European Peace Conference on Perpetrator-Victim Dynamics
Location:
Date:
Conference Program 2025
Day 1 & 2 | The power of transgenerational violence
Are we born innocently? In these two days, we will explore the legacies of transgenerational histories. How do war, genocide, and slavery affect our sense of peace today? And how is violence passed on from society to family, from parents to children? You will learn to work with the intergenerational transference model.
Linda Nooitmeer
Colonial expert
Sue Lieberman
Psychotherapist
Dr. Ralf Vogt
Psychoanalyst
Eva Weil
Psychoanalyst
Day 3 & 4 | The dance of perpetrators and victims
Can we all become perpetrators? In these two days, we will explore our inner perpetrator and victim sides. We will also seek to understand how we can become perpetrators to our loved ones, destructive leaders in organisations, and criminals within society. You will learn to work with the infinite role exchange model.
Surprise guest
Forthcoming
Alemka Dauskardt
Family Constellator
Elien van Oostendorp
GZ family therapist
Juliet Grayson
PBSB therapist
Day 5
The growing gap
How do we get stuck in perpetrator and victim roles? On this day, we will explore how we get polarised debates, groups, and camps. What makes us see the world in terms of black and white? How do we lose common ground? You will learn to work with the yin-yang model.
Prof. mr. Bram Sizoo
Psychiatry advisor
Monique Cuppen
Pesso therapist
Day 6
Deepening conflicts
How do conflicts escalate? On this day, we will explore what leads to dynamics of war. How do opinions and reactive action loops lead to extremism? What actions are disapproved of, criminalised, and fought against? You will learn to work with the propellor model.
Eric Schouten
Security expert
Harriet Bergman
Activist philosopher
Day 7
The world of power play
How do perpetrators and victims compete with each other? On this day, we will dive into the typologies of overt and covert rivalry. More specifically, we will dive into the dynamics of institutional complicity in violence. You will learn to work with the competition model.
Prof. dr. Nicole Immler
Justice researcher
Frits van den Heuvel van Varik
Defense expert
Day 8 & 9 | Framing and blaming in cancel cultures
How do perpetrators and victims frame and blame each other? In these two days, we will dive into the dynamics of misrepresentation by the government, media, historians, and society. How do we maximise our own ‘good’ side and distract attention away from our ‘bad’ side? You will learn to work with the framing model.
Prof. Umut Özkirimli
Political researcher
Frederique Petit
Practical philosopher
Hans Faber
Justice inspector
Hilbrand Westra
Trauma expert
Day 10
The way forward
What’s next? On the last day of our 10-day conference, we will together formulate ways to move past destructive perpetrator-victim dynamics. What does future research look like based on our reflections, experiences, and the systemic models? And what does it mean for practitioners like therapists, policy makers and journalists? We will formulate hands-on recommendations and projects.
Dagmar Punter
Peace researcher
Oscar Westra van Holthe
Initiator conference
Daily schedule
09:00-10:00 Theme introduction
10:30-12:00 Reflection workshop
12:00-13:00 Expert guest lecture #1
14:30-16:30 Skills training workshop
17:00-18:00 Expert guest lecture #2
18:00-18:30 Interactive group closure
Learning tracks
During the days, participants will join one of the five professional learning tracks:
Track 1 European researchers/academics
Track 2 Therapists, psychologists/analysts
Track 3 Politicians, journalists, and media
Track 4 Government and business officials
Track 5 Students, activists, and citizens
Program background
The conference program is based upon Oscar’s thinking about perpetrator-victim dynamics within his systemic certification program. He came across the topic through his psychological work with suicidal clients, couples, entrepreneurs, climate activists, and politicians. At the conference, we will seek ways to better deal with perpetrator-victim dynamics in both our personal and work lives.
Ambassadors and volunteers
This conference is not possible without its ambassadors and volunteers.
Lammert van Raan
Prof. dr. Ingrid Robeyns
Ethics philosopher
Michael Nord
Change manager
Heleen Iordens
Training actor
Do you want to experience how hands-on therapy can be combined with concepts from sociology, criminology, philosophy, and politics?
Get your tickets now
Note: You will be forwarded to oscarwestravanholthe.com.
Online
Last-minute tickets: €250
✦ Online 10-day attendance
✦ Onboarding interview
✦ Online module access
✦ Downloadable resources
✦ Certificate of completion
In person
Last-minute tickets: €550
✦ Live event 10-day attendance
✦ Guest lectures with Q&A
✦ Skills training workshops
✦ Grow your expert network
✦ Everything from online
Sponsor tickets
Last sponsor ticket: €950
✦ Send one colleague per day
✦ Sponsor mention in mail
✦ Product placement(s)
✦ Website referral link(s)
✦ Sponsor badge at event
Single day tickets
Online: €50 In person: €75
✦ Choice: event or online
✦ The day reflection report
✦ Online submodule access
✦ Downloadable resources
✦ Day attendance certificate