Facilitators and experts in Restorative Justice from across Europe gather in Bilbao to discuss Restorative Justice within the criminal justice system
The Department of Employment and Justice of the Basque Government, together with the University of Deusto and the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ), have organized the 1st Restorative Justice Symposium, which will take place in Bilbao on June 5 and 6 under the title “From Criminal Mediation to Restorative Justice: Policies and Practices in Transition.”
The Symposium will be held at the auditorium of the University of Deusto and will also mark the presentation of the new Basque Restorative Justice Service. This initiative is framed within the recent Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the European Union, which encourages all Member States, judicial authorities, and public bodies to adopt Restorative Justice and develop innovative restorative models.
The first day will include a performance of “The Other’s Gaze” by the theatre company Proyecto 43-2, based on restorative encounters between ETA prisoners and victims that took place in Nanclares prison.
The Symposium will follow a highly practical and participatory format, aiming to share the experiences and practices of more than two hundred Restorative Justice experts from across Europe.
The opening ceremony, chaired by the Basque Minister of Employment and Justice, María Jesús San José, will also feature contributions from Gema Tomás, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Deusto; Concha Sáez, member of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ); Carmen Adán, Chief Prosecutor of the Basque Country; Luis Ángel Garrido, member of the High Court of Justice of the Basque Country; and Edit Törzs, Director of the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ).
The first plenary session will analyze the Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the European Union on restorative justice in criminal matters, approved last October. Ian Marder, Professor of Criminology at Maynooth University (Ireland) and scientific advisor to the Council of Europe for drafting the Recommendation, will reflect on the transition from criminal mediation to Restorative Justice and present the latest studies aimed at promoting the implementation of the EU Recommendation and the development of innovative restorative models.
He will be followed by Alberto Olalde, Professor of Social Work at the University of the Basque Country, who has worked as a facilitator in restorative encounters related to terrorism and sexual victimization, and Nacho Martínez, coordinator of the Basque Government’s Restorative Justice Service, who will explain the implementation process and new restorative practices within the judicial system. Finally, Theo de Roos, former judge and emeritus professor at Tilburg University and president of Restorative Justice Netherlands, will present the content and debate surrounding the Dutch Restorative Justice bill.
The second day, Thursday, June 6, will focus on the application of Restorative Justice to all types of crime, particularly those that generate the most resistance and debate: sexual violence and terrorism. Danish consultant Karin Madsen, who has collaborated with the Centre for Victims of Sexual Assault in Copenhagen and participated in several projects developing restorative practices for victims of sexual violence, will speak first.
She will be followed by Bernd Glaeser, advisor to the Austrian Ministry of Justice, who will address recommendations and best practices for victim-offender mediation in cases of domestic violence. Finally, Milan-based lawyer and professor Diletta Stendardi will present the experience of restorative encounters carried out with victims and former members of the Red Brigades.
The final session, titled “Restorative Justice, Prison, and Parole: Risks and Opportunities,” will examine the application of Restorative Justice at all stages of the criminal justice process. Speakers will include Jesús María Guerrero, psychologist from the Spanish Prison Service; Jorge Ollero, coordinator of Restorative Justice services at the Andalusian Federation ENLACE; Ursula Fernee, head of the Restorative Justice and Victim Services in Ireland; and Antonio Buonatesta, director of the Restorative Justice Service of Wallonia.
In parallel with the plenary sessions, a series of workshops and seminars will be held on a wide range of topics directly related to Restorative Justice, including restorative practices with children of incarcerated parents, prevention of radicalization and violent extremism, experiences from France and the Netherlands in training, program design and evaluation, and the analysis of best practices and challenges in ensuring access to high-quality restorative services.
