Schedule - Athens seminar

18:00-18:15 Welcome and registrations (AGM)

18:15-20:00 Annual General meeting of the EFRJ membership (open to all)

20:00-20:15 Welcome and registrations (dinner & seminar)

20:15-22:00 Opening social dinner (for registered participants of the seminar)

8:45-9:15 Registrations

9:15-10:00 Welcome 
(moderator: Edit Törzs, EFRJ Director)

• Brunilda Pali (Belgium) – Chair of the European Forum for Restorative Justice
• Vasilios Ioakimidis (Greece) – Professor at the University of West Attica
• Gelly Aroni (Greece) - Head of the Unit of Integration & Support for Unaccompanied Minors at the Ministry of Migration & Asylum
• Alexia Stouraiti (Greece) – Local host with the photo exhibition “connecting the dots”

10:00-10:10 Special address (video message)

• Najat Maalla M’jid (Switzerland) – UN Special Representative on Violence against Children

10:10-10:30 Interactive moment with the audience

• Emanuela Biffi & Bálint Juhász - EFRJ Secretariat 

10:30-11:00 Comfort break

11:00-12:15 Plenary on access to child friendly restorative justice for children on the move
(moderator: Maia Chochua, EFRJ Board member)

• Theoni Koufonikolakou (Greece) – Greek deputy ombudsperson for children’s rights
• Nantina Tsekeri (Greece) – Vice-President of the Child Justice Friendly – European Network 
• Maria Michailidou (Greece) - Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF

12:15-13:30 Lunch

13:30-15:00 Parallel workshops I

15:00-15:30 Comfort break

15:30-16:45 Plenary on the criminalisation of migration and criminalisation of solidarity 
(moderator: Brunilda Pali, EFRJ Chair)

• Hibai Arbide Aza (Greece/ Basque Country) – Lawyer, activist and journalist dedicated to social journalism in issues such as migration and LGBTI
• Takura Donald Maconi (Zimbabwe/ Northern Ireland) - Policy Officer at ACSONI - African & Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland 

16:45-17:00 Closing remarks

21:00-22:30 Informal meeting near Syntagma Square (location TBC) 

9:15-9:30 Welcome

9:30-11:00 Parallel workshops II

11:00-11:30 Comfort break

11:30-12:45 Plenary on living our values with restorative practices 
(moderator: Claudia Schneider, EFRJ Board member)

• Rachel Quine (UK) – value of “radical respect” (with examples from restorative work in schools with migrant children with different languages)
• Annegrete Johanson (Estonia) – value of “participation” (with examples from restorative juvenile justice)
• Tim Chapman (Northern Ireland, UK) – value of “radical empathy” (with reflections on power imbalance in RJ/ critical issues & positive sides)
• Griet Defruyt (Belgium) - living these values at the Fedasil asylum centre for unaccompanied minors

12:45-13:15 Closing

• Eftychia Katsigaraki (Greece) - Head of the Directorate General for Special Legal Issues and Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice
• Renate Winter (Austria) – Judge and International Expert on Justice for Children at the United Nations
• Brunilda Pali & Edit Törzs (Belgium) – Chair & Director of the European Forum for Restorative Justice
• Vasilios Ioakimidis (Greece) – Professor at the University of West Attica

One of Shedia street paper’s impactful initiatives, the "Invisible Tours" are guided walks through Athens led by individuals who are currently or formerly homeless and now work with Shedia. These guides offer a unique perspective on the city, sharing their personal stories and insights as they take you to key social and solidarity institutions (such as soup kitchens, shelters, rehabilitation centers, and day centers) highlighting inspiring programs and support networks.

Much like other social tours around the world, these walks give voice to the experiences of people who have lived on the streets. They talk about the challenges of homelessness, the importance of human connection, the support they received, and their fight for dignity and against social exclusion. The primary goal of the tour is to empower the guides, offering them both confidence and a source of income. If you'd like to support Shedia and its work, you can make a donation.

Tour Details

• When: Saturday 17 May from 17:00 to 19:00
• Meeting Point: Metaxourgeio Metro Station. 
• End Point: Shedia’s cafe-restaurant, Shedia Home
• Cost: €10 - The first 20 registered participants will have an English-speaking guide. Additional participants will be accompanied by an interpreter, with a shared extra cost of €50 (divided among the group).

Note that the EFRJ is not responsible for the organisation of this tour. For more questions, contact Korina Primikiriou from Shedia magazine.