World Society of Victimology

Resources

WSV Affiliated Organizations

National Societies of Victimology Websites

Australasian Society of Victimology

Italy: Societa Italiana di Vittimologia

Official Journal of the Societa Italiana di Vittimologia: Rivista di Criminologia, Vittimologia e Sicurezza: The Criminology, Victimology and Security Review

Institutes of Victimology

Spain (FdV)

Related Web Sites

The following are member organizations of the World Society.

Canada

The Associacion Quebecoise Pladoyer Victimes

Netherlands

National Victim Support Organization

Policies and Statements

Minutes of Executive Committee and General Membership meetings, along with associated materials.

2019

Feminist Civil Society B25 Benchmarks for Success – As endorsed by the WSV
International Day of Peace Statement – A shared statement by peace-building organisations, 21 September 2019 – As endorsed by the WSV
WSV partners DWV, ISA & Criminologists without Borders – Commission on the Status of Women – Side Events, UN New York

2014

2013

UN_SecurityCouncil_Syria_2

2012

2011

UN – WSV Documents

2026

70^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (9-19 March 2026)

The World Society of Victimology, the American Society of Criminology’s Division of International Criminology, the International Sociological Association, and Criminologists Without Borders partnered to host five parallel events held in conjunction with the Seventieth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).

Parallel Events:

Feminist Approaches to Justice: Gender and Access to Justice
Feminist Approaches to Access to Justice
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Sociological Approaches to Gender Justice
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Access to Justice for All
Enfoques Feministas de la Justicia

PUBLISHED SPECIAL ISSUE:
Barberet, R., Beichner-Thomas, D. & Ranjan, S. (2026). Special Issue: Feminist Approaches to Justice: Contributions to CSW69. Current Sociology Monographs. https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/csia/74/4

Dawn Beichner-Thomas co-authored a written statement (E/CN.6/2026/NGO/52) with Rosemary Barberet that was accepted and published in the 70^th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Official Documents. The statement aligns with the CSW70 focus: ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls. It offers insight on both enduring and emerging barriers to justice for women and girls, and outlines pathways toward inclusive, transformative, and gender-responsive justice systems.

19 May 2026
NGO Briefing for the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)
Statement provided by WSV President, Gema Varona

35^th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (1-5 June 2026)
Dawn Beichner-Thomas and Karin Bruckmüller represented the WSV.
The WSV co-sponsored a CCPCJ35 side event organized by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences on “Strengthening Justice Response to Harm and Vulnerability: Interdisciplinary and Intersectional Approaches” (3 June 2026).

2025

January 27-31, 2025 Reconvened, Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting on the Development of Model Strategies on Reducing Reoffending, NGO Participant Observer, Vienna, Austria. Dawn Beichner-Thomas represented the WSV.

69^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (10-21 March 2025)

The World Society of Victimology, the American Society of Criminology’s Division of Feminist Criminology, the International Sociological Association, and Criminologists Without Borders partnered to host four parallel events held in conjunction with the Sixty-ninth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69).

Parallel Events:

Feminist Approaches to Justice: A Reassessment of the Beijing Platform for Action
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Violence Against Women and Girls in War and Peace
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Beijing +30, Women, and Criminal Legal Systems
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Beijing +30 and Justice for Women and Girls

PUBLISHED SPECIAL ISSUE:
Beichner-Thomas, D., Barberet, R., & Ranjan, S. (2025). Special Issue: Feminist Approaches to Justice: Contributions to CSW68. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice. https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/10GBFT8ZP29

Dawn Beichner-Thomas co-authored a written statement (E/CN.6/2025/NGO/55) with Rosemary Barberet that was accepted and published in the 69^th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Official Documents. The statement aligns with the CSW69 focus: the review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) and the outcomes of the 23^rd special session of the General Assembly. It argues that the full realization of the 2030

Sustainable Development Agenda and the commitment to gender equality requires a critical examination of the challenges that impede the implementation of the BPfA, including those related to the situation for women and girls involved in criminal legal systems as victims/survivors, detained or incarcerated persons, and workers in law enforcement, defense and prosecution, the judiciary, prisons, prisoner re-entry, victim services, and peacebuilding.

