Sharing experience regarding the Project on Law and Public Policy in Restorative Justice in Costa Rica.

As part of the training session on the Regional Program to Strengthen Restorative Justice, judicial delegations from Mexico, Colombia and Costa Rica visited the Legislative Assembly on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 6.

The main objective of the visit was to learn about the progress of the Restorative Justice Bill being processed under file No. 19,935.

The delegations were received by the President of the Security and Drug Trafficking Commission, Congresswoman Silvia Sánchez Venegas and accompanied by the President of the Legislative Assembly, Gonzalo Ramírez Zamora and Congresswomen Ligia Fallas Rodríguez and Carmen Quesada Santamaría.

Congresswoman Sánchez Venegas expressed her satisfaction with the visit of the judicial representatives from Mexico and Colombia, who are interested in learning about the Costa Rican experience, and commented on the progress that has been made in order to give the Restorative Justice Project the status of a law.

"I believe that this project is a good option and is a good program to seek alternative solutions, so that this type of people are reintegrated into society," said Congresswoman Sanchez Venegas.

In the meeting with Congresswoman Sanchez, and representatives of Mexico and Colombia expressed appreciation and recognition for the way in which Costa Rica handles the Restorative Justice program linked to an inter-institutional level.

During the visit by the Legislative Assembly, the judicial delegations also made a tour of the facilities of the Legislative Assembly, which included the sector of the Parliament bar, the Hall of Ex-Presidents and Ex-President of the Republic, among others.

Also, as part of the week's work agenda, this Thursday afternoon a visit was made to the Presidential House in order to learn more about the Public Policy on Restorative Justice in Costa Rica.

The delegations were received by the Vice President of the Republic, Ana Helena Chacón Echeverría, who expressed her satisfaction with the visit.

"The issue of Restorative Justice is a fundamental work of prevention for minors, we have carried out an action plan in alliance with other institutions, and where two branches of the Republic are united in the administration of justice with a focus on human rights," said the Vice President who also stressed the importance of sharing these good practices with other countries and thus be able to have in the region the same vision of respect for human rights.

Claudia Lizeth Villaviencio Guadarrama, of the delegation of Mexico, thanked the Vice President for her words and on behalf of the delegation of her country acknowledged all the attention received in our country. "... we are pleasantly surprised by the teamwork that you do, this is the factor that has surprised us most, there is a very hard work, and recognize the work you do for your community, see materialized what you do for the community, see that Restorative Justice goes beyond confronting crime, but to prevent it and has been a beautiful and rewarding experience. 

Likewise, Dr. José Agustín Suárez Alba, Magistrate of the Superior Council of Colombia, expressed at all times his gratitude and the importance of having a Law that regulates Restorative Justice.

The presentation of the Action Plan of the National Restorative Justice Policy was in charge of the Msc. Carolina Hidalgo, of the Vice-Ministry of Peace.