EFRJ Working Group on Institutions and Restorative Justice

The Working Group on Institutions will seek to establish links between practitioners, policy workers, academics/scholars and stakeholders who have an interest in exploring and implementing the principles of restorative justice and peacemaking in the field of institutions.

This Working Group will work in partnership with the Forum Working Groups on Environmental Restorative Justice and Restorative Cities where there are overlapping interests and concerns. The members initiating this Working Group are: Robert Mackay, Ivo Aertsen and Gema Varona.

The broad definition of institution comprises, but is not limited to, governmental and non-governmental organisations, including democratic assemblies and police and military bodies; charitable, religious and business organisations; sporting institutions and organisations; and, regulatory bodies, whether statutory or non-statutory.

The phenomenon of harm involving institutions has at least three facets:

It raises questions of justice internally for victims and direct perpetrators in the institution.
It raises the issue of institutional cultures and values that are deliberately or unconsciously abusive.
It involves the nature of the conduct of institutions towards its external stakeholders and to the public at large.

It is acknowledged that the principles of restorative justice/peacemaking and public justice need to be articulated in such ways that they meet the needs of victims and the public. A primary reference point is the European Convention of Human Rights, founded on the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Attention will be given to:

Divers forms of harmful behaviours: abuse, violence, neglect or injustices;
In various types of institutional settings (including religious, work, sports, educational). This will allow for a comparative analysis and thus for a better understanding of the underlying, often not so visible, mechanisms within and around institutions;
Within patterns of authority relationships (resulting in abuse of power and injustices, at individual and structural level);
Paying attention to gender and age variables (and more in general, socio-demographic profiles of victims and other stakeholders), as well as intercultural issues.
Institutions considered as
- starting point and locus of problems (hence it is precisely because of the institutional structures and culture that the abuse can take place and persist),
- locus of redress (resources specifically available due to the institutional context),
- locus of transformation (in becoming a restorative organisation and a re-thinking of authority);
Exploring the potential and adaptability of restorative justice (values and practices) to cope with the problem.

The aims are to:

bring together a group of restorative practitioners, policy workers and academics/scholars and other stakeholders who will explore issues associated with the application of restorative justice concepts and practices in institutional settings;
direct these explorations towards developing understandings of institutional settings, the phenomena of harmful behaviour, and the methods of responding to abuse;
inventorise the potential applications of restorative concepts and practices in particular settings.

In practice

Within the next two years (2021-2023), this Working Group:

Produces a short document explaining the potential contribution of restorative justice in this domain;
Supports and encourages research on the potential application of restorative justice related to institutions;
Commits to regular virtual meetings and exchange of emails;
Can be consulted on this topic by EFRJ staff and members;
If possible, initiates project proposals and/or organizes events on the topic.

Working Group on Institutions and Restorative Justice

More on institutions

Aims of the Working Group

In practice

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Members (2021-2023)