SASCV 2013 - SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH ASIAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY AND VICTOMOLOGY (SASCV)

The main theme of the Conference is
REVISITING INTERPERSONAL CRIMES AND VICTIMIZATION
Contemporary Criminologists and Victimologists have moved far beyond the basic understanding of Crimes and Victimization. Most of the Criminologists have moved beyond the core of criminology (i.e.) causation of crimes and focuses more on the issues and problems of the criminal justice system, as the contemporary society urges them to become more applied, rather than to remain theoretical. Same is the case of Victimologists, concentrating more on the rights of the victims, leaving the roots of victimization. Notably, only a handful of researchers work in the areas of Interpersonal Crimes and Victimization. Also, the patterns of Interpersonal Crimes and Victimization have changed in the contemporary globalized society, and needs to be understood from altogether a different dimension. Interpersonal crimes and Victimization need to be revisited and this conference will be a platform to go back again to the roots.
The major sub themes are
1. Interpersonal Crimes against and by Women
The issue of Crimes against women have attracted the attention of criminologists, sociologists, psychologists, legal academicians as well as professionals, and lawmakers, since the birth of the first wave of feminism way back in 19th and early 20th century. The issue involves various forms of crimes against women. Not to forget, the gender of perpetrators does not limit to men always. In some cases, women are the perpetrators in victimizing other women. The modern types of crimes have proved that the probability of women victimization has extended beyond one's imagination. Also there is a slight increase in the rate of women offenders all over the world. The rhetoric we need to answer in this context is: What are the forms of crimes against women? Are these forms ‘traditional’ or do they change as per the socioeconomic developments of the society? Why are crimes against women increasing worldwide? Why do women involve in victimizing fellow women? Does the existing legal infrastructure promote crimes against women? Are the international conventions specially focused on women, becoming weaker to offer any possible solution to the problem of crimes against women? Why there is an increase in women offending?
Sub focal themes - Sexual crimes against women; Crimes developing from battered relationships, including marriage and living in relationship; Dating Crimes against women; Dowry Harassment; Intimate Partner Violence; Social forms of crimes against working women; Honour killing: Is there honour?; Economic and Social oppression of women; Crimes against single mothers; Crimes against elderly women especially widows; Trafficking of women; Eve Teasing and Stalking; Prostitutes as victims; Women and Law; Women as Offenders.
2. Interpersonal crimes against Children and Youth and Children in Conflict with Law
Crimes against children can be divided into myriad forms, ranging from violation of child rights in war zones, child beggars, child marriages, physical and emotional torture of the children by parents, family as well as government agencies. Apart from the issue of crimes against children is another notable issue is the growth of children in conflict with laws. In this globalised world, the possibilities of children becoming offenders are greater compared to earlier days. 'The term ‘children in conflict with the law’ refers to anyone under 18 who comes into contact with the justice system as a result of being suspected or accused of committing an offence' (unicef definition). What are the specific forms of crimes against children? Why are the children and youth chosen targets for such sorts of crimes? Are the State agencies taking away fundamental rights of children in the name of child rights? Why do children come into conflict with the law? How do various systems push children towards criminality? What are the forms of crimes that can trap young adults and youth? Why does it happen? What could be the solution?
Sub focal themes - Child maltreatment; Battered childhood; Divorce / Separation of the parents and crimes against children; School bullying; Ragging / Hazing of College Youth; Corporal punishment and Victimization; Peer pressure and crimes against children; Adolescent sexual behaviour of the children and possible forms crimes and victimisation developing from the same; Child labourers and victimization; Children of war zone; Child Soldiers / Employment of children in the battleground; Victimisation of children as models of cine/TV/commercials and in reality shows; Risk Factors of Teens Internet Use; Drug addiction and Youth; Children in conflict with law: Juvenile Courts and infringement of child rights; Profile of Children in Conflict with the Law; Causes of Children coming in to conflict with law; General Characteristics of Children in Conflict with the Law; Children in Conflict with the Law at different Stages within the Justice System; Contemporary Trends and Patterns in Child offending.
