Some initiatives look beyond individuals to examine and seek to address the social conditions in which violence regularly occurs, while many others do not.
Even so, some values/commitments are largely shared – but to varying degrees and in different ways.
- Greater focus on harm/wrongdoing/fracture in positive relationships among individuals and in the community and on impacts of same; less emphasis on lawbreaking as an abstract concept.
- Focus on repairing harm caused by violence and wrongdoing, to the extent possible.
- Commitment to short- and long-term safety, healing, and constructive support for survivors
- Focus on accountability/acceptance of responsibility and positive transformation for people who harm others; less emphasis on “punishment.â€
- Not restricted to courtrooms; survivors and those responsible for harm may voluntarily choose to meet face to face in a mediated/facilitated non-courtroom setting. Other relevant community members may also have a role in processes.
- Active rather than passive involvement of all parties in the processes wherever possible; encouraging a sense of agency in ordinary people.
- Outcome focus on mitigation of harm and prevention of harm, and on positive outcomes for survivors and those who have engaged in wrongdoing.
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