Cristina Vasilescu

Cristina Vasilescu is a policy analyst and evaluator with over 18 years of experience working at the intersection of research, policy, and practice in Italy and across Europe. Her work reflects a strong commitment to justice, restorative justice, democratic participation, equality, social inclusion, and education.

She brings also extensive experience in intercultural contexts and in engaging with EU institutions. She is an active member of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, contributing to the Working Group on Restorative Cities, which she chaired from 2021 to 2024. She also participates in the Evaluators’ Community of Practice promoted by the Australian Association for Restorative Justice. Cristina has significant experience in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of projects promoting responsibility, reparation, and reintegration for people in conflict with the law, including initiatives in prison settings and community-based programmes. She has been contributing to the development of Como as a “restorative city” and supports the dissemination of restorative practices in schools and social housing (e.g. through the Erasmus+ HARMONY project). As Erasmus+ Ambassador for Adult Education in Lombardy, she collaborates with the Italian Erasmus+ Agency to promote restorative justice among adult education professionals. She is also a member of the Italian Evaluation Association.

Over the next four years, I would like to see the European Forum for Restorative Justice continue to grow from a strong and respected network into an even more connected European, inclusive, and influential community. I would also like the Forum to continue to bridge European restorative justice with other global restorative justice networks/associations. I really value the Forum’s work in shaping restorative justice policy in the justice field, and I especially appreciate its efforts to highlight the value of restorative justice in the context of human rights. This is, in my view, a crucial direction. I would like to see it further strengthened and brought more visibly into other policy areas where restorative approaches can make a difference, such as, for instance, social inclusion, education, local development, spatial justice, environmental governance, and community safety.

I would also love to see the Forum become more visible and engaged across these areas, for instance, through further participating in European policy debates, contributing to cross-sector conversations, and building closer relationships with significant EU- level networks (e.g. the Human Rights and Democracy Network,EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation, the European Partnership for Democracy, ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy, Eurocities, Social Platform, Civicus). This could really help embed restorative justice more firmly at community level and position it as a meaningful response to wider societal challenges. I also think there is space to strengthen collaboration with EU agencies, Erasmus+ National Agencies, and with other organisations working on public policies - including also conflict management and resolution - such as the International Public Policy Association.

Additionally, I think the Forum could further explore connections with the International Association of Facilitators to further develop linkages between restorative and participatory processes on the ground. To avoid increasing burden on the Secretariat, even small, but consistent, connections in these spaces could increase the Forum’s visibility and impact. The Forum could also leverage its members who are already involved in these or other similar networks. Mainstreaming restorative justice and practice into other policy areas and professional networks could also contribute to ensure its use even in times when human rights-based approaches may face further resistance.

In parallel, I would love to see the Forum become even closer to its members. It already offers a lot, - through its working groups, committees, webinars, events, publications,etc. - but there is still potential to strengthen participation and make it more inclusive. Small, practical steps could include for instance: creating a light network of local ambassadors to connect the Forum with local realities, encouraging mentoring and peer exchange(including between countries with different levels of experience), enabling practitioner support networks, and giving more space to young practitioners,for instance through youth ambassadors/network or intergenerational initiatives. Strengthening exchanges between working groups and committees could also be an important step in this direction. While valuable efforts have already been made, I sometimes feel that members are not fully aware of all the opportunities the Forum offers. Additional simple actions, such as shared moments during the Forum events, or more regular and accessible updates highlighting ongoing activities and ways to get involved, could help create more connections and make the richness of the Forum more visible and easier to navigate.

Accessibility is also key. Language remains a real barrier, and while volunteer-based solutions have limits, more sustainable options such as prioritising a few key languages, making systematic use of AI-supported subtitling for webinars, using videos or other digital formats that could benefit of automatic translation, or working with universities on translation could be (further) explored and subject to debate with the members of the EFRJ. Similarly, attention to accessibility for people with disabilities could be further enhanced. Looking ahead, I also see great potential for the Forum to further connect with European institutions, agencies, and networks, and to engage more in research and innovation projects funded by international, European or international foundations. In a nutshell, in the next four years I see the Forum evolving into an even more connected, inclusive, and influential European hub, one that fully leverages the strength of its members to advance restorative justice not only within justice systems, but as a broader paradigm for building more cohesive, democratic, and resilient societies.

I believe I can contribute to the work of Forum across all areas outlined previously by bringing experience in public policy analysis and evaluation, research, participatory processes, and cooperation at European level. With over 18 years of work in policy analysis, evaluation, and capacity building at EU, national, and local levels, I am familiar with how policy processes develop and how evidence and practice can be translated into policy discussions. This could be useful in supporting the Forum’s engagement in European debates and in strengthening connections with institutions and agencies. My involvement in restorative justice, both through local and European projects and through my role as Chair of the Working Group on Restorative Cities, has given me experience in working within the Forum and engaging with stakeholders across countries. The ability to connect different levels could support decision-making processes, as well as the development of new initiatives. I am also connected to professional networks in areas such as participatory processes, social inclusion, evaluation, urban development, and public policy. These connections could support the Forum in developing partnerships and engaging more with related communities. In addition, I can leverage my role as an Erasmus+ Ambassador to further promote restorative justice and practices and the Forum, not only in Italy but also more widely through participation in Transnational Cooperation Activities funded by the Erasmus+ programme. Having been involved in a range of participatory processes, I can also contribute to the co-design and co- production of initiatives with Forum members and external stakeholders. I also bring extensive experience in project design and EU funding and facilitation of participatory processes, which can be useful both for supporting the Forum’s external activities and for strengthening exchanges within its network. I would be happy to discuss with the other members of the Board where this experience could be most useful and how I could best contribute to the Forum’s priorities.

Having worked with Cristina Vasilescu over the past years, I am confident she would be an excellent addition to the Board and to continued development of the EFRJ. She brings 18+ years’ experience at the intersection of research, policy and practice across Europe, with a consistent focus on social inclusion, democratic participation and restorative justice. With her strong analytical background, intercultural and linguistic skills, extensive international experience, and ability to facilitate participatory processes, Cristina brings valuable skills to the Board. She combines strategic thinking with a collaborative and inclusive approach and is able to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. Her professional network and her experience working across different policy fields are important assets for the Forum. Cristina is a thoughtful and committed professional, with excellent interpersonal skills. She is able to navigate complex environments with sensitivity and clarity, and to support constructive dialogue among diverse actors.

I would like to firmly support Cristina’s candidature because of ‘that is what the European Forum needs’: a very collaborative and efficiently working person with extensive experience and strong capacities. Cristina has a unique background bridging between various European cultures, is very much internationally oriented and fluent in 3 languages. As a political scientist, she has many years of experience in public policy analysis and evaluation and institutional capacity building. She has worked for European institutions, but also for local, regional and national ones. She has been active in training and facilitation work, and is very much working in the field of restorative justice. She has supported the creation of innovative initiatives in Lombardy, focusing very much on the role of the community. I know Cristina from her effective leadership in the EFRJ working group on Restorative Cities, where she also coordinated the work on the Travel Guide.

Email: cristinel.m.v@gmail.com

Organisation, job title: Policy analyst & evaluator