1 00:00:00,070 --> 00:00:03,990 Yes, the title of my presentation is about restorative 2 00:00:03,991 --> 00:00:05,910 cities, of course, but 3 00:00:05,911 --> 00:00:10,070 also on ongoing developments in our experiences, 4 00:00:10,070 --> 00:00:11,910 starting from the example of 5 00:00:11,910 --> 00:00:12,910 Leving. 6 00:00:13,710 --> 00:00:18,589 where we move towards what we call now transformative communities. 7 00:00:18,591 --> 00:00:22,910 And I hope to make clear what that entails later on. 8 00:00:22,911 --> 00:00:24,320 This is my outline. 9 00:00:25,010 --> 00:00:26,010 Um 10 00:00:26,620 --> 00:00:30,620 I do not have to repeat for most of you, I think, that we are starting 11 00:00:30,621 --> 00:00:31,980 from the idea of restorative 12 00:00:31,981 --> 00:00:35,820 justice and the place of restorative justice civil society, but still I 13 00:00:35,820 --> 00:00:37,659 would like to highlight a couple of 14 00:00:37,660 --> 00:00:39,020 insights about that. 15 00:00:39,021 --> 00:00:42,780 My second point is then on how to build restorative cities, 16 00:00:42,780 --> 00:00:44,780 referring to the case of Leuven, and 17 00:00:44,780 --> 00:00:48,619 then the most important one, the third part of my talk will 18 00:00:48,620 --> 00:00:50,619 be about building resilient 19 00:00:50,620 --> 00:00:55,469 societies with two moves, which I will explain immediately. 20 00:00:58,109 --> 00:00:59,109 So. 21 00:00:59,390 --> 00:01:00,549 Okay, it is. 22 00:01:00,939 --> 00:01:06,620 Clear enough that indeed when when when we initiated the restorative 23 00:01:06,621 --> 00:01:10,939 city in2015 in Leuven, we start from some experiences 24 00:01:10,941 --> 00:01:12,540 and ideas of restorative 25 00:01:12,541 --> 00:01:13,019 justice. 26 00:01:13,021 --> 00:01:15,260 And once again, I don't have to explain to you what 27 00:01:15,261 --> 00:01:16,780 restorative justice is. 28 00:01:16,781 --> 00:01:20,219 We are all familiar, I think, with these well known definitions 29 00:01:20,221 --> 00:01:22,540 from the United Nations, from the 30 00:01:22,541 --> 00:01:28,540 European Forum, from the European Union, or from the Council 31 00:01:28,541 --> 00:01:29,260 of Europe. 32 00:01:29,261 --> 00:01:30,430 And you know that. 33 00:01:30,590 --> 00:01:31,590 There's a lot of 34 00:01:32,260 --> 00:01:36,420 Commonality, a lot of similarity, the the same elements are 35 00:01:36,421 --> 00:01:37,939 coming back always in 36 00:01:37,941 --> 00:01:41,909 these definitions about restorative justice. 37 00:01:43,420 --> 00:01:44,420 But 38 00:01:44,950 --> 00:01:46,109 It is also. 39 00:01:46,900 --> 00:01:50,739 clear that restorative justice in these definitions and in 40 00:01:50,740 --> 00:01:52,819 most practices worldwide 41 00:01:52,820 --> 00:01:58,420 I think is a very much individualizing approach and this this this this 42 00:01:58,421 --> 00:01:58,819 this this this this this this this 43 00:01:58,820 --> 00:01:59,299 um this this this this this this this this this this this this this this 44 00:01:59,301 --> 00:02:01,620 this this this this this this figure that I borrow 45 00:02:01,621 --> 00:02:04,659 from Adam Crawford uh makes 46 00:02:04,661 --> 00:02:08,659 clear what a distinction might be between restorative justice and 47 00:02:08,661 --> 00:02:10,580 community justice and I think for for for for for for for for for for 48 00:02:10,581 --> 00:02:13,379 for the for our today's conference this this this this this this this 49 00:02:13,381 --> 00:02:13,780 this this this this this this this this this this this this this this 50 00:02:13,781 --> 00:02:15,270 this this kind of distinction 51 00:02:16,129 --> 00:02:18,969 Uh might might be um relevant. 52 00:02:20,319 --> 00:02:23,680 As as you can see in restorative justice on the left hand side of 53 00:02:23,681 --> 00:02:25,919 my slides, we are leaving, we are 54 00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:28,159 starting from particular criminal cases. 55 00:02:28,161 --> 00:02:30,639 What happens to persons, to a victim and an offender? 56 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:33,840 In a more community oriented system of justice, 57 00:02:33,841 --> 00:02:36,080 we start from a collective experience. 58 00:02:36,081 --> 00:02:37,569 What happens to the community? 59 00:02:38,539 --> 00:02:41,659 Not what happens to an individual victim, although that might be 60 00:02:41,661 --> 00:02:43,740 important as well, of course, or what is the 61 00:02:43,741 --> 00:02:49,500 responsibility of an individual person, but what happens to us as 62 00:02:49,501 --> 00:02:50,500 community. 63 00:02:51,099 --> 00:02:54,939 From this community you recognize probably this community 64 00:02:54,941 --> 00:02:56,780 approach very much from 65 00:02:56,781 --> 00:03:00,620 indigenous justice systems, which we see coming back in 66 00:03:00,621 --> 00:03:02,699 peacemaking circles, for example, in 67 00:03:02,700 --> 00:03:03,710 some cultures. 68 00:03:04,539 --> 00:03:09,250 Yeah, restorative justice, we use a strategy at individual level, 69 00:03:09,251 --> 00:03:10,289 in the community 70 00:03:10,290 --> 00:03:11,810 oriented justice system. 71 00:03:11,811 --> 00:03:14,129 We are looking at much broader strategies, 72 00:03:14,131 --> 00:03:16,050 including crime prevention. 73 00:03:16,051 --> 00:03:20,689 We want to improve community level where this has been damaged by crime. 74 00:03:20,691 --> 00:03:25,330 Restorative justice works where the key actors experience satisfaction 75 00:03:25,331 --> 00:03:26,610 with the process and with 76 00:03:26,611 --> 00:03:29,569 the outcome of the program. 77 00:03:29,570 --> 00:03:31,969 That is something we are familiar with, I think, 78 00:03:31,971 --> 00:03:33,860 in restorative justice evaluation. 79 00:03:34,139 --> 00:03:38,289 In community oriented justice systems, we will say that it works 80 00:03:38,290 --> 00:03:39,860 when the quality of life. 81 00:03:40,219 --> 00:03:43,060 in a given place has been improved. 