The Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology at Leiden University, in collaboration with the Willem Pompe Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology at Utrecht University, is organising a conference on Gender & Criminal Law on 29 & 30 January 2027.  The overarching theme of the conference: Gender and Criminal Law: Global Perspectives & Local Lessons - Gendered Perspectives on Criminal Justice.

This international conference brings together scholars from around the world to critically examine how criminal law engages with gender in diverse social, political, and cultural contexts. It aims to foster comparative and interdisciplinary dialogue on the ways gender shapes legal doctrine, institutional practices, and lived experiences within criminal justice systems. How do different jurisdictions conceptualize gender-based harm? In what ways do race, class, sexuality, disability, and migration status intersect with gender in shaping criminalization and victimization? What are the promises and limits of criminal law as a tool for advancing gender justice?

The conference welcomes theoretical, doctrinal, empirical, and comparative contributions. It encourages engagement with feminist, queer, intersectional, postcolonial, and socio-legal perspectives, as well as critical reflections on emerging reforms and policy innovations. By convening scholars across regions and disciplines, the conference seeks to advance a nuanced, globally informed conversation about accountability, equality, and the future of gender-responsive criminal justice.

Alongside the plenary programme, the conference will include a series of parallel panel sessions spread across both conference days. These panels will be selected through the Call for Abstracts and should engage with the overall conference theme. Accepted abstracts will be grouped into thematic panels by the conference organisers. Submissions should include:

- Title of the paper;

- Abstract (300-500 words; English);

- Name, organisation and institutional email address of the presenter(s).

- Short biographical note (one page)