The “International Symposia on Restorative Justice” was established to challenge current models of research and thought, influence international social policy and bring together scholars and practitioners to network and share best practices from around the world.
Modelled after the ancient Greek method of symposia debate, and founded upon the universal values of friendship, mutual respect, freedom of thought and equality, the Symposia have now been established as a unique international event that challenges its participants’ mind, body and soul. They are held by RJ4All every two years and last for approximately one week.
The Symposia are closed events targeting world thought leaders in social justice. They are non-profit initiatives that RJ4All is proud to invest in as part of our mission to raise international standards in restorative justice practice and theory.
The Secretariat makes arrangements for accommodation, meals and social activities which are all shared by the participants, their friends and family. The Symposia allow each delegate to have a debate in whatever format they prefer. Meetings take place on beaches, monasteries, ancient grounds and on the top of mountains! The final outputs of the Symposia include books and academic publications and series of webinars.
International Restorative Justice Symposia 2012, 2014, 2016, 2025
The 4th Symposium, titled “Inter-community and inter-state conflicts: Peacebuilding and Reconciliation” took place in 2025.
In response to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including the current situation in Lebanon, as well as the escalating threat of global cyberattacks, the restorative justice intellectual community has called for leadership in reigniting the discussion on the role of restorative justice in addressing inter-community and inter-state conflicts. This Symposium aimed to answer that call, with a central focus on creating much-needed hope for our future generations.
The third Symposium was titled “Disciplining and Taking Restorative Justice Forward: From Research & Theory to International Policy & Practice” and was held in 2016.
Leading scholars and international experts from a range of disciplines came together to debate the issue of moving restorative justice beyond theory and research to international policy and practice within the framework of the global economic crisis, by addressing justice issues as these are impacted by the world’s financial, moral and social crises.
The Second Symposium was titled “Race and Power” and was held in 2014.
The topics revolved around race equality and power and the role of restorative justice in preventing abuses. 25 academics and practitioners from around the world came together for the symposium. Several academic publications and presentations were produced as a result.
To see photos from the Symposium please follow this link.
The first Symposium was titled “Philosophy & Human Rights” and was held in 2012. It focused on bridging the relationship between restorative justice and human rights and was supported by Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences and the Hellenic Social Mediation Centre.
The Symposium led to the Ashgate book “Reconstructing Restorative Justice Philosophy” and several research papers and presentations by the delegates.
Photos from the first (2012), second (2014) and third (2016) International Symposia on Restorative Justice
"No one will be able to read this book without wishing they were there for the journey that gave it birth. Rich outcomes are enabled by the richness of the process. This book succeeds in drawing us into the journey of its travellers and is a grand exercise in critical retrieval, revival and renewal of those teachings, ancient and recent. There is a great, enduring core of restorative justice teachings that has an increasingly global quality about it. This fine collection helps us renew and reconstruct the core of restorative justice teachings at their holistic philosophical foundations while also helping us to look at them with wider historical and cultural lenses".