Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice is gaining global recognition, yet its potential remains underutilized. In this lecture, internationally renowned expert Prof. Dr. Ivo Aertsen explores the reasons behind this and presents strategies for wider implementation. Participants will gain in-depth insights into how Restorative Justice can be effectively applied, enabling its benefits to be increasingly realized in Switzerland.

09.10.2025, 7pm–9pm – Berner Fachhochschule BFH, Hallerstrasse 10, 3012 Berne (Room 301)

Restorative Justice (RJ) is developing globally, positioning itself within, alongside or outside criminal justice systems. It is endorsed by national governments and institutions at the international level and supported by a growing body of scientific evidence. And still, we are facing an important ‘implementation gap’: an underutilization in practice of what legally is possible in many countries.

If our goal is an effective implementation of RJ, to make it generally available and accessible, we have to understand the reasons for this underuse and we have to develop a common vision on RJ. From that point on, we might be able to effectively adopt a framework and a strategy, both at the local and national level.

Insights on promoting and hindering factors can be found in national studies on the development of RJ as they appear in the regional volumes of the “International Encyclopaedia of Restorative Justice” and in European projects on specific features of RJ, mainly emerging from the work of the European Forum for Restorative Justice. Both the role of judicial authorities and civil society organisations – and their mutual interplay - will be discussed, as well as the influence of European institutions and legislation.

The event will be held in English.