Powerful Intersection Between Restorative Justice and Art

Claire de Mézerville López is joined by co-host, Professor Emanuela Biffi, for the “Powerful Intersection Between Restorative Justice and Art” podcast series, a special initiative by the IIRP together with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ).

We are joined by Dr. Clair Aldington as she discusses her research on integrating visual and movement-based languages into the restorative justice process. She co-founded Space to Face, an award-winning charity in Scotland, emphasizing how creative expression can facilitate healing dialogues and trauma articulation. Discover how Dr. Aldington’s work extends beyond verbal communication, using art as a catalyst for emotional connections and solidarity between individuals involved in conflict. She reflects on pivotal moments where art objects symbolized reconciliation and inspired lasting change in both victims and offenders. Her research challenges traditional Western practices by advocating for more inclusive, visually oriented approaches to restorative justice.

Dr. Aldington has authored several academic articles and book chapters regarding her practice and research. She is the co-founder of the award-winning Space2face restorative practices and arts charity in Shetland, Scotland, and a co-facilitator of an international restorative circle group, the Encounter of the Encounters, in cases of political violence. Her work has pioneered the use of art and design approaches within restorative practices. Specifically, how creative approaches can aid dialogue and the articulation of trauma, particularly in cases of serious crime, thereby improving the accessibility of restorative processes. Dr. Aldington holds a doctorate in Design and Restorative Justice and a master’s in Contemporary Art and Music. She is a freelance researcher and practitioner with over twenty years of experience in the field of restorative practices. Dr. Aldington is a keynote speaker at the upcoming 2025 IIRP World Conference, Artful Integration: Exploring the Art and Science of Restorative Practices.

Emanuela is the program coordinator at the EFRJ, an international network organization that brings together about 300 members dedicated to research, policy, and practice of restorative justice in the criminal justice system and beyond.  She joined the EFRJ team in September 2013, working as a project officer in different EU-funded projects on access to restorative justice, justice and security in intercultural settings, restorative justice training, child victims, and arts. Among other responsibilities at the EFRJ, she organizes its main international events (conferences, seminars, webinars, and art festival), coordinates proposals for EU-funded and other projects, and guides the overall management of working groups and committees within the EFRJ membership. Originally from Italy, Emanuela studied Liberal Arts at the University College Maastricht (The Netherlands) and University of Gaborone (Botswana) with a focus on social psychology and criminal law and the Master program in Criminology at KU Leuven (Belgium).

Tune in to explore the challenges and rewards of training artists and facilitators in restorative practices. By highlighting the potential of creative mediums to bridge cultural and linguistic divides, we uncover universal avenues for healing and understanding.

Claire de Mézerville López is joined by co-host, Professor Brunilda Pali, for the “Powerful Intersection Between Restorative Justice and Art” podcast series, a special initiative by the IIRP together with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ).

We are joined by Kenneth Berth, a celebrated Belgian storyteller and radio maker, as he shares his journey from personal tragedy to artistic exploration and delves into the profound impact of storytelling on healing and justice. Kenneth's work, known for its depth and empathy, reflects on his own experience with a life-altering accident and his quest for understanding through restorative justice. Through theater and documentary, Kenneth bridges the gap between personal trauma and collective empathy. His projects, including the acclaimed podcast Born This Way, reveal the power of narratives to connect, heal, and provoke dialogue on complex societal issues.

Brunilda serves as Assistant Professor of Conflict Dynamics and Governance at the Department of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam and Chair of the EFRJ. She researches, teaches, and publishes on gender and feminism, restorative, environmental, and social justice, cultural and critical criminology, and arts and justice. 

Kenneth is a Belgian radio, documentary, and theater maker. As a Belgian public broadcaster, he created the podcast Born This Way (Zo Geboren), in which he explores the history of homosexuality in Belgium. He has also produced podcasts for BBC Radio 3 on topics such as being stuck in traffic, and for the Dutch public broadcaster on the act of looking out the window. He is a host at the Belgian radio station Studio Brussel. Kenneth was awarded the prestigious title of Master Storyteller by the Dutch Narrative Journalism Foundation, Stichting Verhalende Journalistiek. His work has been nominated for three Prix Europa awards and the Prix Italia. 