82 00:03:43,669 --> 00:03:47,979 In restorative justice, we are talking about restoring communities, maybe. 83 00:03:47,980 --> 00:03:50,699 Community justice is much more informed, 84 00:03:50,700 --> 00:03:53,659 is also interested in how can we 85 00:03:53,661 --> 00:03:57,500 transform communities, which is different from just 86 00:03:57,501 --> 00:03:59,069 restoring communities. 87 00:04:00,099 --> 00:04:04,229 So some of these distinctions are coming back later on, I think. 88 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,599 Um, this having said, we know that there are important 89 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:11,360 achievements in reserve 90 00:04:11,361 --> 00:04:12,319 justice. 91 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:16,319 Uh, we know what the quad what the what the potential is. 92 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:17,329 We know that. 93 00:04:17,790 --> 00:04:21,790 Practices are of high quality in many, many countries. 94 00:04:21,790 --> 00:04:27,709 In most countries, we know that there's an innovation involved. 95 00:04:27,710 --> 00:04:31,790 There's a lot of scientific evidence, and there is political endorsement 96 00:04:31,790 --> 00:04:33,470 in many, many countries. 97 00:04:33,471 --> 00:04:39,310 But at the same time, we uh we we have to um observe 98 00:04:39,310 --> 00:04:42,800 that in a quantitative way there's a little impact. 99 00:04:43,170 --> 00:04:46,209 In most of our countries, even in countries as Belgium 100 00:04:46,210 --> 00:04:48,610 and in Nordic countries, but some other European 101 00:04:48,610 --> 00:04:52,370 countries, where there are relatively high number of cases, when you 102 00:04:52,370 --> 00:04:54,610 compare it with the case slot of the 103 00:04:54,610 --> 00:04:56,339 cards, it it remains. 104 00:04:56,699 --> 00:04:59,180 Not marginal, but very low. 105 00:04:59,180 --> 00:05:04,779 So the potential of restorative justice is very much underused is 106 00:05:04,780 --> 00:05:06,860 our or was our conclusion. 107 00:05:06,860 --> 00:05:10,699 And there's a dominant focus in the restorative justice programs, uh, 108 00:05:10,700 --> 00:05:12,699 such as in mediation and conferencing 109 00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:16,300 programs on the relationship with the criminal justice system, 110 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:18,699 which might be important, but that 111 00:05:18,700 --> 00:05:23,819 has also reduced our attention from the relationship with the community. 112 00:05:23,820 --> 00:05:25,389 Restorative justice has a very much 113 00:05:25,769 --> 00:05:30,879 individualizing approach as I have already said not probably not 114 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,569 sufficiently embedded in society 115 00:05:35,550 --> 00:05:38,740 So to strengthen the movement of reserve justice, we had to 116 00:05:38,740 --> 00:05:41,300 enhance support from society in a 117 00:05:41,300 --> 00:05:45,779 passive way in order to show political support, 118 00:05:45,780 --> 00:05:47,139 policy support for reservative 119 00:05:47,140 --> 00:05:52,579 justice, but also in an active way when we expect that people are 120 00:05:52,580 --> 00:05:56,899 capable to participate actively in mediation or in 121 00:05:56,900 --> 00:05:58,259 conferencing programs, for 122 00:05:58,260 --> 00:05:59,259 example. 123 00:05:59,829 --> 00:06:03,819 We understood that we need methodologies to involve 124 00:06:03,820 --> 00:06:05,819 the larger community, 125 00:06:05,820 --> 00:06:07,709 not just a community of care. 126 00:06:08,029 --> 00:06:11,860 But the larger community much more in a direct way. 127 00:06:11,860 --> 00:06:16,740 At the same time, we were confronted with problems of structural 128 00:06:16,740 --> 00:06:17,910 inequalities. 129 00:06:18,610 --> 00:06:22,290 structural inequality problems which found their causes 130 00:06:22,290 --> 00:06:24,129 in larger in a larger 131 00:06:24,130 --> 00:06:25,779 societal context. 132 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,160 So we felt the need to connect to other resources. 133 00:06:31,100 --> 00:06:37,009 to other sectors in society and also maybe to to associate much more to 134 00:06:37,010 --> 00:06:42,930 affiliate much more with other existing social movements so in order 135 00:06:42,930 --> 00:06:47,009 to bring restorative justice a little bit from uh to bring 136 00:06:47,010 --> 00:06:48,930 it outside of their its 137 00:06:48,930 --> 00:06:50,339 isolation in a certain way 138 00:06:51,290 --> 00:06:54,720 So therefore the questions arise as how to involve civil 139 00:06:54,721 --> 00:06:56,480 society more widely and more 140 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:02,240 effectively, and how to contribute to the new widespread culture indeed, 141 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,639 as Emma mentioned as well a couple of minutes ago. 142 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,569 So this was our thinking that led us. 143 00:07:10,399 --> 00:07:13,680 More than10 years ago, to the idea that we 144 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:15,680 should do something more 145 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,209 proactively at the community level. 146 00:07:20,420 --> 00:07:23,269 So that brought us indeed to the idea. 147 00:07:23,579 --> 00:07:26,019 to developing a restorative city. 148 00:07:26,540 --> 00:07:27,540 Um 149 00:07:27,740 --> 00:07:30,939 Some of you are might be familiar with Leuven. 150 00:07:30,940 --> 00:07:34,939 You recognize the picture, the old market square that 151 00:07:34,940 --> 00:07:36,379 some of you have visited 152 00:07:36,380 --> 00:07:38,189 frequently in the past, I think. 