United Nations High-Level Political Forum, Dawn Beichner-Thomas with Rosemary Barberet, “Addressing Structural Violence, Gender Inequality, and the Marginalization of Victims.” Published in ECOSOC High-level Segment – Statements submitted by Non-Governmental Organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. E/C.2/2025/CRP.48

April 1-4, 2025 2^nd Reconvened Intergovernmental Expert Group on Model Strategies for Reducing Recidivism Through Rehabilitation, NGO Participant Observer, United Nations Offices in Vienna, Austria. Dawn Beichner-Thomas represented the WSV.

34^th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (19-23 May 2025)

Dawn Beichner-Thomas and Karin Bruckmüller represented the WSV.

22 May 2025
WSV-sponsored Side Event
Centering Victims in a Changing World: Upholding Victims’ Rights Amid Evolving Crimes
Supporters:
Access to Justice Team, UNODC
Penal Reform International (PRI)
American Society of Criminology (ASC)
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
Criminologists Without Borders
International Sociological Association

The Access to Justice Team of the UNODC opened the event with a discussion of the importance of victims within the work of the UNODC and the commemoration of the 40^th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power (A/RES/40/34). The main representative of the World Society of Victimology (WSV) discussed the role of the WSV in the Sixth (1980) and Seventh (1985) UN Congresses on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders, as precursors to A/RES/40/34. Other presentations, focused on centering victims in the evolving world of crime, were provided by members of the World Society of Victimology, Penal Reform International affiliate Women Beyond Walls, and the American Society of Criminology. The session concluded with an overview of other examples of victim-centered approaches from CCPCJ34.

The side event is featured on the UNODC’S Access to Justice Team’s website for CCPCJ34: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/justice-and-prison-reform/accesstojusticenews/2025/access-to-justice-in-ccpcj34.html

United Nations High-Level Political Forum, Written Statement by Dawn Beichner-Thomas and Rosemary Barberet, “Addressing Structural Violence, Gender Inequality, and the Marginalization of Victims.” Published in ECOSOC High-level Segment – Statements submitted by Non-Governmental Organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. E/C.2/2025/CRP.48

30 July 2025
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons focusing on Trafficking for Forced Criminality – Webinar
Emerging Issues in Trafficking in Persons by Organized Criminal Networks: Forced Criminality Online
Lorena Contreras Taibo represented the WSV at the webinar.

2024

68^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (11-22 March 2024)

Dawn Beichner-Thomas and Rosemary Barberet of Criminologists Without Borders co-authored a joint statement that was selected and is available online in the CSW68 official documents (NGO statements). It is 103 on the list here https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw68-2024/official-documents

The World Society of Victimology, the American Society of Criminology’s Division of Feminist Criminology, the International Sociological Association, and Criminologists Without Borders partnered to host four parallel events held in conjunction with the Sixty-Eighth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68).

Parallel Events:

Feminist Approaches to Justice: Economic Empowerment and Justice for Women
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Women, Girls, Violence, and Peace
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Best of Safe Cities Global Leaders’ Forum in Quito
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Gendered Costs of Criminal Legal Systems

PUBLISHED SPECIAL ISSUE:
Ranjan, S., Beichner-Thomas, D., & Barberet, R. (2024). Special Issue: Feminist Approaches to Justice: Contributions to CSW67. Feminist Criminology, 19(4). https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/fcxa/19/4

NGO Observer – Reconvened Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting on the Development of Model Strategies on Reducing Reoffending (25-28 March 2024 – UNOV)

UNODC Draft Resolution A/C.3/78/L.4, “Enhancing the contributions of the commission on crime prevention and criminal justice to the accelerated implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development”

Written input co-authored by WSV members Jo-Anne Wemmers and Andrea I. Zota

The Alliance on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, NGO Statement to the CCPCJ, submitted by Michael O’Connell

