Call for abstracts - help shape the RJC 2026 Conference

Restorative Justice in a Time of Fractured Systems
RJC Annual Conference 2026 | Monday 16 November 2026 in Manchester and Wednesday 18 November 2026 online

The Restorative Justice Council is inviting abstracts for our 2026 annual conference, and we want to hear from people ready to bring fresh thinking, honest reflection and practical learning into one of the most important conversations facing the field today.

Across society, systems are under pressure. Harm is being produced and reinforced at scale, trust in institutions is fragile, and accountability can feel out of reach. In this context, restorative justice has a vital role to play, but only if we are prepared to engage critically, confidently and collectively with the complexity of the moment.

This conference is an opportunity to help shape that conversation. We are looking for contributions that are grounded in practice, research or lived experience; honest about challenge and limitation; clear about learning and impact; and willing to ask difficult questions about the future direction of restorative justice.

We are particularly interested in proposals that move beyond individual interventions to explore the role of restorative justice in responding to complex harm, institutional accountability, system failure, public trust, power, participation, professional standards and systemic change.

• Large-scale and complex harm
• Institutional, state and corporate accountability
• System failure and organisational learning
• Public trust, legitimacy and repair
• Power, participation and systemic change
• Professional standards, quality and credibility in complex environments

CONFERENCE PILLARS

The programme will be structured around three interconnected questions facing the restorative justice field today.

Pillar One: System Failure and Accountability

When harm is created or perpetuated by the systems meant to prevent it.

This pillar explores what restorative justice can offer when organisations, institutions and systems become part of the problem. It invites contributions on accountability, redress, legitimacy, repair, organisational learning, institutional harm, structural injustice, large-scale victimisation, trauma-informed practice and responses to systemic harm.

Pillar Two: Power, Repair and System Change

Moving beyond responding to harm towards changing the conditions that create it.

This pillar asks how restorative approaches can shape organisational culture, public policy and system reform across justice, education, health, social care, workplaces and communities. We welcome proposals on education, youth participation, equity, inclusion, global perspectives, community-rooted practice, power, collaboration, leadership and systemic change.

Pillar Three: Standards, Quality and Professional Credibility

Building a profession capable of meeting the challenges ahead.

This pillar focuses on the infrastructure, capability, integrity and support the field will need as restorative practice expands into more complex and high-profile environments. We are interested in proposals on professional standards, accreditation, governance, workforce development, ethics, quality assurance, evidence, evaluation, digital and hybrid practice, innovation and scaling practice responsibly.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We welcome abstracts from practitioners, policymakers, researchers, community leaders, organisations and people with lived experience. We are especially keen to hear from contributors who can create engagement, dialogue, challenge and shared learning — not passive listening.

Whether your work is rooted in practice, evidence, lived experience, leadership, policy or research, this is a chance to contribute to a national conversation about where restorative justice needs to go next, and what will be required to get there with integrity, confidence and care.

SESSION FORMATS

We welcome a range of session formats, including:

Individual Presentation: A solo or co-authored paper, lasting 30 minutes (including 10 minutes for Q&A).

Contributions led by people with lived experience: 30 minutes (including 10 minutes for Q&A).

Practice-Based Case Study: 30 minutes (including 10 minutes for Q&A).

Thematic Panel: Comprising 3-4 related papers, with each presentation lasting 15-20 minutes.

Interactive Workshop: Up to 90 minutes in duration.

Panel Discussion: 60 minutes.

Group Poster Presentation: 60 minutes total for the group.

We prioritise sessions that create engagement, dialogue, challenge and shared learning, not passive listening.

PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE

Monday 16 November 2026 | Manchester

Leadership, Accountability and System Change

Wednesday 18 November 2026 | Online

Learning, Practice and Innovation

If you have another suggestion for a contribution to the conference, please contact us at Aisa.Shearing@restorativejustice.org.uk.

PRESENTER FEES

We want the programme to reflect the breadth and depth of the restorative justice field. To support this, the main presenter fee is waived. Additional presenters can access a reduced two-day conference pass at a reduced rate.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT

Please complete the abstract submission form provided and email it to aisa.shearing@restorativejustice.org.uk by 12 noon on Monday 14 September.

Successful contributors will help shape a conference designed to learn from the field, strengthen its foundations and take the conversation about restorative justice further together.