3. Men as Victims: Myths and Realities
Ironically, Men of abuse are largely ignored by the society and laws, but women of abuse are seen as victims. In this modern era, Men have equal probability of becoming victims, especially in the hands of Women. Sexual harassment of Men and Domestic Violence against Men are no more funny issues. Men becoming victims of psychological and sexual harassment by women bosses in corporate bodies and governments is not uncommon. Men as rape victims have been recognized by governments. Recently (2012) the US Government has extended the definition of rape and included men too in the category of victims. In many countries, women have started using law as a weapon to abuse / harass men which were provided to protect themselves against men. Also, Male burden is greater in eastern societies, where they are entrusted with greater responsibilities, to take care of women in their families, especially daughters and sisters. Men are considered to be stronger and they suffer in silence without being able to express their victimization. To explore the myths and realities of this issue, the following question needs to be answered: What are the forms of crimes against men in a battered relationship? How do ex-spouses misuse the divorce laws to victimize men? How men are victimized in corporations / governments by women bosses?
Sub focal themes - Men as Victims of Intimate Partner Violence; Office politics and Men victims; Misuse of marriage and divorce laws to victimise men; Men as victims of emotional blackmailing by women; Dating offences and Men Victims; Gay relationships/marriages and victimization of men; Male burden in eastern societies and victimization of men.
4. Culture Conflict and Victimization of Groups
The 2011 Norway government's move to take away the custody of children from their Indian parents on the ground that the children are raised in non-European fashion is a glaring example of how cultural conflict can victimize particular races or groups. Culture conflict has raised numbers of issues including interracial intolerance, racial hatred and violence and so on. Culture conflict with various societies is common and victimization of specific groups is largely ignored. Also culture conflict both intra and inter needs to be analyzed. What are the forms of crimes that arise from cultural conflict? Why do they arise? How they should be tackled in the light of ‘global village’ concept? How should they be tackled in the light of human rights?
Sub focal themes - Victimization of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexuals, Transgender and Queers); Social, political and economic violence against groups; Culture Conflict and Dalits / Minorities Victimization; Child custody in the international perspective; Hate Crimes and Racial violence; Abuse of cultural rights of the migrants; Cross cultural marriages and victims of culture; Inter-country marriages and crimes and victimization rising due to domicile of the spouses.
5. Interpersonal Cyber Crimes: Problems of Social Networking
Crimes in the cyber space can be categorized into various types depending upon the nature of the relationship of the perpetrator and the victim. Of late, Interpersonal crimes involving social networking sites attracts huge attention of the society as well as the law and justice machinery, as it is growing exponentially. Many countries are trying to ban contents of social networking sites which infringe the privacy and abuse many. However, the rights guaranteed in the Constitution of those countries as well as the policies of the social networking sites prevent in a total ban of the abusive contents. What are the types of interpersonal cyber crimes against individuals? Who are the victims? How social networking sites are being misused?
Sub focal themes - Internet stalking and harassment; problems of privacy infringement; cyber bullying; defamation; Identity Theft and Fraud; Online identity misuse; cyber blackmailing; Homicide/ Suicide with the help of Internet; child online grooming; Jurisdictional and definitional concerns with computer-mediated interpersonal crimes; Hate crimes in the Internet; Insider Threat and Interpersonal Cyber Crimes; Online sexual exploitation of women and children; Sexting; Are Children Victims or offenders? Patterns and Trends of online victimization; Legal issues in sexting; Criminological Theories vis a vis Interpersonal Cyber Crimes.
Abstract Submission
There are 3 slots of abstract submission.
1. Abstracts submitted before 1st August 2012 will receive a final decision on 1st September, 2012.
2. Abstracts submitted before 1st September 2012 will receive a final decision on 1st October 2012.
3. Abstracts submitted before 1st October, 2012 will receive a final decision on 1st November 2012.