STOP PRESS: New evidence addressing the growing social youth disadvantage through community positive action
STOP PRESS: New evidence addressing the growing social youth disadvantage through community positive action
On the 25th November 2022, the RJ4All International Institute will launch the results of ground-breaking new research highlighting the growing social disadvantage impacting on youth and certain minority communities. The 2nd RJ4All International Conference will be held at The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, Middle Temple
Lane, London EC4Y 9BT, and it is free and open for registration until 23rd November.
Sir Bob Neill MP for Bromley & Chislehurst, Chairman Justice Select Committee, RJ4All Patron said:
“Empowering the young and our communities to speak up and shape up policy could not be more timely. School exclusion, cyberbullying and disadvantage cause harm leading to a vicious circle of violence including radicalised behaviours. Restorative justice and democratic engagement through community led action are important approaches that are championed by RJ4All and their second International Annual Conference, which I endorse and highly recommend”.
This international event is financed by the European Commission (Erasmus+) and will bring together experts from across Europe to debate youth policy, the Victims’ Bill, and RJ4All’s new evidence on addressing poverty and disadvantage using the bottom-up methodology of restorative justice.
Held during
international restorative justice 2022, the event will focus on presenting its evidence-based and user-led solutions to the cross-cutting themes of bullying, violent youth radicalisation and social exclusion, homelessness and youth isolation.
Keynote speakers include Dr Howard Williamson (Prof of European Youth Policy, University of South Wales and RJ4All Hon Vice President, UK), Ben Lyon, (RJ4All Hon Vice President), Pro. Dr. Theo Gavrieliedes (RJ4All Founder & Director) and Sir Bob Neil (RJ4All Patron). They will be accompanied by RJ4All international partners from Cyprus, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, and Turkey.
Professor Theo Gavrielides, RJ4All Founder and Director said: “Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, budget cuts, reduced state support, and ongoing political uncertainty, how can youth-related challenges remain a priority? Going even further, how can creative solutions to them be raised in profile? Communities are ready to take control of their own affairs and restorative justice is the power that we use to counter narratives of division and community tensions”.
Titled “Voices from Within”, the conference is set to demonstrate that "risk management approaches" have proven to be ineffective, following the common use of school exclusion, punishment, incarceration, which see young people as "risks".
Alongside interactive workshops and network opportunities, keynote speeches will cover questions against a UK, European and International comparative backdrop; these include: assessing the benefits of non-formal education; the development of a “youth policy”; victims rights; and “restorative cities”.
Following its mission to situate the results of rigorous academic and social research within private and public policy debates, while also empowering the community, the learnings and outcomes of the conference will be compiled and published as an e-book by RJ4ALL Publications, while all delegates who attend the event will receive a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) certificate.
Notes to Editors
- The conference agenda and to book https://www.rj4all.info/AIC2
- Following the success of the 1st RJ4All International Conference early this year - that addressed the impact of the COVID pandemic on phenomenon including mental health, gender-based violence (GBV) and hate crime, and saw 148 delegates from 22 countries - the Institute’s second conference expects to see both repeating and new delegates ready to delve into the use of alternative practices to safeguard and empower the youth of today.
- RJ4All is encouraging students, junior researchers, and other academics to submit summaries of their work for potential presentation. The organisation has also been able to offer bursaries of up to £400 to help non-UK based participants cover the costs of attending.
- The Institute has also put a call out to its partner organisations who carry out community work for the chance to promote their initiatives and any upcoming events or research opportunities.
Restorative Justice for All International Institute (RJ4All)
The RJ4All Rotherhithe Community Centre, 30 Plough Way London SE16 2LJ, UK
admin@rj4all.org | +44(0)7708758600 or 07795678904
