Policy News / Autumn 2025

European Forum for Restorative Justice website

Autumn 2025

In this edition of the Policy News, we bring together the latest reflections from across national contexts and highlight the work of those expanding the reach and application of restorative justice. First, we spotlight a recently published article on the use of restorative processes in cases of domestic violence, exploring how feminist concerns might be addressed in line with key policy directives. Then, from Ireland, Dr Ian D. Marder shares reflections on the new Probation Service's Action Plan, while in Catalonia, Marta Ferrer reports promising early results from a pilot project that aims to broaden restorative justice services across the region. In the UK, Lucy Jaffé shares insights into the advocacy, strategies, and successes of the Restorative Justice All-Party Parliamentary Group. Turning to the Council of Europe’s revision of its guidelines on justice with children, Maia Chochua from the EFRJ calls for restorative justice to be recognised as a priority response that strengthens reintegration, empowerment, and protection for young people. Finally, looking outside Europe, in conversation with Claudia Christen-Schneider, Colombia’s former Vice-Minister for Justice, Camilo Eduardo Umaña Hernández, reflects on his personal and professional experiences of justice, and considers how restorative practice might offer alternative approaches to addressing social fractures and empower community reubuilding. Together, these contributions illustrate the growing relevance of restorative justice across diverse contexts and the vital role it can play in shaping more inclusive and just practices and policies.

Laura Hein, Policy Officer, EFRJ

Addressing Feminist Concerns Regarding Restorative Justice in Domestic Violence Contexts

The recently published article “Domestic Violence and Restorative Justice: Responding to Feminist Concerns” offers an insightful commentary on the ongoing feminist debate around restorative justice processes in cases of domestic violence. The article identifies three main concerns: the potential for revictimisation, issues around informed consent, and the re-privatisation of domestic violence. The authors analyse how points of support and concern intersect with the Istanbul Convention and the EU Victims’ Rights Directive. They advocate considering restorative justice on a case-by-case basis in these contexts and implementing safeguards that address feminist concerns, power dynamics, and prioritise victims’ needs for justice and safety. The article is open access until the end of September.

Initial Reflections on the Irish Probation Service's Restorative Justice Action Plan

As Ireland moves forward with its national commitment to expanding restorative justice, Dr Ian D. Marder reflects on the Probation Service’s 2025–27 Action Plan, Restoring Relationships: Repairing Harm and Empowering Voices through Restorative Justice. He welcomes the Plan’s signal of a growing commitment to embedding restorative practices across the Irish system, while also noting ambitious targets for accessibility, funding challenges and the need for whole-system collaboration. His outlook is optimistic, accompanied by practical recommendations as Ireland works to broaden the reach of restorative justice nationwide.

A Promising Development of Restorative Justice in Catalonia

Since its origins in 1998, Catalonia’s Restorative Justice Programme has advanced significantly despite limited resources posing challenges to its expansion. Marta Ferrer’s article outlines a new pilot project in Tarragona and Terres de l’Ebre that aims to implement restorative justice at its full potential across the region and assess the resources required. Initial results are encouraging, with an increase in referrals and greater awareness of restorative justice among justice system professionals. Whilst challenges remain, these early successes suggest an encouraging future for restorative justice in Catalonia.

Putting Restorative Justice Centre Stage: How UK Campaigners are Shaping Policy

Lucy Jaffé outlines the work and experiences of the Restorative Justice All-Party Parliamentary Group in raising the profile of restorative justice in the United Kingdom. Since its formation in 2021, the group has united cross-party representatives and peers to increase awareness, examine the use of restorative justice in the UK and beyond, and create space for policy discussion and consultation. In this article, key voices from the group speak about their recent achievements, the challenges they face, and a collaborative approach to campaigning that continues to strengthen the case for restorative justice across the UK.

Placing Restorative Justice at the Centre of Child-Centred Justice in Europe

How can children understand the difference between justice and punishment if their only experience is punitive? In this article, Maia Chochua presents evidence to highlight how restorative justice can empower children, adapt to developmental stages and circumstances, and prevent re-traumatisation. As the Council of Europe revises its guidelines on Child-Friendly Justice, there is a defining opportunity to make restorative justice a cornerstone of child-centred justice across Europe. The EFRJ calls for the explicit recognition of restorative justice, as an empowering and participatory approach, to be a priority response for children and young people.

Interview with Camilo Eduardo Umaña Hernández

Camilo Eduardo Umaña Hernández was just a young boy when his father was brutally murdered and his family were forced into exile. In the years since, Camilo has assumed a multitude of roles in his encounters with the justice system: from victim to researcher, minister, and teacher. In an interview with Claudia Christen-Schneider, he speaks of the personal and professional experiences that have shaped his understanding of justice, impunity, victimhood, and leadership. Camilo envisions the restorative model, not only as a tool for criminal justice, but increasingly, as “a way of dealing intelligently with social conflicts,” that might enable communities to build stronger social bonds. The original interview in Spanish, along with an English translation, is available on the EFRJ website.

Please share this Policy News with your network. If you wish to write to us about policy updates from your country, or for any other information, you can contact our Policy Officer, Laura Hein: laura.hein@euforumrj.org

Want to know more about restorative justice?

The United Nations Basic Principles on the use of Restorative Justice presents one coherent definition of restorative justice; whereby the Council of Europe Recommendation on Restorative Justice in Criminal Matters (CM/Rec(2018)8) offers the most innovative and comprehensive international document on restorative justice. At the European Union level, restorative justice is mainly regulated by the Victims’ Rights Directive (2012/29/EU).

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This Policy News was edited by Laura Hein, Bálint Juhász, and Jesse Laurie

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