Healing Communities, Restoring Relationships, and Upholding Justice
- 7.1 Principles of Restorative Justice
- 7.2 Multilevel Restorative Approaches
- 7.3 Self & Personal Accountability
- 7.4 Household & Family-Level Justice
- 7.5 Neighborhood & Community Engagement
- 7.6 Government & Institutional Responsibility
- 7.7 Global Restorative Justice Initiatives
7.1 Principles of Restorative Justice
- 7.1.1 Restorative justice seeks to repair harm rather than punish.
- 7.1.2 Focuses on healing relationships, rebuilding trust, and fostering accountability.
- 7.1.3 Recognizes the dignity and humanity of both victims and offenders.
- 7.1.4 Engages victims, communities, and offenders in dialogue to find meaningful solutions.
- 7.1.5 Aims for rehabilitation, reconciliation, and reintegration rather than punitive measures.
7.2 Multilevel Restorative Approaches
- 7.2.1 Restorative justice is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
- 7.2.1.1 It must be applied at various levels, from the individual to the global stage, ensuring that justice and healing are accessible at every layer of society.
7.3 Self & Personal Accountability
- 7.3.1 Acknowledge harm caused and take steps toward making amends.
- 7.3.2 Encourage self-reflection, growth, and transformation.
- 7.3.3 Offer opportunities for redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
- 7.3.4 Promote mindfulness and emotional intelligence in conflict resolution.
7.4 Household & Family-Level Justice
- 7.4.1 Address domestic disputes through mediation and reconciliation.
- 7.4.2 Foster healthy conflict resolution skills within families.
- 7.4.3 Encourage restorative conversations between family members to repair relationships.
- 7.4.4 Prioritize non-violent communication and active listening.
- 7.4.5 Support restorative parenting and healing of intergenerational trauma.
7.5 Neighborhood & Community Engagement
- 7.5.1 Implement community-led mediation programs to resolve disputes.
- 7.5.2 Utilize circle discussions for reconciliation and peace building.
- 7.5.3 Strengthen bonds between community members through shared accountability.
- 7.5.4 Ensure local institutions adopt restorative policies in schools and workplaces.
- 7.5.5 Encourage peer intervention and mentorship programs to prevent harm.
7.6 Government & Institutional Responsibility
- 7.6.1 Develop justice systems that prioritize healing over punishment.
- 7.6.2 Reform criminal sentencing to incorporate restorative justice practices.
- 7.6.3 Offer restorative justice options for victims and offenders as alternatives to incarceration.
- 7.6.4 Establish policies that support restitution, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
- 7.6.5 Encourage law enforcement agencies to adopt de-escalation and community-centered approaches.
7.7 Global Restorative Justice Initiatives
- 7.7.1 Implement restorative justice in post-conflict reconciliation efforts.
- 7.7.2 Address historical injustices through reparations and policy changes.
- 7.7.3 Support truth and reconciliation commissions in regions affected by war, colonization, and systemic oppression.
- 7.7.4 Develop international coalitions that advocate for restorative justice as a global norm.
- 7.7.5 Restorative Justice Approaches:
- 7.7.5.1 Restorative justice is to be practiced with multilevel approaches with local, regional, and global perspectives, especially on the self, household, neighborhood, and government.