Irvin Waller

Irvin Waller is Professor Emeritus of Criminology at the University of Ottawa, whose work focuses on reducing interpersonal violence and advancing victims’ rights across national and international contexts. His research and policy engagement examine how evidence-based prevention strategies can significantly reduce violent crime, with a particular emphasis on translating successful interventions into scalable public policy.

Irvin has advised more than 50 governments on violence prevention and victim rights, including Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He has played a central role in shaping international frameworks on crime prevention, gaining early recognition for his leadership in advancing the adoption of the UN General Assembly Declaration on Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. He later served as the first Director General of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime, working in close collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Irvin is the author of Science and Secrets of Ending Violent Crime (2019), which outlines how countries such as Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States can achieve substantial reductions in violent crime through targeted prevention strategies. He is a frequent keynote speaker in English, French, and Spanish, and continues to engage with global audiences on the practical implementation of violence reduction policies.

He holds a PhD in law from the University of Cambridge.