153 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:44,110 Leuven is not a big city, it's a city of100,000 residents, 154 00:07:44,110 --> 00:07:44,829 a typical 155 00:07:44,830 --> 00:07:48,750 university city as well, as patches as well, I think. 156 00:07:48,750 --> 00:07:54,029 There are many major companies, a very diverse city with more 157 00:07:54,030 --> 00:07:56,110 than150 nationalities. 158 00:07:56,110 --> 00:08:00,189 It is not a poor city, it is a rather prosperous city with 159 00:08:00,190 --> 00:08:02,110 a social democratic government 160 00:08:02,110 --> 00:08:03,870 for many years already. 161 00:08:03,870 --> 00:08:08,800 And research has shown that there is a rather high level of trust. 162 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:13,439 amongst citizens and towards the city governments. 163 00:08:16,459 --> 00:08:20,430 Theur slogan of Love Restorative City is 164 00:08:21,180 --> 00:08:24,060 turning conflicts into opportunities. 165 00:08:24,060 --> 00:08:26,829 And this is our law that I show here as well. 166 00:08:27,329 --> 00:08:33,250 Now I could try to show a very short video of one minute, 167 00:08:33,250 --> 00:08:36,340 but I'm a little bit concerned that it will not work, but 168 00:08:37,340 --> 00:08:41,259 I I can give it a try, and because it's it 169 00:08:41,260 --> 00:08:42,700 is an it is it is an 170 00:08:42,701 --> 00:08:46,059 illustration on how we have tried to make the idea of 171 00:08:46,060 --> 00:08:48,460 articlesity familiar and 172 00:08:48,461 --> 00:08:53,309 known to the local community, to society at large. 173 00:08:53,889 --> 00:08:58,529 I I can try to open it, but I will I will skip 174 00:08:58,530 --> 00:08:59,649 it very quickly if I 175 00:08:59,650 --> 00:09:01,379 see that it does not work, okay? 176 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:11,360 Is it okay? 177 00:09:17,659 --> 00:09:21,659 We just see the the slide what you are sharing the powerpoint. 178 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:22,669 We don't see the video. 179 00:09:33,250 --> 00:09:36,769 Could you maybe copy the link in the chat and then we could maybe 180 00:09:36,770 --> 00:09:38,259 start the video from here. 181 00:09:39,799 --> 00:09:40,799 Okay. 182 00:10:25,149 --> 00:10:27,710 It does not work, Valentine, I give it up here. 183 00:10:27,711 --> 00:10:30,509 I do not want to traumatize you, and I do not want to 184 00:10:30,510 --> 00:10:32,240 traumatize myself longer. 185 00:10:33,539 --> 00:10:36,580 Is it okay that I just continue? 186 00:10:36,581 --> 00:10:39,379 Go on, go on, even we are not traumatized. 187 00:10:39,380 --> 00:10:40,789 You are not yet traumatized. 188 00:10:42,500 --> 00:10:43,500 Okay. 189 00:10:44,220 --> 00:10:45,220 Okay, so 190 00:10:45,850 --> 00:10:49,889 I just continue in a safe way, that's say, okay. 191 00:10:51,100 --> 00:10:52,029 So. 192 00:10:52,030 --> 00:10:54,309 Turning conflicts into opportunities. 193 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:02,269 We spent quite a lot of time in the first years to reflect about what 194 00:11:02,270 --> 00:11:04,190 do we really want? 195 00:11:04,191 --> 00:11:10,190 Because intuitively we felt we are on the same page with a lot 196 00:11:10,191 --> 00:11:13,789 of people thinking the same way, people from restorative justice 197 00:11:13,790 --> 00:11:15,870 organizations, and quite a lot of 198 00:11:15,870 --> 00:11:20,350 in learning from services, from the educational system, 199 00:11:20,350 --> 00:11:21,350 and so on. 200 00:11:21,470 --> 00:11:22,470 Uh, but um 201 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:29,230 Still, we found it important to make our general ideas and objectives 202 00:11:29,230 --> 00:11:33,440 more explicit, to formulate our general objectives. 203 00:11:33,879 --> 00:11:37,149 And the general objectives was formulated in this way, 204 00:11:37,150 --> 00:11:39,629 these to promote dialogue 205 00:11:39,630 --> 00:11:43,629 and restorative oriented ways of dealing with and preventing 206 00:11:43,630 --> 00:11:44,909 conflicts, tensions, and 207 00:11:44,910 --> 00:11:49,549 polarization in various contexts at an interpersonal level 208 00:11:49,550 --> 00:11:50,909 within organizations and 209 00:11:50,910 --> 00:11:53,470 at a larger societal level. 210 00:11:53,471 --> 00:11:56,429 So that might be very recognizable for you, 211 00:11:56,430 --> 00:11:58,909 and that does maybe not say that much 212 00:11:58,910 --> 00:11:59,789 yet. 213 00:11:59,790 --> 00:12:03,200 But we also tried to develop methodologies. 214 00:12:03,309 --> 00:12:06,740 in order to realize these general objective methodologies 215 00:12:06,740 --> 00:12:08,899 that allow for dealing with 216 00:12:08,900 --> 00:12:13,860 polarizing tendencies, otherness, conflict and tensions in 217 00:12:13,860 --> 00:12:14,980 society. 218 00:12:14,980 --> 00:12:20,340 And the common thread is the use of direct dialogue in order to 219 00:12:20,341 --> 00:12:21,750 rebuild trust. 220 00:12:22,750 --> 00:12:24,230 We also did an effort to 221 00:12:25,179 --> 00:12:28,460 To define our values. 222 00:12:28,461 --> 00:12:29,980 Why are we doing that? 223 00:12:29,980 --> 00:12:33,580 And what kind of values do we find important in that? 224 00:12:33,581 --> 00:12:36,139 And you see here on the slides the values that might 225 00:12:36,140 --> 00:12:38,460 be recognizable for you. 226 00:12:38,461 --> 00:12:43,820 Not very surprising, maybe, but still, once again, when we were 227 00:12:43,821 --> 00:12:48,139 starting talking to the to the municipality services or 228 00:12:48,140 --> 00:12:49,820 to other local or to 229 00:12:49,821 --> 00:12:52,460 other social organizations and agencies, 230 00:12:52,461 --> 00:12:54,429 we felt very much felt the need. 231 00:12:54,600 --> 00:13:00,429 to make these objectives and values and strategies more explicit. 