Claudia Christen-Schneider

Claudia is a criminologist, restorative justice practitioner, and founder and president of the Swiss Restorative Justice Forum, a service specialising in serious harm.

She has played a leading role in developing and implementing restorative justice in Switzerland, including establishing initiatives in 11 prisons, where none existed previously. She is the author of "Trauma-Informed Restorative Dialogues: The Power of Community" (Routledge), and specialises in trauma-informed approaches to restorative justice. Claudia combines extensive practical experience in facilitating dialogues in serious harm cases with expertise in building services and implementing restorative justice projects across contexts. Claudia sits on the advisory board of Nomos Publishing’s series on resocialisation, victim protection, and restorative justice. She teaches restorative justice at several universities and the Swiss Competence Centre for Corrections. Claudia holds an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Portsmouth, and studied restorative justice at Simon Fraser University, Canada.

Within the EFRJ, she chairs the Values and Standards Committee and is a member of the Working Group on Restorative Justice and Imprisonment. She was previously involved in the Editorial Committee and the PROTECT Project, and has been a board member for four years, serving as secretary on the executive committee for the last two.

I would like to see the EFRJ continue to expand its role as the European reference point for restorative justice. This includes deepening its engagement with a growing number of ministries, European institutions, and practitioners, and being increasingly sought out for guidance on the development and delivery of high-quality restorative justice services. It also means continuing to be consulted by policymakers and supporting member organisations across diverse national contexts. I would also like the EFRJ to be widely recognised as a leading provider of high-quality training in different areas of restorative justice and restorative practice more broadly, and as an organisation that promotes high-quality standards and values as a benchmark, including through training and guidance. Internally, I would like to see a strong and sustainable organisation where staff can thrive, with access to adequate resources, supportive structures, and a healthy work environment. Finally, I would like the EFRJ to further strengthen its multilingual capacity, enabling it to engage more effectively with members and partners across Europe and beyond, and to become more inclusive of diverse linguistic and cultural contexts, thereby broadening its accessibility and impact.

I would continue contributing in a reliable and thoughtful way, building on my experience within the board and the EFRJ’s committees. Over the past years, I have supported the organisation where needed, working collaboratively and with attention to both strategic priorities and practical realities, and I would continue to take this approach. The experience and understanding I have gained of the organisation’s structures, priorities, and challenges provide a strong foundation to build on and to actively contribute to ongoing strategic discussions. Drawing on my professional background, I bring a practice-based perspective, particularly on the development and implementation of restorative justice services in complex areas such as serious harm and prison settings. I would also contribute to discussions around quality, values, policy, training, and awareness. I see an important part of the board’s role as supporting and guiding the work of the secretariat. Having worked closely with staff, I would like to continue providing reliable and constructive support, with attention to both strategic development and organisational wellbeing. This includes advocating for sustainable growth, realistic planning, and conditions that support a healthy work–life balance. I would also contribute to strengthening training capacities and promoting inclusive, multilingual approaches, helping to ensure that the EFRJ remains accessible and relevant across different European contexts.

It is my pleasure to propose Claudia Christen-Schneider for another term. As a member of the EFRJ Board, I have had the privilege of working closely with her over the past four years, and I support her candidacy with full confidence. Claudia brings a unique combination of a strong academic background as a criminologist and rich experience as a restorative justice practitioner. She has been a pioneer in developing restorative justice in Switzerland, including initiatives in prison settings where such practices did not previously exist. As founder and president of the Swiss Restorative Justice Forum, she brings together vision and managerial skills. Within the EFRJ, Claudia has been a committed and reliable Board member, serving on the Executive Committee and as Board Secretary. She also chairs the Values and Standards Committee, contributing significantly to this area of work, alongside her active engagement in committees and projects. I am confident that Claudia will continue to strengthen the EFRJ in a meaningful way, with her calm, respectful and confident approach.

I would like to support the candidature of Claudia because of several reasons. She has a unique profile in the restorative justice landscape, as she is active at various levels. She is bridging between research and practice/policy making. This has allowed her to play a leading role as chair of the Swiss Restorative Justice Forum, where she has made herself familiar with both pioneering local projects and national implementation strategies. Claudia has acquired a special expertise in restorative justice related topics, ranging from trauma sensitive practices to the concept of restorative cities. She has been actively involved in restorative justice training at the national, European and international level. Her experience abroad, both in the Global South and the North, and her language skills, together with her experience as the EFRJ Board member during last four years, make her a strong candidate to serve the Board again in their diverse responsibilities.

Email: swissrjforum@gmail.com

Organisation, job title: Swiss RJ Forum, President & RJ facilitator