The International Society for Criminology (Société internationale de criminologie – Sociedad internacional de criminología) was initiated in 1934 in Paris by a number of international academics, policy makers and practitioners from the areas of criminal justice and criminology. It organised its first World Congress in Rome in 1938 and established a permanent legal and social seat in Paris in 1950, alongside its official registration in France as international scientific association. As the oldest worldwide organisation in the field of criminology and criminal justice, the Sociey intends to support activities and research designed to produce a better understanding of the crime phenomenon on an international scale. It also promotes the prevention of crime and the improvement of procedures used by the various criminal justice systems. It has organised 18 World Congresses of Criminology until 2016, more than 70 International Courses, and many seminars and workshops across the world. Since 1950, it has published the International Annals of Criminology in its three official languages: English, French and Spanish. The Society cooperates with affiliated centres of criminology in Europe and North America, and entertains close relationships with the United Nations, the Council of Europe and UNESCO.