June 2022 update – New Citizens’ Information page, Ireland represented at EFRJ conference, Scottish services launched
New Citizens’ Information page on restorative justice
We are grateful to Citizens’ Information for working with us to draft and publish a new page on restorative justice. The goal was to explain the concept of restorative justice and the models used in Ireland as simply, comprehensively and neutrally as possible, and helping people identify who they should contact if it might be an option in their case. This may be handy for those of you who have opportunities or get requests to explain restorative justice to the public. Check it out here.
Ireland represented at European Forum for Restorative Justice conference
Ireland is well represented at this week’s European Forum for Restorative Justice conference. There will be showings of Irish film The Meeting for the Italian public and conference participants, and Dr. Marie Keenan and Ailbhe Griffith will deliver a keynote including, among other things, the narratives of victims of sexual violence in varied circumstances who benefitted from participating in restorative justice. I’ll be on a panel with Belgian, Finnish and Georgian colleagues discussing restorative justice policies, such as the 2021 Council of Europe Venice Declaration and the forthcoming revisions to the EU Victims’ Directive (the EFRJ has published a paper regarding how best to revise the provisions on restorative justice for the new Directive).
RJS4C partners in Scotland launch new RJ services
Our colleagues in Scotland have launched two national hubs to support the implementation of restorative justice for all victims and offenders. A new National Hub in Community Justice Scotland has a strategic, oversight role for a ‘Hub and Spoke’ model. It will manage the delivery of an initial test project establishing best working practices, before services are developed in other regions. In addition, Thriving Survivors, an NGO led by survivors of sexual violence, will provide a bespoke restorative justice service for gender-based violence cases.
For more information, see here, or listen here (from 2h36m). Also find here a recent article on implementing RJ in Scotland. You may also be interested in the 2022 government vision for justice in Scotland.
Other pieces of possible interest
- ATU Donegal delivers new Certificate in Conflict Resolution for Garda Sergeants and Inspectors – see here for more.
- From the Irish Examiner: “Forum established to improve rights of victims of crime” – see here for more.
- A new report analyses the materials used by RJ services to inform prospective participants in England and Wales – see pages ii-x for its key findings.
- Another report from England calls for more access to restorative justice for people in custody and their victims – see here for more.
- A new European report explores the training of trainers in restorative justice – see here for more.