Tune in to learn more about how art, empathy, and restorative justice intersect!

Claire de Mézerville López is joined by co-host, IIRP Associate Professor, Dr. Fernanda Fonseca Rosenblatt, for the “Powerful Intersection Between Restorative Justice and Art” podcast series, a special initiative by the IIRP together with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ).
 

Geoff Power joins us to share his compelling journey integrating restorative justice into his creative works. From producing documentaries highlighting societal issues to crafting impactful plays like Stronger, Geoff’s artistry explores complex themes of community, relationships, and personal transformation. Geoff reflects on his experience teaching creative writing at Midlands Prison, offering a unique perspective on how art can empower individuals within the justice system. His plays poignantly portray the human side of restorative justice, inspired by real-life stories of resilience and healing.

Geoff is a playwright, documentary producer, print journalist, and sports reporter, with creativity having always been at the heart of his work. Based in Dublin, Geoff also works in Portlaoise prison, one of Ireland’s maximum-security prisons, as a creative writing teacher.  This work has helped to steer Geoff’s documentary work with Midas Productions, as well as to inspire the writing of Stronger for Gúna Nua’s production in the Dublin Theatre Festival and featured in the EFRJ’s 2020 REstART Festival. Across a range of creative mediums including film, tv, theatre and literature, Geoff’s skills as a creator and producer reveal consistent themes of social justice and inequality often expressed through the voices of the marginalized in society.  

Tune in as we uncover the profound impact of storytelling in advocating for restorative practices globally.

Claire de Mézerville López is joined by co-host Bálint Juhász, for the “Powerful Intersection Between Restorative Justice and Art” podcast series, a special initiative by the IIRP together with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ).

Olga Ziori joins us to discuss the crucial role of restorative justice in child protection. Olga, a seasoned lawyer and restorative justice mediator, shares her profound journey from working with unaccompanied minors in refugee settings to advocating for compassionate, community-based solutions. Through poignant storytelling and innovative approaches, Olga reveals how she integrates restorative practices into challenging environments, fostering empathy and cultural understanding among vulnerable populations. From using narrative therapy to empowering minors as peer mediators, Olga's work highlights the resilience and healing potential within restorative justice.

Olga Ziori is a Child Protection Expert and a Lawyer of Kavala Bar Association in Greece. Olga holds an LLM in Human Rights and a master’s in social policy. Since 2011, she has been working with unaccompanied minors and children in conflict with the law, in various refugee camps in Greece. As a restorative justice facilitator, she has applied restorative practices and community mediation as part of her work in the refugee camps. She is an Accredited Mediator (Greek Ministry of Justice) specializing in Child Inclusive Family Mediation and School Mediation. She uses folk tales as a restorative justice tool in her work with vulnerable communities. After attending her first folk tale storytelling festival, she fell in love with the art of storytelling. Her love of folk tales led to a diploma in “Folk Tale in Education: Creative Reading, Critical Literacy and Use” and the beginning of a lifelong journey in the world of storytelling.

Bálint, a Hungary native, has been working extensively with education and training programs, cultural project management and theatre internationally. Previously, he was the educational program manager of the performing arts company, Krétakör. He led Krétakör Free School, a democracy awareness program for students. He has experience working with marginalized groups of society. In Brussels, he led community theatre workshops for vulnerable families. He holds a degree in Literature and Linguistics from ELTE University Budapest and completed a master’s in education with a focus on drama at Trinity College Dublin. He joined the EFRJ in 2019 to contribute to the organisation’s training development and communication.

Tune in to uncover the impact of storytelling in conflict resolution, its therapeutic value, and practical applications in educational settings and beyond.