International Restorative Justice Week is being celebrated world-wide over the period 15 -22 November 2015.

Restorative Practices Aotearoa welcomes this week of acknowledgement, innovation and celebration in the world of Restorative Justice.

New Zealand has been world leading in restorative justice and practices, from the inception of the ground breaking CYPF Act 1989, to the recent Sentencing Amendment Act 2014. This legislation has supported the flax roots movement of restorative justice that has been driven by many small diverse community based organisations over the years and has now flourished into the accepted mainstream approach to justice applied throughout the country.

Restorative justice is not a panacea for all the ills of the justice system or the magic wand that will reduce recidivism to levels only dreamed of in the most optimistic of reports. In isolation it never can, or be expected to produce unrealistic outcomes sometimes benchmarked as the success or failure of an intervention. Restorative justice is one more tool or mechanism to support the opportunity for healing of harm or hurt that has occurred.

The Restorative Justice and Practices movement has been a product of the consistent search by individuals and communities to give a voice to the victims of crime in a manner that is safe, meaningful and respectful. The impact of this opportunity in addressing offenders of crime has greatly enhanced victim participation in the justice system and provided in many cases the right place and time for the victim to have their say, and most importantly be heard by those who have caused them harm.

Restorative justice conferences enable the offenders to meet with the victims who are no longer a name on the Summary of Facts; they are a person, someone that is real, and someone that has family, friends and a life to live. The opportunity for family and friends to be active participants in the restorative justice process is a strength of our system and is extremely well received by those who have been able to participate in the process.

Innovation and courage have enabled New Zealand as a country to become one of the prominent exponents of restorative justice and we are grateful for the many insightful, passionate and caring individuals who have provided this platform for us as a country, to lead the world.

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