232 00:13:00,430 --> 00:13:03,710 Love restorative city is considered as a learning 233 00:13:03,711 --> 00:13:06,190 network where participation of 234 00:13:06,191 --> 00:13:10,990 organizations and citizens is being facilitated where we where where 235 00:13:10,990 --> 00:13:11,870 where where where where where where where where where an added 236 00:13:11,870 --> 00:13:16,429 value can be found in innovative forms of co-creation. 237 00:13:16,430 --> 00:13:20,190 The network stands for a horizontal type of cooperation, 238 00:13:20,191 --> 00:13:22,350 striving for an optimal balance 239 00:13:22,350 --> 00:13:23,840 between flexibility. 240 00:13:24,100 --> 00:13:29,940 and fluidity on the one hand and continu continuity and sustainability 241 00:13:29,941 --> 00:13:31,429 on the other hand. 242 00:13:33,259 --> 00:13:36,379 So we also spent some time to develop a strategy. 243 00:13:36,380 --> 00:13:39,179 And on the one hand, we try to reach out 244 00:13:39,180 --> 00:13:42,220 to society broadly, 245 00:13:42,221 --> 00:13:46,940 society at large, at a local level, as I have already mentioned. 246 00:13:46,941 --> 00:13:50,620 So then you can develop you can develop all kinds of 247 00:13:50,620 --> 00:13:52,700 um information and 248 00:13:52,701 --> 00:13:56,059 sensibilization instruments and campaigns. 249 00:13:56,060 --> 00:13:59,179 And that is what we also did, making use of such a video 250 00:13:59,180 --> 00:14:01,740 and other tools, of course. 251 00:14:01,740 --> 00:14:02,610 But then 252 00:14:02,610 --> 00:14:06,360 We were also, that was part of the strategy, we were also 253 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:08,279 addressing particular social 254 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:09,399 fields. 255 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:15,320 And this is called, as in sociology, it is called interactive social 256 00:14:15,321 --> 00:14:16,759 settings. 257 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:22,440 And an interactive social setting is a place where people can be active as a 258 00:14:22,441 --> 00:14:25,799 citizen, where there's a high probability of adopting 259 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:27,240 another mindset. 260 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:31,639 In our case, a restorative justice discourse through talking, 261 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:32,500 thinking, and 262 00:14:32,500 --> 00:14:33,500 Acting. 263 00:14:33,690 --> 00:14:36,960 Where common values, principles, and skills can be shared and 264 00:14:36,961 --> 00:14:39,519 developed, where some types and degrees of 265 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:43,440 regulation exist, where independent can be guaranteed, 266 00:14:43,441 --> 00:14:45,039 inequality and discrimination 267 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,639 combated, and where various degrees of involvement can be 268 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:50,720 considered, but also where there is 269 00:14:50,721 --> 00:14:52,799 room for surprises. 270 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:57,039 So this might sound a little bit abstract, all these things, 271 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:58,559 but what we have in 272 00:14:58,560 --> 00:14:59,559 mind here is 273 00:15:00,529 --> 00:15:01,889 Organizations. 274 00:15:01,890 --> 00:15:04,690 These particular social fields are organizations. 275 00:15:04,691 --> 00:15:08,610 That can be a school, that can be a neighborhood committee, 276 00:15:08,610 --> 00:15:10,289 that can be a workplace, a 277 00:15:10,290 --> 00:15:14,210 company, that can even be a university, that can also be 278 00:15:14,211 --> 00:15:16,049 a football club, for example. 279 00:15:16,050 --> 00:15:21,809 These are all types of organizations, which we call interactive social 280 00:15:21,810 --> 00:15:22,450 settings. 281 00:15:22,451 --> 00:15:25,299 It are social settings where people are. 282 00:15:25,710 --> 00:15:30,190 Dealing a lot with each other, by necessity, of course, 283 00:15:30,191 --> 00:15:31,070 and where they 284 00:15:31,071 --> 00:15:36,269 interact with each other, but where by definition also problems, 285 00:15:36,270 --> 00:15:39,710 tensions, conflicts emerge from time to time. 286 00:15:39,711 --> 00:15:43,309 So and these kinds of interactive social settings 287 00:15:43,310 --> 00:15:45,070 that respond to this kind of 288 00:15:45,071 --> 00:15:48,350 criteria on the list here on this on this slide, 289 00:15:48,350 --> 00:15:50,830 these are interesting and unique 290 00:15:50,831 --> 00:15:53,759 places for us to start working in. 291 00:15:54,779 --> 00:16:00,289 But to help us to select the types of organizations and settings where 292 00:16:00,290 --> 00:16:06,019 we where we found it might make sense to start restorative practices there. 293 00:16:07,450 --> 00:16:11,600 We also defined our operational objectives, and the first one is 294 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:13,279 to deepen restorative values, 295 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:17,649 principle, skills, and practices within organizations in Leven. 296 00:16:18,299 --> 00:16:18,779 Yeah. 297 00:16:18,780 --> 00:16:22,220 The second one is on promoting these mentalities, skills, 298 00:16:22,221 --> 00:16:24,139 and practices in society at 299 00:16:24,140 --> 00:16:29,740 large by by by implementing communication information strategy to 300 00:16:29,740 --> 00:16:33,870 citizens with respect to restorative justice and restorative approaches. 301 00:16:34,740 --> 00:16:40,740 But also by implementing this strategy with respect to the offer to 302 00:16:40,740 --> 00:16:44,899 organizations and cooperation opportunities, to offer training, 303 00:16:44,900 --> 00:16:46,500 coaching, and other types of 304 00:16:46,500 --> 00:16:50,580 support to organizations, and then also to design, 305 00:16:50,581 --> 00:16:52,259 to test out, to implement 306 00:16:52,260 --> 00:16:57,460 innovative and participatory methods in dealing with complex situations. 