O.P. Jindal Global University Organises ‘6th International Conference on Victim Assistance’
New Delhi: O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) organised the ‘6th International Conference on Victim Assistance’ at the University campus in Sonipat on 27th – 28th October, 2017. The main theme of the two-day conference was “Evolving Perspectives in Victimology” and the various sessions envisaged different aspects of victimology by academicians, government officials, lawyers, social workers, policy makers and students from around the world.
The ‘6th International Conference on Victim Assistance’ was organized by Centre for Victimology & Psychological Studies (CVPS) which is a part Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences (JIBS), a value-based research institute of JGU.
Inaugurating the conference, Professor (Dr.) Sanjeev P. Sahni, Principal Director, JIBS said, “Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences is a three-year-old institute. However, the Centre for Victimology & Psychological Studies (CVPS) under JIBS is seven years old. The ‘6th International Conference on Victim Assistance’ at the University is being attended by around 300 delegates and we welcome them all. We believe that psychological composition is an imperative part of victimology. Other than compensation, which is important, it is equally imperative to provide psychological and emotional support to victims as this leads to a happy world”.
Welcoming the delegates to the University, Lt. Gen. A. K. Singh (Retd.) and Advisor to O. P. Jindal Global University said, “As we march into the 21st century with all the benefits of technology, modern processes and best practices, the human dimension has had both negative and positive conation where the negative relates to victimisation, especially that of the weaker sections of the society. While the subject of victimology does not discriminate basis caste, creed, status, most of the victims, especially in India, are from the lower strata of the society where the literacy rates and society norms are week. Thus, this subject of victimology is of great relevance to our country. For the protection of the victims, what is needed is proper implementation of the law, awareness, strong societal norms against victimisation and a justice system that is against delays and harassment of victims.”
The Chief Guest for the conference, Mr. Shekhar Dutt, Former Governor of Chhattisgarh and Former Deputy National Security Advisor, said “It is important that the society should consist of people who are happy and healthy and it is the duty of every individual who is a part of the society to ensure this. However, in the same society, we see people who are victims and the reason for this can be psychological, emotional and sometimes purely circumstantial. The society can play an important role in helping the victims. It is important for every person to help people around them as positive assistance can help victims to come out of it. In a nutshell, what is needed is better counselling, quick action by the law authorities and a more tolerant society.”
In his introductory remarks, Mr. Michael O’ Connell, Commissioner for Victims’ Rights, South Australia, Australia said, “Victimology is a social science and also a movement. One of its objectives is to eradicate intolerance, injustice, discrimination and establish justice and equality, thereby establishing a world which brings trust and closeness.”
Professor Dr. Gerd Ferdinnad Kirchhoff, Executive Director, Centre for Victimology and Psychological Studies said, “I am extremely happy and proud to be speaking at the opening of the 6th International Conference on Victim Assistance here at O. P. Jindal Global University. It is extremely important that lessons of victimology are taught in classrooms and that University around adopt it as part of the curriculum. I am extremely grateful that O.P. Jindal University is supporting and working towards this.”
In his keynote speech on ‘Restorative Justice, Variations of a Theme’, Elmar G.M. Weitekamp, Professor, University of Tubingen, Germany said, “Restorative justice is a movement which is taking off all over the world. It can be applied in a lot of areas of conflict and it is a meaningful way to achieve peace in countries, villages and communities.”
The sub-themes of the conference included: Conflict Resolution; Ethics in Victimology; Ethnic Victimization; Gender, Sexuality & Victimization; Governance in Victim Assistance; Media & Cyber Victimization; Religion & Victimization; Research & Methodology; Restorative Justice & Victim’s Rights; Role of Victim Assistance Organization; Political Victims; Victimization within Families; Secondary Victimization; Theoretical Development of Victimology; Therapeutic Assistance; Understanding International Victimization; Victims of Crime.