).
  2. The Executive Committee shall, if practical, be composed in such a way as to achieve a broad geographical representation.
  3. The President and Secretary General shall represent the World Society of Victimology as the Executive Committee within the meaning of Section 26 of the German Civil Code.
  4. After each election, the Executive Committee shall meet and elect the following officers from
    among its members:
    • a) President
    • b) up to 4 Vice Presidents
    • c) Treasurer
    • d) Secretary General
  5. Half of the Executive Committee shall be elected on a rotational basis. Each member remains on the Executive Committee for six years. The six term may be extended in extraordinary circumstances, such as a pandemic, but an election should be held as soon as practical after these circumstances are resolved.
  6. Re-election is possible.
  7. If a person has been re-elected to the Executive Committee, he or she may be re-elected to office if it is in the best interests of the World Society of Victimology.
  8. The Executive Committee shall appoint up to three members of the Company as co-opted members. These have the right to participate in the deliberations but have no voting rights. Decisions are made by a majority of the elected members present.
  9. The EC is quorate when half of the elected members are present.

Officers

  1. The President shall represent the Association in all contacts with all other organisations. He or she chairs the Executive Committee and the General Assembly and appoints persons to serve on the various committees. He or she appoints the editors of the World Society of Victimology Newsletter at the decision of the Executive Committee.
  2. In the absence of the President, a Vice-President shall act for him or her.
  3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial activities and shall report annually to the Executive Committee and the members on the state of administrative expenses and recommend improvements in financial matters.
  4. The Secretary General shall be the chief administrator of the Association. He or she writes the minutes of the General Meeting and the meetings of the Executive Committee, which he or she signs. He or she implements the decisions of the Executive Committee as far as they allow. He or she supervises the written votes. In his or her absence, another member of the Executive Committee may act on his or her behalf (with the exception of the President).

Committees

  1. The President may appoint special committees if he or she sees a need for them.
    For this, the President appoints the members and chairpersons of these committees at the decision of the Executive  Committee.
  2. The World Society of Victimology shall have these Standing Committees:
    • a) The Executive Committee, which is elected by the membership.
    • b) The Organising Committee selected by the host of each Symposium
    • c) The Membership Committee.
  3. The World Society of Victimology may create other committee upon suggestions from the members.

The International Symposium

The World Society of Victimology shall sponsor and conduct a series of International Symposia of Victimology, usually held every three years and numbered consecutively, beginning with the First International Symposium on Victimology in Jerusalem, the Second International Symposium on Victimology in Boston in 1976 and the Third International Symposium on Victimology in 1979, at which the World Society of Victimology was founded. The Executive Committee determines the location of each symposium.

The Society can award

1. The Hans von Henting Award
This award is the highest honour the Society can bestow and is given in memory of the famous pioneer of victimology, Hans von Hentig. It is usually awarded every three years to individuals who have made a significant contribution to victimology. Any member of the Society may nominate a candidate to the President. Before each symposium, the Executive Committee decides who should receive the award.

2. The Beniamin Mendelsohn Young Victimologist Award
This award is presented in remembrance to the famous pioneer of Victimology, Beniamin Mendelsohn, to a young victimologist who has made promising contributions to victimology. It is usually awarded every three years to individuals who, in the 10 years since attaining a PhD, professional doctorate or other post-graduate academic qualification, has made a substantial contribution to scholarship in the field of victimology. Any member of the Society may nominate a candidate to the President. Before each symposium, the Executive Committee decides who should receive the award.

3. Irene Melop Certificate of Appreciation
This award is given to deserving individuals to recognise significant achievements and/or special events of importance to the field of victimology. This award is decided by the Executive Committee and signed by the President and Secretary General. The award may be presented as often as deemed necessary. Nominations for this award must be made in writing to the President, and only by a member in good standing.

4. The Society honours “Approved Honorary Members.
Approved Honorary Membership is awarded to individuals to honour their progress and significant achievements in the field of victimology. Honorary Membership is decided by the Executive Committee and is awarded by the President or the Secretary General. Honorary Membership may be awarded when the Executive Committee feels there is a need for it. Nominations for this award must be made in writing by a member to the President.

Publications

1. Newsletter
The World Society of Victimology may publish a newsletter in English. Editors of the WSV Newsletter are nominated by the President, designated by the Executive Committee and appointed by the President. The newsletter serves as a medium for the exchange of information and ideas among victimologists worldwide. It shall also serve to keep members informed about the Society and serve such special needs as are specified in these Bylaws.

2. Journal
The World Society of Victimology may publish a Journal. This may take the form of a yearbook containing significant contributions to victimology. The Journal will have an Editorial Board appointed by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will appoint the ‘Editor in Chief’. The Journal will be published in English.

3. Other publications
The Society may publish a “Directory of Members” which will publish the names, addresses and specialities of victimological interest to people throughout the world. The World Society of Victimology may support and undertake the development of a bibliography of victimological literature. The Society may support, conduct and publish such other publications as it deems appropriate.

Procedures

  1. In its procedures, the World Society of Victimology shall follow recognised procedures appropriate to international affairs, such as “Robert’s Rules of Order”.
  2. The procedures and rules of each meeting and committee shall be determined by the Chair with the assistance of the membership.

Final Statement

The Society was founded in Muenster, Westphalia, Germany on 8 September 1979.

This constitution was adopted and approved by a meeting in Tokyo, Japan in 1982 and has been amended and supplemented by subsequent mail ballots.

Addition: Local Court Mönchengladbach 41061 Mönchengladbach, Germany

Basic Standards of Incorporations (Statutes)