307 00:16:57,461 --> 00:16:59,590 And I come back to that immediately. 308 00:17:00,409 --> 00:17:04,480 We also wanted to make existing mediation and other restorative 309 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:05,890 services in Leuven. 310 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,598 more accessible for a wide public. 311 00:17:09,599 --> 00:17:12,640 This was one of the findings, and that might also be 312 00:17:12,641 --> 00:17:15,118 recognizable for many of you 313 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,450 mediation services and all the restorative justice programs. 314 00:17:19,068 --> 00:17:24,828 rely very much for their cases from the criminal justice system, 315 00:17:24,829 --> 00:17:27,549 from the police, from the public prosecutor, from the judge, 316 00:17:27,550 --> 00:17:30,829 from probation, from the prison system, from victim support 317 00:17:30,830 --> 00:17:31,549 maybe. 318 00:17:31,550 --> 00:17:36,910 So what we wanted to do is that people find their way 319 00:17:36,911 --> 00:17:40,589 directly and autonomously to restorative justice 320 00:17:40,590 --> 00:17:42,589 programs without necessarily 321 00:17:42,590 --> 00:17:47,680 being be referred by other organizations or institutions. 322 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:54,079 We also build a structure for love restorative city. 323 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:57,039 It is a network organization. 324 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:02,079 We try to make it a network and not to not to build another 325 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:06,930 organization, but much more to bring organizations together. 326 00:18:07,519 --> 00:18:11,440 We have we saw it as a flexible partnership without too 327 00:18:11,441 --> 00:18:13,119 much heavy structure 328 00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:17,329 with representatives from multiple sectors in society, not just 329 00:18:18,319 --> 00:18:23,759 Social organizations, but also private companies, for example, sports clubs, 330 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:25,680 schools, etc., 331 00:18:25,681 --> 00:18:29,279 where we are working towards a common goal and where we hold 332 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:31,089 together by a common framework. 333 00:18:32,059 --> 00:18:36,140 So I can also show you immediately the next slide, I think, 334 00:18:36,141 --> 00:18:37,900 which presents this structure 335 00:18:37,901 --> 00:18:39,099 as well. 336 00:18:39,100 --> 00:18:43,950 So love restorative city as network members. 337 00:18:44,910 --> 00:18:50,430 Both individual citizens can become a network member, but also an 338 00:18:50,431 --> 00:18:53,789 organization can become a network member. 339 00:18:53,790 --> 00:18:58,079 And you become a network member by signing a kind of declaration. 340 00:18:58,619 --> 00:18:59,869 And shorter. 341 00:19:01,650 --> 00:19:06,289 Well, we have a steering group, which is a central body, 342 00:19:06,290 --> 00:19:07,410 with a smaller 343 00:19:07,411 --> 00:19:11,410 group, a general general meeting of the NGO, because at a certain moment, 344 00:19:11,411 --> 00:19:13,250 I forgot to mention that, we 345 00:19:13,250 --> 00:19:15,539 created also an legal entity. 346 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:21,730 We have been reflecting a lot about do we need its own legal entity or not? 347 00:19:22,690 --> 00:19:28,289 But as we wanted to apply for more funding and to hire personal 348 00:19:28,290 --> 00:19:32,609 staff, it became important to create a legal entity to 349 00:19:32,610 --> 00:19:34,019 make these things possible. 350 00:19:34,430 --> 00:19:38,259 So therefore we needed the general meeting of our the NGO 351 00:19:38,260 --> 00:19:40,339 and a board, but we made it 352 00:19:40,340 --> 00:19:43,670 broader a steering group, respectively, a management group. 353 00:19:44,380 --> 00:19:47,329 We have some working groups, we have a network volunteers, 354 00:19:47,330 --> 00:19:50,049 and we have a network coordination. 355 00:19:50,050 --> 00:19:52,099 Now the network coordination. 356 00:19:52,349 --> 00:19:53,349 Coordination was 357 00:19:54,299 --> 00:19:58,349 was uh represented by one person uh full time 358 00:19:59,140 --> 00:20:02,630 Uh a full time uh coordinator. 359 00:20:03,309 --> 00:20:09,150 But uh this full-time coordinator um is no longer in uh in in uh 360 00:20:09,151 --> 00:20:11,789 active uh because of a lack of funding. 361 00:20:11,790 --> 00:20:14,509 And once again, I go back to what Marianne and Federica 362 00:20:14,510 --> 00:20:15,390 mentioned as well. 363 00:20:15,391 --> 00:20:21,230 I think we uh enjoyed funding by the municipality, by the 364 00:20:21,230 --> 00:20:25,150 city council of Leuven during five years, and we received 365 00:20:25,151 --> 00:20:27,069 about sixty five thousand euros 366 00:20:27,070 --> 00:20:32,000 per year, and that made it possible for us to hire a full-time junior. 367 00:20:32,150 --> 00:20:32,940 Professional. 368 00:20:32,941 --> 00:20:34,539 That was our coordinator. 369 00:20:34,540 --> 00:20:35,539 And that was 370 00:20:36,130 --> 00:20:40,130 That was deemed by us as essential. 371 00:20:40,131 --> 00:20:46,049 So we are now in a bad situation, so to say, that we cannot continue 372 00:20:46,050 --> 00:20:50,019 with many of our activities because of a lack of coordination. 373 00:20:51,180 --> 00:20:55,259 Here you see also in this slide the type of working groups we we we we 374 00:20:55,260 --> 00:20:56,619 we we we we we we have and had 375 00:20:56,620 --> 00:21:00,380 domain specific working groups thematic working groups and 376 00:21:00,381 --> 00:21:02,539 more methodological working 377 00:21:02,540 --> 00:21:03,539 groups 378 00:21:06,690 --> 00:21:07,690 So, um 379 00:21:08,700 --> 00:21:11,900 Here you see these working groups represented, 380 00:21:11,901 --> 00:21:14,539 a working group on education, which 381 00:21:14,540 --> 00:21:19,660 was until recently active, a working group on dialogue tables, 382 00:21:19,661 --> 00:21:20,380 a working group 383 00:21:20,381 --> 00:21:23,420 on research and international cooperation, and a working 384 00:21:23,421 --> 00:21:25,500 group on private companies. 