Thirty-Third Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice – UNOV

Co-sponsored an Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences led in-person side event – Cryptocurrency, Human Trafficking, and Mutual Legal Assistance Through a Lens of Cooperation (15 May 2024)

Co-sponsored an International Sociological Association led virtual side event – Preventing and Addressing Corruption, Organized Crime and Other Forms of Crime (17 May 2024)

NGO Observer – Constructive Dialogues on Trafficking in Persons (9-10 July 2024 – UNOV)

2023

The World Society of Victimology, the American Society of Criminology’s Division of Feminist Criminology, the International Sociological Association, and Criminologists Without Borders partnered to host four parallel events held in conjunction with the Sixty-Seventh Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67).

Parallel Events:

Feminist Approaches to Justice: Empowerment of Women and Girls in the Digital Age
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Reintegration and Representation of Justice System-Impacted Rural Women
Feminist Approaches to Justice: The Impact of Technology on Women and Girls in the Justice System
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Rural Women and Girls in a Just Society

PUBLISHED SPECIAL ISSUE:
Barberet, R., Ranjan, S., & Beichner-Thomas, D. (2023). Special Issue. Feminist Approaches to Justice: Contributions to CSW66. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 47(2). https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rcac20/47/2?nav=tocList

32^nd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice – Vienna, Austria

WSV-co-sponsored side events:

Amplifying Victim Voices to Enhance the Functioning of the Criminal Justice System with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (main sponsor)

Racial and Ethnic Discrimination in Policing with Criminologists Without Borders (main sponsor), Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, American Society of Criminology, and the International Sociological Association.

High-Level Political Forum – UN Headquarters, New York

United Nations High-Level Political Forum, Dawn Beichner-Thomas co-authored a written statement with Rosemary Barberet, “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women Involved in Criminal Legal Systems Worldwide.” Published in ECOSOC High-level Segment – Statements submitted by Non-Governmental Organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. E/C.2/2023/CRP.66

NGO Observer – Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting on Reducing Reoffending (4-6 September – UNOV)

NGO Observer – Constructive Dialogue on Trafficking in Persons (virtual)

NGO Observer – Constructive Dialogue on the review process following the conclusion of the Thirteenth Session of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons

Conference of the State Parties to United Nations Convention Against Corruption (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.) WSV co-sponsored an International Sociological Association side event – Current Issues in Research on Corruption

2022

The World Society of Victimology, International Sociological Association, Criminologists Without Borders, and the Division of Women and Crime of the American Society of Criminology partnered to host four parallel events held in conjunction with the Sixty-Sixth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66).

Parallel Events:

Feminist Approaches to Justice: South Asian Women in Justice Professions
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Women Justice Professionals Helping Women in the Changing World of Work
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Women, Disasters and Climate Change: The Research Speaks
Feminist Approaches to Justice: Achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls

PUBLISHED SPECIAL ISSUE:
Beichner, D., Barberet, R., & Ranjan, S. (2022). Special Issue. Prioritizing the Elimination of Violence Against Women Worldwide: Lessons From the 65^th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Violence Against Women, 28(8). https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/vawa/28/8

Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime – program available at https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNTOC/COP/Session_11/UNTOC_COP_11_Programme_Incl_SideEvents.pdf

CCPCJ Thematic Discussions on the Implementation of the Kyoto Declaration

For the full program: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CCPCJ/session/31_Session_2022/thematic-sessions-kyoto.html

For all statements: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CCPCJ/session/31_Session_2022/TD_statements.html

Invited statement to UNODC on behalf of the WSV – “Reducing Women’s Reoffending Through Reoffending and Rehabilitation” – Dawn Beichner

NGO Observer –Expert Group Meeting on Reducing Reoffending (6-8 April – UNOV)

2021

Victims of Corruption – 9th UNCAC CoSP

WSV supports UNCAC Coalition submission on victims of corruption, which the Coalition’s Working Group on Victims of Corruption (including Michael O’Connell, WSV SG) wrote.

