Background
On October 27, 2019, the 19th World Congress of Criminology will commence in Doha, Qatar. The Congress, which will run from October 27-31, will gather academics, researchers, professionals, and policy makers to consider relevant, contemporary issues in crime and criminology. Since its inaugural event in 1938 in Rome, Congresses have been held throughout the world, visiting cities including Rio de Janeiro (2003), Barcelona (2008), and New Delhi (2016).
Sponsors and Supporters
This year’s event in Doha symbolizes the truly global reach of the Congress, as well as of those sponsoring and supporting it. The group that plays the largest role in organizing the Congress – and has since its commencement – is the International Society for Criminology (ISC). Founded in 1937, the ISC strives to support activities and research aimed at fostering a better understanding of the crime phenomenon on a global scale. It also works to translate research into policy making and programmatic interventions, as well as assist in the creation of top-tier criminology and criminal justice programs. Additionally, the ISC publishes the International Annals of Criminology alongside Cambridge University Press, emphasizing their deep involvement in the subject matter.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through its Education for Justice (E4J) initiative, is another one of the major organizations supporting the Congress. The E4J initiative seeks to support the Doha Declaration of 2015, which calls for universal education amongst children, as well as the prevention of terrorism, corruption, and crime. The E4J initiative has crafted educational materials, such as university modules and teaching guides, in their effort to develop a culture of lawfulness among children and youth. Finally, the Qatar University College of Law is another one of the Congress’s supporters.
Topics and Presentations
The Congress will cover a wide range of topical areas and issues. The Congress will focus on a number of general areas, which include “Science, Technology and Teaching in Criminology,” as well as “Researching, Investigating and Preventing Crime.” Yet it will still touch on a wide variety of topics, which include international law and human rights. Themes covered within this field are to include “International Criminal Law and International Criminal Courts,” “Immigration and Crime,” and “Transnational Crime.” Alongside these, the Congress will consider comparative studies related to criminology and criminal justice. Specific issues areas to be discussed include “Globalization and Crime Trends,” alongside “Cross-Regional and Cross-National Comparison.”
The Congress offers not only an immense variety of topics for presenters to discuss, but a diverse array of ways through which they may present their projects. Individuals may not only present a paper, but hold a roundtable session, present a poster, or participate in a workshop. Participants may even read poetry, literature, or a similar form of creative work that is in some way related to criminology or criminal justice. Through offering this flexibility, the Congress hopes to create a diverse, energetic environment that allows discussion on criminology and criminal justice to thrive however possible.
Additional Information
The submission deadline for the Congress is August 15, though materials are accepted on a rolling, first-come-first-serve basis. Authors must submit the title of their work, as well as an abstract, here. Individuals may also register for the Congress here. If you have any questions, you may contact the Congress by filling out this form.
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