385 00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:28,940 So that all was coordinated and supported by steering group and 386 00:21:28,941 --> 00:21:31,420 management group and by coordinator and 387 00:21:31,421 --> 00:21:32,670 by volunteers. 388 00:21:33,849 --> 00:21:35,519 How are we doing that? 389 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:39,359 Well, here you see that these operational objectives are coming 390 00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:41,279 back that I presented a couple of 391 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:42,480 slides ago. 392 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:46,400 We try to reach out to the public, to society at large, 393 00:21:46,401 --> 00:21:48,000 by sensibilization and 394 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,079 inspiration activities. 395 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:55,359 We created a website, we launched one once a month a news 396 00:21:55,360 --> 00:21:59,200 flash to several hundreds of people and organizations. 397 00:21:59,201 --> 00:22:03,650 We set up communication campaigns, we had LRC leven. 398 00:22:04,250 --> 00:22:10,009 City cafes, where we were just in an informal way discussing discussing 399 00:22:10,010 --> 00:22:12,569 new developments or new initiatives. 400 00:22:12,570 --> 00:22:16,970 We had restorative city walks and we organized seminars. 401 00:22:16,971 --> 00:22:21,900 Th these were all initiatives to reach out to a larger public. 402 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:27,119 As was said as well, we try to facilitate mutual exchange and 403 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:29,279 cooperation and support between partner 404 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,930 organizations by intervision, supervision, and by working groups. 405 00:22:33,660 --> 00:22:38,220 Third one, operational objectives, developing restorative skills in 406 00:22:38,221 --> 00:22:39,660 society through training and 407 00:22:39,661 --> 00:22:40,940 coaching. 408 00:22:40,941 --> 00:22:44,700 We worked with some schools, with some companies, and then the 409 00:22:44,701 --> 00:22:46,779 fourth operational objectives, this is 410 00:22:46,780 --> 00:22:52,220 this test testing new methodologies such as democratic dialogue 411 00:22:52,221 --> 00:22:53,220 tables. 412 00:22:54,660 --> 00:23:00,099 This is in Dutch language the shorter, so very simple document that 413 00:23:00,100 --> 00:23:04,339 people, members, be it individual citizens or organizations were 414 00:23:04,340 --> 00:23:06,019 supposed to sign, and you can 415 00:23:06,020 --> 00:23:10,420 sign that online on the website, when they want to join 416 00:23:10,421 --> 00:23:11,779 Löwen Restorative 417 00:23:11,780 --> 00:23:12,779 City. 418 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:17,599 This is another example of a campaign we did a couple of years ago. 419 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:22,720 We put on QR codes throughout the 420 00:23:22,721 --> 00:23:28,240 city stories, stories of people who have participated in mediation, for 421 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:29,119 example. 422 00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:33,200 And people who were in the city and were taking a rest 423 00:23:33,201 --> 00:23:34,799 can have a look, can 424 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,329 listen in this way to these stories. 425 00:23:39,170 --> 00:23:43,650 This is the city hall with one event of Lovers of the 426 00:23:43,651 --> 00:23:44,849 City with the major in the 427 00:23:44,850 --> 00:23:46,420 middle there. 428 00:23:47,900 --> 00:23:51,619 I will not deal with these lessons from restorative city. 429 00:23:52,509 --> 00:23:56,349 Restorative cities because these insights are coming from the 430 00:23:56,350 --> 00:23:58,109 European forum working group on 431 00:23:58,110 --> 00:24:00,190 restorative cities, and I can imagine that in the 432 00:24:00,191 --> 00:24:04,029 afternoon my colleagues will deal with 433 00:24:04,030 --> 00:24:07,470 these lessons and these insights much more in depth. 434 00:24:07,471 --> 00:24:12,109 And also my time is too much limited to deal with this all, 435 00:24:12,110 --> 00:24:13,230 but we try to be 436 00:24:13,230 --> 00:24:15,470 aware of lessons. 437 00:24:15,471 --> 00:24:17,789 What do we learn from each other? 438 00:24:17,790 --> 00:24:20,509 What are the conditions to make it happen? 439 00:24:20,510 --> 00:24:21,759 What are the challenges? 440 00:24:21,890 --> 00:24:22,890 That's it for that. 441 00:24:24,079 --> 00:24:29,759 So let's move towards our more recent developments. 442 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:34,160 And the first move was to set up democratic dialogue tables. 443 00:24:34,161 --> 00:24:36,000 We called it chat tables. 444 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,680 And here again, I could try, but I will not not not not not not not 445 00:24:39,681 --> 00:24:41,759 not not not not not reoffend here. 446 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:47,599 I could try to show a video on what democratic dialogue tables are, 447 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:53,410 but you can have a look at it later on if these slides are made available. 448 00:24:53,839 --> 00:24:56,039 Not a democratic dialogue table. 449 00:24:57,069 --> 00:24:58,069 Yes. 450 00:24:58,230 --> 00:25:01,740 A democratic dialogue table is not a debate. 