The main objective of the conference is to provide a forum for a discussion of the nature and incidence of child murder throughout history, as well as to gain an understanding of how attitudes towards this subject have changed over time, both in terms of public opinion at large and in terms of the opinions and belief-systems of the authorities of the day. Traditionally, conferences related to the subject of child murder have used a purely historical perspective to examine the subject.

This meeting, however, seeks to facilitate a more interdisciplinary discussion using approaches including historical,legal, anthropological, sociological, visual, cultural, medical and psychological perspectives. By adopting this more eclectic approach, it is hoped that participants and delegates will come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the nuances surrounding the study of child murder. As well as encouraging a broader disciplinary awareness of the subject, the conference also hopes to look at child murder over a long chronology and a wide geography in order to reflect cultural differences in the act of child murder and attitudes towards its perpetration across the globe, from the earliest times to the present day. In this way, the conference hopes to bridge the boundaries of time, geography and discipline to identify new perspectives and new avenues for the study of this unique type of crime.