To read the submission and other news about the 9th UNCAC CoSP, please read the CoSP Observer, as per link below.

https://mailchi.mp/uncaccoalition/14122021?fbclid=IwAR3Uj8U4adHDDIlCw661BUZ_CDW2p2wRKbrRTK6AEtN1HhPMJFRSfMs8dJI

UNODC – Thematic discussions on Pillar I: Advancing crime prevention were held from 10 to 12 November 2021 – Written submission (elaborating on pointers made as a panelist) CCPCJ_30/Kyoto_Thematic/D1_World_Society_of_Victimology.pdf

OHCHR – Transitional justice measures and the legacy of human rights violations in colonial contexts – Written submission – https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Truth/CallLegacyColonialism/CSO/World-Society-of-Victimology.pdf

ECOSOC High-level segment – 13-16 July, 2022 – 2021-ECOSOC-HLS-Written-Statements-by-NGOS-in-ECOSOC-Consultative-Status

UNODC – Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice – Oral intervention at the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Agenda Item 6(a), Victims of Terrorism – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE7iqVp2Orc

2020

International Summit on Domestic/Family Violence During the COVID-19 Era – https://coregroup.org/event/the-international-summit-on-domestic-family-violence-during-the-covid-19-era/

Commission on the Status of Women

E_CN-6_2020_NGO_33-EN.pdf – Written statement – Commission on the Status of Women – Sixty–fourth session, 9–20 March 2020 – Follow–up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and to
the twenty–third special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty–first century”

2019

ECOSOC – High-level Segment

E_2019_NGO_44_E – Statement submitted by World Society of Victimology, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council

Commission on the Status of Women

WSV Report UNCSW63

2017

Statement to the UN ECOSOC – Making eradication of poverty an integral objective of all policies: what will it take?

2016

WSV Quadrennial Report – as noted by the ECOSOC July 2016

N1606700 – Quadrennial Report

Commission on Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice – Programme 2016

2015

Congress on Crime and Criminal Justice, Doha, Qatar

ACONF222_L7_a_V1502485 – ا لأحداث الخاصة الرفيعة المستوى

ACONF222_L7_c_V1502486 – 高级别活动

ACONF222_L7_e_V1502487 – High Level Events

ACONF222_L7_f_V1502488 – Manifestations spéciales de haut niveau

ACONF222_L7_r_V1502489 – Специальные мероприятия высокого уровня

ACONF222_L7_s_V1502490 – Actividades especiales de alto nivel

ACONF222_NGO3_e_V1502305_ – NGO Declaration to the Doha Congress

2014

ECOSOC: High-level Segment

N1432741 – Declaración presentada por la Sociedad Mundial de Victimología, organización no gubernamental reconocida como entidad consultiva por el Consejo Económico y Social

N1432740 – Заявление, представленное Всемирным обществом виктимологии, — неправительственной организацией, имеющей консультативный статус при Экономическом и Социальном Совете

N1432739 – Déclaration présentée par la Société mondiale de victimologie, organisation non gouvernementale dotée du statut consultatif auprès du Conseil économique et social

N1432738 – Statement submitted by World Society of Victimology, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council

N1432737 – 具有经济及社会理事会咨商地位的非政府组织世界受害者研究学会提交的声明

N1432736 – بيان مقدم من الجمعية العالمية للدراسات المتعلقة بالضحايا، وهي منظمة غير

حكومية ذات مركز استشاري لدى اﻟﻤﺠلس الاقتصادي والاجتماعي

Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects

N1442528 – Fifth Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects – List of NGOs

2013

Commission on the Status of Women

N1361248 – Declaración presentada por World Society of Victimology, organización no gubernamental reconocida como entidad consultiva por el Consejo Económico y Social

N1361246 – Déclaration présentée par la Société mondiale de victimologie (WSV), organisation non gouvernementale dotée du statut consultatif auprès du Conseil Économique et Social

N1361245 – Statement submitted by World Society of Victimology, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council

N1361244 – 具有经济及社会理事会咨商地位的非政府组织世界受害者研究学会提交的陈述

ECOSOC: High-level Segment

N1330896 – Declaración presentada por la Sociedad Mundial de Victimología, organización no gubernamental reconocida como entidad consultiva por el Consejo Económico y Social