451 00:25:01,740 --> 00:25:07,420 It is a gathering of a small group of people,10 to15 452 00:25:07,421 --> 00:25:13,420 people usually, where there is not a discussion, where there is not 453 00:25:13,421 --> 00:25:17,579 where we do try to convince each other, but where people 454 00:25:17,580 --> 00:25:19,099 are sharing their own 455 00:25:19,100 --> 00:25:24,619 perspectives, when you're listening to others out of curiosity. 456 00:25:24,620 --> 00:25:25,619 So 457 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:29,279 Once again, it is not a discussion. 458 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:33,599 We do in a dialogue table not try to convince or to argue, 459 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:35,279 but we try to set up 460 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:41,200 a dialogue and to develop listening skills without judgment, 461 00:25:41,201 --> 00:25:44,880 without judging the others, without criticizing the 462 00:25:44,881 --> 00:25:46,880 opinion of others, without 463 00:25:46,881 --> 00:25:49,009 trying to convince others. 464 00:25:51,579 --> 00:25:56,059 So we did quite a lot of dialogue tables throughout two years, 465 00:25:56,060 --> 00:25:57,339 and these were some 466 00:25:57,340 --> 00:26:02,059 of the topics that were being dealt with in these dialogue tables. 467 00:26:02,060 --> 00:26:03,950 We were interested in dealing with 468 00:26:05,220 --> 00:26:07,859 Delicate or difficult topics. 469 00:26:07,860 --> 00:26:10,099 So when when when when when when when when when when when for 470 00:26:10,100 --> 00:26:13,779 example international conflicts um at a certain moment at 471 00:26:13,780 --> 00:26:17,299 the university there were many students who were struggling with 472 00:26:17,300 --> 00:26:19,779 um with with uh the the the the the the the the the the the 473 00:26:19,780 --> 00:26:24,259 with the middle east and with the gaza uh and with what was happening 474 00:26:24,260 --> 00:26:25,779 there and with international 475 00:26:25,780 --> 00:26:29,460 conflicts in general but people at the university the 476 00:26:29,461 --> 00:26:31,299 students themselves told 477 00:26:31,300 --> 00:26:33,750 us we are not able to talk 478 00:26:34,069 --> 00:26:35,740 to each other about this. 479 00:26:35,740 --> 00:26:41,420 We are polarized a lot amongst us and we do not dare to set up dialogue 480 00:26:41,421 --> 00:26:45,339 amongst us about what to think about these international such 481 00:26:45,340 --> 00:26:46,779 international conflicts. 482 00:26:46,780 --> 00:26:50,619 So that was an example of a topic for which it is difficult 483 00:26:50,620 --> 00:26:52,460 for people to talk to each 484 00:26:52,461 --> 00:26:53,150 other. 485 00:26:53,151 --> 00:26:58,339 And the other examples on these slides are functioning the same 486 00:26:58,340 --> 00:26:59,299 way. 487 00:26:59,300 --> 00:27:02,900 When is a person sufficiently punished, for example? 488 00:27:02,901 --> 00:27:05,619 Having a house to live, is that a privilege 489 00:27:05,620 --> 00:27:08,500 or is that a right? 490 00:27:08,500 --> 00:27:12,579 We had a dialogue table on the pride, on the pride event, 491 00:27:12,580 --> 00:27:14,259 for example, and on 492 00:27:14,260 --> 00:27:16,259 many other topics. 493 00:27:16,260 --> 00:27:21,029 I repeat, yeah, we were dealing with topics. 494 00:27:21,410 --> 00:27:27,410 on which people usually are not talking to each other. 495 00:27:27,411 --> 00:27:28,930 Difficult topics. 496 00:27:28,931 --> 00:27:32,819 So that are the interesting topics for us. 497 00:27:35,410 --> 00:27:41,410 So um we we developed a methodology to set up such a dialogue 498 00:27:41,411 --> 00:27:42,410 table. 499 00:27:43,869 --> 00:27:48,109 Where we are to share on perspectives, to listen curiously, 500 00:27:48,110 --> 00:27:49,869 and to postpone your judgment 501 00:27:49,870 --> 00:27:51,950 and to respect everyone's perspective. 502 00:27:51,951 --> 00:27:56,269 So much more can be said about that, but again, I do not have the time. 503 00:27:56,270 --> 00:28:01,950 We made at the end of these two years experience experience a handbook, a 504 00:28:01,951 --> 00:28:04,670 manual on chat tables. 505 00:28:04,671 --> 00:28:10,589 It is an inspiration guides for difficult talks, as you can read 506 00:28:10,590 --> 00:28:11,589 there. 507 00:28:13,059 --> 00:28:15,339 Translated the Dutch title of this. 508 00:28:16,099 --> 00:28:20,579 And this is a visual presentation of the contents of this manual, 509 00:28:20,580 --> 00:28:22,019 but it is only available 510 00:28:22,020 --> 00:28:23,019 in Dutch. 511 00:28:24,150 --> 00:28:27,660 So that was a second move, a first move, 512 00:28:27,661 --> 00:28:29,579 to develop a methodology, an 513 00:28:29,580 --> 00:28:34,380 innovative methodology to make difficult talks possible 514 00:28:34,381 --> 00:28:35,390 between people. 515 00:28:36,029 --> 00:28:38,980 How did we evaluate this democratic dialogue tables? 516 00:28:38,980 --> 00:28:41,140 Well, it seemed to work. 517 00:28:41,141 --> 00:28:45,059 It seems to be possible to organize talks on difficult 518 00:28:45,060 --> 00:28:46,980 topics between people who 519 00:28:46,980 --> 00:28:51,539 would normally not talk to the other on these issues. 520 00:28:51,540 --> 00:28:55,460 What was also positive was that the rotating system of 521 00:28:55,461 --> 00:28:57,220 involving various dialogue 522 00:28:57,221 --> 00:29:00,980 moderators or facilitators was a rewarding and in a 523 00:29:00,980 --> 00:29:02,420 certain way educational 524 00:29:02,421 --> 00:29:03,460 experience. 525 00:29:03,461 --> 00:29:04,869 So these were not always the 526 00:29:05,250 --> 00:29:07,049 Time facilitators. 527 00:29:07,500 --> 00:29:09,900 that we're leading the dialogue tables. 528 00:29:09,901 --> 00:29:10,859 No. 529 00:29:10,860 --> 00:29:12,430 We we we we we we we we we we we intentionally 530 00:29:13,569 --> 00:29:19,059 tried to encourage people to take up the role of facilitator. 531 00:29:19,470 --> 00:29:23,309 And this kind of rotating system was rewarding for people. 532 00:29:23,310 --> 00:29:26,829 They had the feeling that you were able to help other people 533 00:29:26,830 --> 00:29:28,960 to talk about difficult things. 534 00:29:30,180 --> 00:29:32,259 But there were still challenges. 535 00:29:32,260 --> 00:29:36,579 Reaching out to some minority groups or to people who were 536 00:29:36,580 --> 00:29:37,700 not interested in 537 00:29:37,701 --> 00:29:40,500 talking, in consultation, in deliberation, 538 00:29:40,500 --> 00:29:43,140 or in politics in general remained an 539 00:29:43,141 --> 00:29:44,230 important. 540 00:29:44,619 --> 00:29:45,660 Challenge. 541 00:29:45,661 --> 00:29:50,940 So it was not so difficult for us to reach people who were open 542 00:29:50,941 --> 00:29:56,859 already to talk about difficult things, but we were not so successful 543 00:29:56,860 --> 00:30:02,779 in reaching having access to minority groups or to less less 544 00:30:02,780 --> 00:30:06,059 motivated, less interested people. 545 00:30:06,060 --> 00:30:10,220 And also sometimes the groups of10,15 people around the 546 00:30:10,221 --> 00:30:11,579 dialogue table were too 547 00:30:11,580 --> 00:30:12,859 homogeneous. 548 00:30:12,860 --> 00:30:14,269 And there was not enough difference. 549 00:30:14,509 --> 00:30:17,230 Not enough friction of opinions. 550 00:30:17,230 --> 00:30:19,069 So that was another challenge. 551 00:30:19,070 --> 00:30:23,230 Therefore, we felt the need to strengthen the model of 552 00:30:23,230 --> 00:30:24,750 democratic dialogue 553 00:30:24,750 --> 00:30:25,549 tables. 554 00:30:25,550 --> 00:30:31,470 But there were more challenges. 555 00:30:31,471 --> 00:30:33,630 I ask you to come to a conclusion. 556 00:30:33,631 --> 00:30:37,470 You reach the end of your time and you want to leave a bit of time for the 557 00:30:37,471 --> 00:30:40,509 questions. 558 00:30:40,510 --> 00:30:41,789 There were more challenges. 559 00:30:41,790 --> 00:30:43,440 We wanted to apply the model of dialogue table. 560 00:30:43,559 --> 00:30:46,670 to larger groups, not just10,15 people, but two two two two two two 561 00:30:46,671 --> 00:30:48,269 two two two two two two two two two two two two two two two bigger groups. 562 00:30:48,270 --> 00:30:52,109 And we also wanted and that is the new element to integrate an element 563 00:30:52,110 --> 00:30:54,190 of deliberation or participatory 564 00:30:54,191 --> 00:30:58,349 decision making in order to respond to the need of transformation 565 00:30:58,350 --> 00:30:59,869 in order to exercise some 566 00:30:59,870 --> 00:31:03,630 public influence related to issues of common interest. 567 00:31:03,631 --> 00:31:08,990 So where I said previously that the goal of dialogue tables was not to 568 00:31:08,990 --> 00:31:13,200 formulate recommendations or to come to consensus. 569 00:31:13,319 --> 00:31:16,990 No, we still, still, nevertheless, we want to make a next move, 570 00:31:16,990 --> 00:31:19,230 next step, where we want to 571 00:31:19,230 --> 00:31:23,470 extend this, and where we want to further develop this model 572 00:31:23,471 --> 00:31:25,230 so where deliberation and 573 00:31:25,230 --> 00:31:28,829 participatory decision making in a democratic way would 574 00:31:28,830 --> 00:31:30,240 become possible as well. 575 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:36,670 So we try to reach out to strengthen the model to other groups in 576 00:31:36,671 --> 00:31:42,269 society representing national ethnical ethnic religious gender based 577 00:31:42,270 --> 00:31:46,910 minorities or disabled persons, and also we have to do 578 00:31:46,911 --> 00:31:48,190 much more effort to 579 00:31:48,191 --> 00:31:53,470 involve so-called uninterested citizens who may possibly have extreme 580 00:31:53,471 --> 00:31:55,759 ideological or social attitudes. 581 00:31:56,609 --> 00:32:02,049 So we also want to diversify our dialogue tables in cooperation with 582 00:32:02,050 --> 00:32:05,410 neighborhood committees and also to set up it much more, 583 00:32:05,411 --> 00:32:07,809 not just in the city, but also in 584 00:32:07,810 --> 00:32:10,609 local villages in a rural environment. 585 00:32:10,610 --> 00:32:14,049 So this is my last, I think, slide. 586 00:32:14,050 --> 00:32:19,569 How to further develop model, we will extend the extent the idea of 587 00:32:19,570 --> 00:32:22,660 dialogue tables to what we call community circles. 588 00:32:23,170 --> 00:32:26,130 In cooperation with social cultural organizations, 589 00:32:26,131 --> 00:32:29,009 also in cooperation with sports clubs. 590 00:32:29,010 --> 00:32:34,690 We want to expand that much more proactively, community circles, but we 591 00:32:34,691 --> 00:32:38,849 want also the design and test a model of transformative 592 00:32:38,850 --> 00:32:40,690 community circles, community 593 00:32:40,691 --> 00:32:44,450 circles, where we try to integrate this element of deliberation 594 00:32:44,451 --> 00:32:46,690 and participatory decision 595 00:32:46,691 --> 00:32:47,690 making. 596 00:32:48,220 --> 00:32:54,210 Our perspective is that we in that way can build a resistance to 597 00:32:54,211 --> 00:32:59,730 hardening politics, to polarizing tendencies in society, and that we 598 00:32:59,730 --> 00:33:05,650 contribute to paving the road to innovative citizens governance spaces, 599 00:33:05,651 --> 00:33:06,609 so to say. 600 00:33:06,610 --> 00:33:12,210 So that are the new developments, and that is what we would try to 601 00:33:12,211 --> 00:33:17,859 further develop in the coming period, if we find some. 602 00:33:17,980 --> 00:33:19,569 additional resources. 603 00:33:19,570 --> 00:33:23,730 And here I present you some sources as well. 604 00:33:23,730 --> 00:33:28,690 You might be familiar with this literature on restorative cities. 605 00:33:28,691 --> 00:33:30,019 Thank you for your attention.