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Universiteit Utrecht, in co-operation with Universiteit Maastricht, will host the 14th AIDP Symposium for Young Penalists on the theme "Criminal Law in the Age of Transitions. Between Sacred Cows and Core Values of Criminal Justice Systems". The Symposium will take place in Utrecht on 9-10 April 2026.

In recent years, the world has been marked by profound disruptions, crises, and transformations. Living through a period of transitions forces us to critically review what we once viewed as the “sacred cows” of criminal law—those long-established principles and practices that were considered beyond reproach. How should criminal law respond to technological developments that blur the lines of criminal responsibility? What role should it play in addressing transnational crises, from climate-related crime to new forms of political violence? And to what extent do traditional punitive approaches remain effective in ensuring justice in increasingly complex and interconnected societies?

The Symposium seeks to explore these pressing questions, fostering debate on the evolving role of criminal law at national, supranational, and international levels. Contributions from diverse legal traditions and interdisciplinary perspectives—including criminology, psychology, and political studies—are encouraged to shed light on how criminal law is adapting (or resisting adaptation) to the transformations of our time. We invite the submission of abstracts that may address several topics.

Abstracts must be submitted via email to youngpenalistsnl@gmail.com by November 28, 2025.

For more information about the symposium topics and the submission of abstracts, read the Call for Papers: