United Nations basic principles on the use of restorative justice in penal matters

At a UN meeting in April 2002, a resolution was passed that puts restorative justice officially on the international map.

The International Scientific and Professional Advisory Council (ISPAC) of the United Nations asked for its committee responsible for victims to prepare a report on restorative justice.

The report considered different approaches to restorative justice and concluded there was a need to set standards.

The main report headings are:

• Relevant existing UN documents and decisions
• Definitions of restorative justice
• Principles of restorative justice
• Type of restorative justice programmes
• Use of programmes
• Evaluation of restorative justice programmes
• Conclusion
• Relevant documents and materials
• Contributors