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February 2026

 
Poznań Conference 2026: Registration Now Open!

Registration is open for the 13th International Conference of the European Forum for Restorative Justice! Taking place at SWPS University in Poznań, Poland from the 11th-13th of June, the conference will explore how restorative justice creates meaningful change in peoples' lives, in institutions, and across wider communities. The conference will bring together an international cohort of practitioners, researchers, policymakers and people with lived experience for diverse dialogue across perspectives, practice and evidence. To register, please visit the conference page, where you can also find full fee details and other practical information. Please note that the 20th of February is the final opportunity to apply for a partial fee waiver, 20th of March is the last day for early bird registration, and 15th of May marks the final registration deadline. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with a vital international dialogue, and contribute your voice to the evolution of restorative practice! 

📍Poznań (Poland), 11th-13th June, 2026

Register For The Conference!
 
Pre-Conference Practice Day Workshops
Join the Pre-Conference Practice Day Workshops

Registration is now open for participation in one of two in-depth workshops to be held on Wednesday, 10th of June (9:00-17:00) at SWPS University. As part of the Pre-Conference Practice Day, these sessions offer a unique chance for those seeking to sharpen their skills and immerse themselves in the conference themes prior to the main event. Participants may select one of the following parallel sessions: "Evaluating Restorative Justice with Integrity: Voices, Evidence, and What We Choose to Value" explores evaluation as an ethical, relational practice, and is ideal for those looking to capture the true human value of restorative work. "Participatory and Relational Approaches to Social Change" invites researchers and policymakers to reflect on how relationship-building can strengthen cross-border collaboration and social change efforts. Facilitators for both workshops will be announced soon on the Practice Day page so keep an eye out for further details! In the meantime, please note that the Practice Day is linked directly to the conference, so you can register for both events at once. 

📍Poznań (Poland), 10th June, 2026

Register for the Practice Day & Conference!
Support AMEE's Initiative to Increase Victim's Access to Restorative Justice

The Asociación para la Mediación, el Encuentro y la Escucha (AMEE), one of the EFRJ’s valued organisational members, is launching a crowdfunding campaign to bring restorative justice to more people, making it possible for more victims to access careful and safe restorative processes. Today, despite being recognised as a right for victims, access to restorative justice remains limited, and many victims never learns of its existence and can thus never benefit from it. AMEE has been offering restorative justice processes for people who have experienced situations of crime, conflict and violence for over 12 years, and with this campaign, the organisation seeks to double the support and assistance they can offer to victims of crime in 2026, and respond to the growing demand in society. To deeper understand the value of AMEE’s work, we encourage you to explore their visual materials, including victims' testimonies like Evelyn Klamer's and José Aguilar's. For further information about the campaign, please visit AMEE’s website, and subscribe to stay in the loop about the upcoming campaign launch.

Subscribe to Stay Informed!
 
Registration & Call for Proposals: Restorative Horizons – Indigenous, Plural and Hybrid Pathways towards Justice and Peace

Restorative Horizons, taking place in Addis Ababa from the 25th-27th of November 2026, will explore the intersections between restorative justice and Indigenous, customary, spiritual and community-based approaches, as well as the hybrid and plural systems that reflect the perspectives and lived realities of diverse communities across the Global North and South. The workshop will examine how restorative justice operates across traditions and how it can act as a bridge between them, contributing to sustainable peace, and the healing of historical and contemporary harms. Particular attention will be given to environmental and ecological justice, recognising that many Indigenous and local justice systems understand social harmony and environmental wellbeing as inseparable. The final day will include field visits and meetings with Indigenous leaders, customary courts, the African Union Headquarters, and local historical sites. An internationally published edited volume will follow, featuring selected contributions.

The organising team invites proposals for workshop papers, poster presentations, skills-labs or practice-based sessions, community circles or dialogues (e.g., Gadaa or Oda dialogues), and other creative or experiential contributions. The deadline for submitting ideas is the 30th of April 2026, with notifications of selection by the 30th of May 2026. Registration closes on the 15th of August 2026. Register here or submit your proposal, and don’t miss this opportunity to engage with others across traditions and build meaningful dialogue around restorative justice!

📍Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), 25th-27th November, 2026

Register Or Submit Your Proposal
 
Registration & Call for Proposals: 13th Conference of the World Mediation Forum

The 13th Conference of the World Mediation Forum, taking place in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain, from the 16th-19th of November 2026, will focus on the theme “Cultures of Mediation and Mediation as a Transformative Culture”. Across four days, the conference will address mediation in a wide variety of fields, including but not limited to schools, NGOs, religious fields, health systems, and justice systems. Featuring theoretical panels presenting research findings, as well as more practical workshops and specific training sessions, this event is suitable for students, teachers, professionals, and all those interested in learning about mediation in a broad sense. The link for registration is now open, and abstract proposals are now being accepted. The deadline for proposal submissions is June 1st. For further details on registration fees, speaker and venue details, please visit this website or, alternatively, download the following PDF info-sheet.

📍Donostia-San Sebastián (Spain), 16th-19th November, 2026

Submit Your Proposal
 
Discover Creative Inspiration for Restorative Justice Practice

Arts and creativity can open new pathways for dialogue, connection, and public engagement in restorative justice. The REstART Resource Kit was created to help practitioners, researchers, and organisations discover artworks and creative practices that can support and be applied to their events, trainings, advocacy, and policy work. Developed by the organising team of the REstART Festival 2025 as a gift to mark the 25th anniversary of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, the online collection includes films and documentaries, performing arts exhibitions, and immersive experiences. The page is a work in progress that is continuously updated, so if you know of an artwork or creative initiative that should be featured, you are welcome to share it with the team!

Explore the REstART Resource Kit
 
Moment of Inspiration

The upcoming European Day for Victims of Crime (February 22nd) offers an important reminder of the need to uphold victims’ rights and ensure their access to meaningful support. The UK national charity Why Me?, which promotes and delivers restorative justice, shares testimonies from people who have taken part in restorative processes. These testimonies explore the personal impact of harm, the reasons why individuals choose to engage in restorative justice, and how the process can influence their sense of voice, validation and reparation. They also provide insight into the practical dimensions of restorative justice, helping to build understanding among practitioners, policymakers, and the wider public. As this day calls attention across Europe to victims’ rights, these testimonies serve as a powerful reminder that restorative justice can offer victims the opportunity to ask their questions, express the impact of the harm, and have their voice recognised within a structured and voluntary process.

Photo by Philippe Oursel on Unsplash

Read Their Stories
 

In our newsflashes we share the most interesting and relevant updated about our work and collect information from our members and other individuals and/or organisations working in related fields. Information includes news, local activities, international events, publications, inspiring talks or projects, and much more, taking place in Europe and beyond. Please contact us if you have any comments or any news you would like us to share in our future editions. You can enjoy the previous editions of the EFRJ Newsflashes here. Feel free to forward them to friends or colleagues and invite them to sign up on the EFRJ website!

European Forum for Restorative Justice vzw
Herbert Hooverplein 10, Leuven 3000, BE
RPR Leuven
Company number: 0474 656 137
euforumrj.org

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