Restorative justice is strengthened with Regional Project
Costa Rica, Mexico and Colombia refine work to execute the Regional Programme for Promoting Restorative Justice. The work includes the organisation and planning of observatory visits, so that countries involved present the best practices in this area. During the months of September, October and November, observatory visits will be undertaken. The first visit will be to Costa Rica.
"These activities have as main objective to promote an exchange on the experience that each country has in Restorative Justice, based on the good practices undertaken. These inputs can be implemented in the countries that make up the project and adapt them when their models allow it, "explained Judge Doris Arias Madrigal, Coordinator of the Restorative Justice Program of the Judiciary of Costa Rica.
A schedule of Observation Visits was established, which began in Costa Rica, from September 3 to 9, with the participation of the Costa Rican executing technical team and a delegation of six officials from the Judicial Branch of Colombia and the Judicial Branch of Mexico. From October 15 to 21, it will correspond to know the work of Mexico in Restorative Justice. The visit to Colombia will take place from November 5 to 11, to end in Italy from November 19 to 25.
The program also includes the training of judicial and civil society personnel, the construction of action protocols, dissemination and awareness-raising processes, the evaluation of results and technological innovation. The work includes a restorative approach in the areas of minors in conflict with the criminal law, crimes of gender violence, sentenced persons and indigenous peoples.
The Regional Project Strengthening Restorative Justice is directed by the Judicial Power of Costa Rica, with the co-participation of the Judicial School Rodrigo Lara Bonilla of Colombia and the Mediation and Conciliation Center of the Judicial Power of the State of Mexico, in the framework of of the Regional Mechanism for International Cooperation and Association Program, funded by the European Union and guided by the Technical Assistance "ADELANTE". Its objective is the strengthening of Restorative Justice in criminal and juvenile criminal matters and it provides a greater emphasis on the attention of vulnerable populations in Costa Rica, Colombia and Mexico.
Restorative Justice is a way of resolving juvenile criminal, contraventional and criminal legal conflicts, with the participation of the victim, offender and the community, which allows reaching agreements that repair the damage caused by the crime and at the same time reintegrate the person offensive to society.
