Over the last years, Europe has seen the development of very different training proposals related to Restorative Justice (RJ) and mediation, some of which tend to train mediators as individual professionals with postgraduate courses, others tend to form groups of mediators linked to specific communities. The MEDIAREJ project aims to take stock of various training methods and implementing them through joint staff training and work on innovative IOs in 4 European countries, establishing a network among trained professionals and organisations. OBJECTIVES - Fostering RJ competencies in different target groups by disseminating the RJ methodology thanks to training courses and multiplier events; - Developing, through the IO and the joint staff training, a standardised competences framework, a course curriculum for training, original methods and new toolkits starting from the RJ methodology, under the supervision of Maritain and the coordination of Nathan, as well as with the specific support provided by the EFRJ; - Providing training for 28 mediators, trainers and professionals under the supervision of the EFRJ (5-day Joint Staff Training event in Croatia) on RJ methodologies, after having involved about 50 other trainers in the piloting of the training modules within the Training Programme; - Raising awareness on RJ for other target groups at a local level through 4 dissemination events in Italy, Spain, Croatia, Romania, as well as 2 final conferences to be organised in Triest and in Brussels; - Empowering staff and strengthening the operational capacity of local RJ centres, creating a permanent expert group of trainers at European level (coordinated by Maritain and EFRJ) and a network among organisations from different partner countries and preparing the ground for opening new centres; - Matching an adequate quality standard to build more expertise of experienced mediators, thus allowing skills recognition, facilitating the mobility at the European level of mediation and RJ experts. EXPECTED RESULTS The MEDIAREJ project will develop: - 1 Framework of Competencies; - 1 Training Programme; - 1 Toolkit on Community Practices; - 1 Collection of sensitive zones related to gender-based violence; - 1 set of multimedia and audiovisual materials for trainers; - 1 online training platform. TARGET GROUPS The project targets trainers of mediators and mediators engaged in their territories to work in mediation centres and RJ, as well as university scholars and researchers. NEEDS ANALYSIS This exchange is aimed at drafting agreed guidelines to clarify the essential requirements for the training of mediators and mediation trainers to operate effectively and efficiently. To reach the goal of shared guidelines, the exchange of experiences is essential, through targeted and periodic meetings. It is necessary to become aware that mediation and RJ are primarily practical sciences. There is a lot of diversity in this area, there are those who, for example, propose, as is the case in the University, postgraduate courses to train mediators. TRANSNATIONAL DIMENSION This joint work will involve partners from the 4 above-mentioned countries (Italy, Croatia, Romania, Spain), some with a stronger background in RJ and others with younger experience. This transnational work will be supported by the major European network organisation in the RJ field, our partner the EFRJ, based in Belgium but working at pan-European level throughout its network in 40 countries (a membership in which are already included 3 of our project partners). PROJECT PARTNERSHIP The project leader, the MARITAIN Institute (Italy), is a cultural institute and research centre whose staff members have sound experience in the RJ field. Our second Italian partner, NATHAN, in an association strongly committed to specialised training in mediation and promotion of the RJ humanistic approach. The consortium also includes one organisation based in Spain, AMBIT, and one from Romania, Fundatia Professional, equally committed to fostering social inclusion and working with inmates. Lastly, the partnership is completed by one organisation from Croatia, ACSW, and by the major European network in the RJ field, the European Forum for Restorative Justice.
MEDIAREJ is a project that aims to develop a shared methodology in training in the field of Restorative Justice (RJ) through the development of original Intellectual Outputs, a Europe-wide training and 6 multiplier events. The main objectives of the project are: to foster RJ competencies in different target groups, to develop a standardised competencies framework, a course curriculum for training, original methods and new toolkits, to provide training for 28 mediators, trainers and professionals, to raise awareness on RJ for other target groups at a local level, to empower staff and strengthen the operational capacity of local RJ centres to match an adequate quality standard to facilitate the mobility of mediation and RJ experts at the European level. The project also aims to create and consolidate a network of trainers in mediation working in existing centers; mediators working in restorative practice projects in their territories; mediation experts such as academics and researchers, to facilitate the exchange of practical mediation experiences and to discuss the specific aspects of each context, in order to provide appropriate training for mediators.
Restorative Justice is a way of resolving conflicts and repairing harm by involving all the parties affected by wrongdoing. Restorative justice can take different forms, such as mediation, conferencing, circles, or dialogue. There are different approaches to Restorative Justice (RJ) and mediator training in Europe. Some countries have an established and mature tradition of RJ, while others have experimented with different creative practices despite the absence of clear and shared legislation. The MEDIAREJ project aims to take stock of different training methods and implement them through joint staff activities and innovative products, creating a network among trained professionals and organizations. The exchange of experiences is essential to develop shared guidelines on the essential requirements for training mediators and trainers in RJ, taking into account that RJ is primarily a practical science. The project also addresses the major challenges concerning justice that have characterized 20th century Europe, such as human trafficking, terrorism and organised crime, and proposes RJ as an alternative to securitarian and punitive approaches that can increase rather than reduce criminal behavior.