CEP President Annie Devos delivered a keynote speech at the 12th international seminar of the EFRJ on Policy Matters in Restorative Justice Mapping a Field in its Process of Growth and Innovation, held in Pamplona, Spain on June 22-23, 2023.

During the seminar, discussions centred around the significant progress made in the field of restorative justice over the past decade, marked by the publication of various international legal and policy instruments. These developments have expanded the application of restorative justice within the criminal justice system, encompassing stages of criminal procedures and addressing complex crimes such as gender-based violence, child abuse, and violent extremism. Despite these advancements, challenges persist in terms of limited access to restorative justice services due to lack of awareness, cooperation with relevant bodies, and insufficient funding for high-quality services.

The seminar aimed to bridge the gap between policy and practice in the field of restorative justice, with a dual focus on how policies can support the concrete development of restorative justice practices at regional, national, and international levels, and exploring emerging policy areas that intersect with restorative justice, such as gender-based violence, polarization and hate, racism, and links with victim support, probation, and prison work.