The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has published the second edition of the Handbook on Restorative Justice Programmes in its prestigious Criminal Justice Handbook Series. The new edition was prepared with the contribution of several EFRJ members. The Handbook may globally advance the implementation and application of restorative justice in criminal justice matters in a number of countries. The book was presented on a launching webinar on 22 May, including Tim Chapman, EFRJ Chair, as a speaker. We also conducted an interview with Ms Jee Aei (Jamie) Lee, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer of the Justice Section of the UNODC, who was the key coordinator of the new edition. 

Amid its work on the new Strategy on Victims’ Rights, the European Commission published its Report assessing the implementation of the Victim’s Rights Directive (2012/29/EU) in the Member States. The Report raises numerous concerns on the practical implementation of the Directive, but concludes that the provisions related to restorative justice seem to be less problematic. However, the Report also states that a large number of the Member States that provide restorative justice services have failed to transpose completely one or more of the minimum conditions for restorative justice set out in Article 12(1). The EFRJ contributed to the report by submitting feedback on the potentials of restorative justice in addressing victims’ rights. 

We are delighted to announce the new dates of the 11th International European Forum for Restorative Justice Conference in Sassari. The conference will take place between 24-26 June 2021 at the Conservatorio di Musica Luigi Canepa, the music conservatory at the University of Sassari  (on the same location as it was originally planned). Mark these dates in your calendars, we count on your participation! Follow the event on social media with #efrjConference - more news will come soon! The call for proposals will open in Autumn.

The Eleven Publishing House has launched a series of books titled "Studies in Restorative Justice" that aims to offer a unique approach to crime and victimisation and a change of course from the traditional preoccupation with retribution and transgression of rules in the criminal justice system. The first book of the series, Building Bridges by Iain Brennan and Gerry Johnstone was published last year. It offers a comprehensive evaluation of a restorative justice programme in seven European countries. The chief editors of the series, Estelle Zinsstag (University of Oxford, UK and KU Leuven, Belgium, EFRJ member) and Tinneke Van Camp (California State University, Fresno, USA) are seeking manuscripts for the future volumes of the series. 

This year our AGM (24 June, 6 pm CEST) will be organised online for the first time. Although we regret we cannot meet in person as usual, we hope this provides an opportunity to enable the participation of members who otherwise would not be able to travel and take part in this meeting. Full and associate member are welcome to participate in the video-conference (after pre-registration). Non-members will be able to follow the event as well through a streaming service. Preparatory information for members will be sent out soon. This year we will also offer online seminars in June on very exciting topics, more information on that will follow soon!