Restorative Justice Week is celebrated the third week of November since 1996 starting in Canada and expanding globally ever since!
International #RJWeek 2024, November 17-23, is a wonderful opportunity to connect, raise awareness, learn, and explore diverse applications of restorative approaches. We share many resources and some of the fabulous opportunities from ally organizations around the world.
Below you will find:
Canadian National Restorative Justice Symposium
Hope to see you in Ottawa!
November 18 & 19, 2024
A national gathering of practitioners, educators, researchers, community members, policymakers, and others interested in restorative justice and its transformative potential.
Dr. Evelyn Zellerer will be presenting about Restorative City Vancouver!
Our fabulous colleagues in the Sea to Sky School District will also be presenting.
Restorative Justice for All International Institute - Workshops
RJ4All has put together a line-up of events and workshops this month. For example, a webinar on the current state of restorative justice on November 22.
This year, their theme for RJ Week is "education".
Details available here.
European Forum for Restorative Justice - Map of Events
Check out resources and the map of RJWeek events, including gatherings and webinars offered in countries throughout Europe, UK and beyond.
EFRJ’s theme for this year is:
“The promise of restorative justice in a polarising world”
RJ Week Around the World - Some More Highlights
Australia
In Australia, the Contemporary Restorative Practices Conference will be in Canberra from November 21-23. The theme is: “From Awareness to Practice to Transformation”. An opportunity to share current and emerging restorative practices across a range of domains.
Brazil
Desafio: 1000 Círculos pelo Brasil! (Challenge: 1000 Circles across Brazil!)
The theme for RJ Week is "Paz com a Terra: construindo sustentabilidade em tempos de emergência climática" (Peace with the Earth: building sustainability in times of climate emergency). Details with resources from several partners here.
Fórum Latino-Americano de Justiça Restaurativa (FLAJR) is hosting the II Jornada para o Desenvolvimento da Justiça Restaurativa na América Latina (II Conference for the Development of Restorative Justice in Latin America). We miss our Brazilian colleagues and send love!
Canada
In addition to the National Symposium in Ottawa (see above), the Alberta Restorative Justice Association is hosting their annual conference in Edmonton on November 21 & 22. Visit their website for details and resources.
England & Wales
Why Me?, promoting access to restorative justice for people affected by crime in England & Wales, will be releasing a short film during RJ Week. They also offer a free online workshop “Communicating Restorative Justice Effectively” on November 21.
See also the EFRJ map and RJ4All (shared above).
India
There are two local events taking place in India, hosted by The Centre for Restoration. A feminist reading party on November 16 and a workshop on Using Art Therapy for Restorative Justice taking place on November 17.
Nepal
The First South Asian Restorative Justice Essay Prize will be awarded on December 3 during the Conference hosted by the Nepal Forum for Restorative Justice. The awardees will be announced during RJ Week on November 25.
USA
Online Community Building Circle, hosted by the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice, USA, on November 19, 6-8:30 pm CST.
On November 20, people across West Virginia, USA, will gather in libraries, churches, schools, and other locations to celebrate and strengthen communities with facilitated talking circles. Hosted by West Virginia Restorative Justice Project.
Restorative City Vancouver
As you may know, Vancouver is becoming a Restorative City, the first in Canada! Peace of the Circle has brought together an impressive and growing group of diverse voices from First Nations, Indigenous-led organizations, service providers, schools, parks & recreation, policing, courts, corrections, business associations and more.
This month, the Collective gathered again to share updates from community initiatives and go through our draft inaugural Restorative City Framework, which has ten implementation streams.
We see the harm caused by polarization, divisiveness, and conflict in our local communities and around the world. The Collective is committed to creating avenues for dialogue across differences by offering powerful restorative processes.
Stay tuned to hear more about activities and successes, especially on social media. Peace of the Circle is proud to be the host coordinating organization, with Dr. Evelyn Zellerer and a small yet mighty amazing leadership team!
More Restorative Resources!
The RJ4ALL e-library provides access to a large free e-library on restorative justice and social justice.
The National Center on Restorative Justice, USA, provides resources now available from a range of offerings in 2023, including webinars, short videos, research publications, and posts highlighting a restorative justice programs map.
Zehr Institute Webinars
We recommend the Zehr Institute webinars. They are free and recorded for viewing at your leisure. Check out their library and stay tuned for new ones coming up!
The Restorative Justice on the Rise podcast covers a wide variety of interesting and educational topics.
We wrote a blog about diverse applications of restorative justice to offer resources and expand our thinking about RJ.
Restorative Justice Victoria offers an online free self-paced course about Victim Services & Restorative Justice.
Check out the Metta Centre for Nonviolence; for example, they’re offering an end of year film club in the spirit of five recommendations for actions towards nonviolence.
New RJ Books 2024 Spotlight
Restorative Justice in Legal Systems, Education and the Community, edited by Dr. Sandra Pavelka and Anne Seymour, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2024. A tribute to a dear brilliant colleague Professor Gordon Bazemore
Becoming a Trauma-informed Restorative Educator: Practical Skills to Change Culture and Behavior, by Margaret Thorsborne & Joe Brummer, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2024.
Justice from the Inside Up: A Restorative Justice Education Facilitator’s Manual, by Felix B. Rosado with Let's Circle Up within Graterford Prison, Living Justice Press, 2024.
Restorative Justice at a Crossroads: Dilemmas of Institutionalisation, edited by Giuseppe Maglione, Ian D. Marder, & Brunilda Pali, Routledge, 2024.
The Little Book of Restorative Justice for Campus Sexual Harms: A Holistic Approach for Colleges and Universities to Address Sexual Misconduct and Relationship Violence, by Rachel Roth Sawatzky and Mikayla W-C McCray, Good Books, 2024.
We share various resources during our Peace Circles trainings like a few shown below - there are many more!
We curate occasional highlights and invite you on a peacemaking journey.
Below are some of our recent updates, click to read more:
Happy Restorative Justice Week!
Thank you for being in Circle with us.
With Love,
Evelyn and Peace of the Circle Team
Founding Director Dr. Evelyn Zellerer