Press Release:
For Immediate Release
15th June 2025 marks the first day of an international event taking place in Cyprus bringing together 20 world peace leaders for 7 days. As peace is lost in various places across the world, and conflict continues between states and communities, thought leaders and practitioners from Australia, Brazil, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA come together to offer new alternatives based on restorative justice.
This unique event is organised by the Restorative Justice for All International Institute (RJ4All) and is titled Inter-community and Inter-state conflicts: Peacebuilding and Reconciliation. It is the 4th International Symposium on Restorative Justice using ancient Greek methods of debate and dialogue.
Dr. Theo Gavrielides, RJ4All Founder and Director said:
“Conflict and suffering is the result of power abuse. We witness this today whether in Gaza, Ukraine, India or Cyprus. As a great believer of restorative justice dialogue but also as a father I must have hope that peace building is possible. It is a true honour to host this unique event in Cyprus”.
Restorative justice is an alternative form of peace building and social justice. It puts communities at the heart of solutions focusing on the harm and the future. It moves away from the past and divisive narratives and offers an equal and safe space for everyone to be heard.
The event will be addressed by Dr. Elena Papamichael from the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, and renowned criminologist Prof. John Braithwaite (Australian National University) who said:
“In all conflicts, we need to be practitioners of the politics of hope. For every war that existed in the history of humankind, there have been a thousand wars that could have been that have been prevented conversationally, by dialogue and by using the principles of restorative justice.”
A recorded message by Prof. Braithwaite to the Symposium and the public has been made available below by the organising committee which includes practitioners and academics from around the world but also Cypriot volunteers.
We anticipate a dynamic exchange of perspectives through discussion, debate, and reflection, with the insights and contributions from the Symposium forming the foundation of a forthcoming publication. This book will capture the collective wisdom, offering a valuable resource for those committed to advancing restorative approaches to conflict and healing.
The event is supported by UCLan Cyprus where the event will start with a public Opening Ceremony on June 16th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This event offers a unique chance to engage with the Symposium’s key themes.
“Hosting the 4th International Symposium on Restorative Justice at UCLan Cyprus is a profound honour, and I am deeply grateful for the university’s unwavering support in making this vision a reality. UCLan Cyprus is committed to fostering academic dialogue that drives meaningful social change and upholds the principles of diversity, inclusion, and equality, particularly in regions affected by conflict and division. As a researcher in trauma, political grief, and unacknowledged grief, I believe this Symposium comes at a crucial time, when unresolved psychological wounds continue to fuel cycles of conflict and disconnection. By bringing together global voices in restorative justice, we aim to shine a light on these invisible losses, challenge entrenched power imbalances, and create space for healing, inclusive dialogue, and the rebuilding of trust and belonging across divided communities.”
– Dr. Lilia Psalta, Assistant Professor in Psychology/Neuroscience and Course Leader of the MSc in Forensic Psychology at UCLan Cyprus, Cyprus
The event builds on the success of three symposia held in 2012, 2014, and 2016,
Media contact: Dr. Theo Gavrielides, RJ4All Founder and Director | t.gavrielides@rj4all.org
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Organising Committee:
- Ms Eleonore Chaustier Junior Research Assistant at RJ4All, France
- Ms Sophy Gavrielides, Symposium Volunteer, Cyprus
- Prof. Theo Gavrielides, RJ4All Founder and Director UK & Cyprus, Cyprus
- Ms. Penelope Griffith, Executive Director of Collaborative Solutions for Communities, United States
- Ms. Iro Michael, Project Consultant at RJ4All Europe, Cyprus
- Dr. Lilia Psalta, Assistant Professor in Psychology/Neuroscience and Course Leader of the MSc in Forensic Psychology at UCLan Cyprus, Cyprus
- Ms. Sofia Sideridou, Research Coordinator & RJ4All Europe Manager UK & Cyprus, Greece
- Dr. Lorenn Walker, Director of Hawai’i Friends of Restorative Justice, United States
Delegates:
- Mr. Frank Barbaric, Attorney and Graduate Student at Governors State University, United States
- Ms. Jah’Miaa Brooks, Graduate Student at Governors State University, United States
- Dr. Felicity Gerry KC, KC at Libertas Chambers, United Kingdom/Australia
- Ms. Deborah Hollingworth, LLM, Head of the Office of Environmental & Restorative Justice, Australia
- Mr. Anthony Houlston Clark, Director of Wales Restorative Approaches Partnership, United Kingdom
- Mrs. Julia Houlston Clark, CEO of Wales Restorative Approaches Partnership, United Kingdom
- Prof. Grazia Mannozzi, Full professor of Criminal Law and Restorative Justice at the Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Italia
- Mr. Davide Orlandini, RJ Mediator at ANFORA Giustizia Riparativa, Italia
- Dr. Adreanne Ormond, Senior Lecturer (PhD) at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
- Mr. João Salm, Associate Professor at Governors State University, United States/Brazil
Information for Editors:
RJ4All Europe
RJ4All Europe is the leading European non-profit institute advancing community cohesion and human rights through restorative justice. With offices in Cyprus and the UK, we have members from all EU states and over 60 other countries. The organisation delivers social justice projects and programs through dialogue, education, and restorative justice practices. RJ4All Europe aims to create a global peace movement for social change, aligning with UN agencies’ emphasis on informal justice in dispute resolution. The 4th RJ4All Annual Conference is being hosted by our Cypriot office.
For more information: https://rj4all.eu/
Restorative Justice for All International Institute (RJ4All)
RJ4All is a charitable international institute with a mission to address power abuse, conflict, and poverty through the use of restorative justice values and practices. We do this through a combination of restorative justice projects delivered both internationally and locally at the RJ4All Rotherhithe Community Centre in London. We advance community cohesion, equality, human rights, and redistribute power by supporting civil society and delivering social justice and poverty relief projects, educational programmes and high-quality volunteering opportunities for marginalised groups.
For more information: https://rj4all.org/
University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus (UCLan Cyprus)
UCLan Cyprus is located in Larnaka, and it is now in its twelfth year of operation. It is the first Branch Campus of the University of Central Lancashire and at the same time a fully licensed University in Cyprus. The vision of the University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus, is to be recognised as a world-class, research-led University, competing successfully and sustainably within a national and international market. We are a University that is increasingly recognised for its commitment to outstanding teaching and practical learning, impactful research, innovative thinking and knowledge transfer that adds value to socio-economic and scientific development across frontiers.
View more information at: https://www.uclancyprus.ac.cy/