N1330895 – Заявление, представленное Всемирным обществом виктимологии, — неправительственной организацией, имеющей консультативный статус при Экономическом и Социальном Совете

N1330894 – Déclaration présentée par la Société mondiale de victimologie, une organisation non gouvernementale dotée du statut consultatif auprès du Conseil économique et social

N1330893 – Statement submitted by World Society of Victimology, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council

N1330892 – 具有经济及社会理事会咨商地位的非政府组织世界受害者研究学会提交的声明

N1330891 – بيان مقدم من الجمعية العالمية للدراسات المتعلقة بالضحايا، وهي منظمة غير

حكومية ذات مركز استشاري لدى اﻟﻤﺠلس الاقتصادي والاجتماعي

2012

Commission on the Status of Women

N1264294 – Declaración presentada por World Society of Victimology, organización no gubernamental reconocida como entidad consultiva por el Consejo Económico y Social

N1264293 – Заявление, представленное Всемирным обществом виктимологии, — неправительственной организацией, имеющей консультативный статус при Экономическом и Социальном Совете

N1264292 – Déclaration présentée par la Société mondiale de victimologie, une organisation non gouvernementale dotée du statut consultatif auprès du Conseil économique et social

N1264291 – Statement submitted by World Society of Victimology, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council

N1264290 – 具有经济及社会理事会咨商地位的非政府组织世界受害者研究学会提交的声明

N1264289 – بيان مقدم من الجمعية العالمية للدراسات المتعلقة بالضحايا، وهي منظمة

غير حكومية ذات مركز استشاري لدى اﻟﻤﺠلس الاقتصادي والاجتماعي

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

V1252937 – Use and application of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice

ECOSOC: High-level Segment

Oral Intervention – ECOSOC & UNODC joint session on corruption: Secretary-General’s statement to the ECOSOC Assembly

ECOSOC: Substantive Session

N1238363 – Requests from non-governmental organizations to be heard by the Economic and Social Council

N1236692 – Report of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations on its 2012 resumed session

ECOSOC: Committee on NGOs

N1228719 – Quadrennial reports for the period 2007-2010 submitted by non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council through the Secretary-General pursuant to Council resolution 1996/31

2011

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

V1182170 – Thematic discussion on protecting children in a digital age: the misuse of technology in the abuse and exploitation of children

The Criminal Justice Response to Support Victims of Acts of Terrorism – see, for example, acknowledgment on page 5

2010

Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

V1057183 – Draft Report

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

V1053930 – Consideration of the conclusions and recommendations of the Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

V1052733 – Report of Committee II on agenda item 8 and Workshop 2

SOC/CP/350 – Delegates Call for ‘Template’ to Improve Rule-Of-Law Education Worldwide as United Nations Crime Congress Enters Third Day – see also Schedule of Meetings

2009

ECOSOC

N0952355 – List of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council as of 1 September 2009*

2008

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

V0852988 – Draft Report

2007

2006

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

V0653612 – Use and application of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice — Draft Report

V0653504 – Follow-up to the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice — Draft Report

2005

Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

V0583698 – Report of Committee I: agenda items 6 and 7 and Workshops 1, 2 and 3 — Enhancing criminal justice reform, including restorative justice

V0583611 – Report of Committee I: agenda items 6 and 7 and Workshops 1, 2 and 3 — Making standards work: fifty years of standard setting in crime prevention and criminal justice

V0583479 – Consideration of agenda items in plenary meetings and by sessional bodies and action taken by the Congress — Draft Report

V0583462 – Report of Committee II: agenda item 5 and Workshops 4, 5 and 6 — Corruption: threats and trends in the twenty-first century

SOC/CP/327 – UN Convention against Corruption – becoming global standard for strong anti-corruption regime – Crime Congress Committee II told

SOC/CP/328 – UN Standards, Norms provide states with valuable guidelines, best practices – Crime Congress Committee I told