What’s coming up in Restorative Justice Week 2024?
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter.
Restorative Justice Week 2024, which runs from the 17th to the 23rd of November, is fast approaching! This year’s theme is “The promise of Restorative Justice in a polarising world.” We are excited to share our plans for the upcoming week, which is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the sector and increase awareness of restorative practice around the world.
A new short film
Why me? are delighted to announce that we have created a short film which will be released this RJ Week! Supported by the Media Trust and the Criminal Justice Alliance, we were paired with an expert film crew who helped bring our vision to life. The film, which is 4 minutes long, is a symbolic portrayal of the journey of a victim of crime. We hope that the story will spark the idea of Restorative Justice in the mind of viewers, inspiring them to find out more.
When it is released, please watch and share the film as widely as possible to spread the word.
Reframing Restorative Justice
One of the biggest challenges we face in the sector is that people don’t know about Restorative Justice or understand what it is. In order to change this, we need to ensure that we communicate Restorative Justice in a simple, accessible way. We are offering a free, online workshop this RJ Week, which will help attendees to explore the most effective way to talk about Restorative Justice.
Learn more and reserve your place
By attending you will:
- Hear from experts in the field who will share top tips for explaining what Restorative Justice is, both to participants and other professionals
- Hear the findings from our research project into criminal justice professionals who don’t make referrals to RJ services
- Learn what stops them from making referrals and techniques to tackle the barriers they identified
- Learn how to avoid and tackle misconceptions about Restorative Justice
- Understand best practice for making the offer of Restorative Justice
- Workshop reframing techniques to help tailor your messaging
We will be joined by a panel of experts:
Many other Restorative Justice organisations are hosting events for RJ Week. If you would like your event to be added to the list, send the details to info@why-me.org and we will include below!
- Reflections on a Practice Framework for Restorative Justice, Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice, 20th November, 10am, online
- Restorative Justice and Serious Crimes, The Scottish Network of Restorative Justice Researchers, 22nd November, 10am, online
- The Gwynedd Mon Youth Justice Service (North Wales) will be hosting a series of events during RJ Week, including an international buffet day, sponsored walk, afternoon tea, and selling cards made in partnership with young people. To learn more, contact llinosrees@gwynedd.llyw.cymru.
- RJ4All is hosting several events on the theme of education, including:
- Speak Up Event: A community circle for sharing perspectives on empowering youth through Restorative Justice, 19th November, 5pm, London SE16 2LJ
- Restorative Justice circle training for London-based professionals working with individuals affected by gender-based violence or hate crime, 20th November
- Webinar with Skills for Justice: The current state of Restorative Justice, 22nd November, 12pm, online
- Visit their #RJWeek webpage for full details. For any questions, please contact Carmen Costa, Community Projects Coordinator, at c.costa@rj4all.org.
- The European Forum for Restorative Justice has an interactive map where you can find events near you.
We are excited for an engaging week, which promises to be jam-packed with events, creative projects, and opportunities for discussion and collaboration!
