The UK has opted in to a European Union (EU) Directive establishing the right of victims to safeguards in restorative justice services and recognising the ‘great benefit’ to victims that participation in restorative justice brings. The Restorative Justice Council worked with the European Forum for Restorative Justice to secure changes to the draft Directive, based on the evidence that RJ, delivered well, provides many benefits for victims. The final text of the Directive reflects the benefits of participation in restorative justice and sets out the need for minimum standards to ‘ensure victims have access to safe and competent restorative justice services’.
The Directive, 2011/0129 (COD) establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, was adopted on 4th October 2012. Article 12 establishes the right of victims to safeguards to ensure that ‘victims who choose to participate in restorative justice processes, have access to safe and competent restorative justice services’. Member States who opt in to the Directive also agree to ensure that victims are offered information on the availability of restorative justice services and that victims who participate in restorative justice services are treated ‘respectfully, sensitively, professionally and in a non-discriminatory manner’.
Welcoming the new Directive, RJC Director Lizzie Nelson said “We welcome this new EU Directive which sets out for the first time the clear benefits of restorative justice for victims of crime, and the need for standards at national level to ensure that restorative justice is delivered well and safely for victims, and all participants in the process. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Justice and RJC members to implement the Directive in England and Wales.”
You can download the full text of the Directive here.
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