Delegations from Costa Rica and Colombia share experiences in restorative justice in Mexico
With the financing of the European Union as one of the activities of the Regional Project Strengthening Restorative Justice, on October 1st and 2nd the Delegation of Costa Rica and Colombia, began an exchange of experiences on this subject in the State of Mexico.
The meeting was held in Toluca, State of Mexico, and its main objective was to learn about Restorative Justice practices developed in the three countries in order to sensitize and train judicial personnel and the community of the three countries.
The inauguration of the meeting was attended by the Magistrate of the Criminal Cassation Chamber and Coordinator of the Restorative Justice Program of Costa Rica, Rafael Segura Bonilla; the President of the Judicial Power of the State of Mexico, Sergio Javier Medina Peñaloza; the General Director of the State Center for Conciliation, Restorative Justice and Mediation of the State of Mexico, Víctor Manuel Navarrete Villarreal; Member of the Superior Council of the Judiciary of the Judicial Branch of Colombia, Judge Max Alejandro Flórez Rodríguez.
"This project with a value of 1 million 29 thousand euros, is a commitment of the European Union, Costa Rica, Colombia and the State of Mexico, to strengthen Restorative Justice, seeking articulation with the community that is a third indispensable actor in the restorative processes. ", Costa Rican magistrate Rafael Segura Bonilla said.
"For 15 years we have been working to strengthen alternative and restorative mechanisms which are an evolutionary response to crime and aims to bring it closer to Mexican society. Welcome and best wishes for this international meeting, which will be an intellectual work that will be an example for Latin America. "; said the President of the Judicial Power of the State of Mexico, Sergio Medina.
The activity also allowed the contribution of Costa Rican and Colombian experiences for the incorporation of new Restorative Justice processes in Mexico.
"We hope to contribute our experiences while we will take their contributions to improve the application of Restorative Justice."; commented the Colombian magistrate, Alejandro Flórez.
The first day of this meeting featured the presentation of several panels in which they analyzed topics on inter-institutional articulation, family and adolescent ties, and a round table discussion on vulnerable groups. Mr. Alejandro Montero Acuña spoke about the Drug Treatment Program under Judicial Supervision in Juvenile Penal and Adriana Ramírez about the Public Policy of Restorative Juvenile Justice.
The Costa Rican representation was made up of representatives of the executing team of the project, as well as by the Juvenile Criminal Defense and Restorative Justice, the Juvenile Criminal Prosecutor's Office and the Office of the Prosecutor for Indigenous Affairs and by the Department. of Social Work and Psychology who, together with the Delegations of Mexico and Colombia, participate in the exchange of successful experiences of Restorative Justice.
