Director General of the Czech Probation and Mediation Service, Mrs Andrea Matoušková, and the Deputy for Probation and Mediation, Mrs Kateřina Šlesingerová, represented the Czech Republic at the Conference of the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe “Crime and Criminal Justice – the role of restorative justice in Europe” which took place from 13 to 14 December in Venice, Italy. The aim of the conference was to examine in detail the potential benefits of using restorative justice, having as a reference point the Recommendation of the CoE CM/Rec (2018)8 on restorative justice in criminal matters.

The Italian Presidency presented for an adoption a “Venice Declaration on the Role of restorative justice in criminal matters” in order to promote the practice of restorative justice and further implement its application by the Council of Europe Member States, aiming at a widespread implementation of the above-mentioned Reccomendation. The declaration calls upon the Council of Europe to:

• Carry out a comprehensive study of models of restorative justice currently covered by national legislations and implemented by member States’ governments, in order to facilitate exchange of knowledge, best practices, experiences and genuine scientific research on this topic, while recognising national specificities;
• Elaborate “Council of Europe High-Level Principles on Restorative Justice”, proposing a set of measures through which member States will endeavour to apply these principles;
• Continue, through the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), to regularly assess the implementation of Recommendation (2018)8 and the principles annexed thereto, in the light of any significant developments in the use of restorative justice in member States and, if necessary, revise it, according to Rule 67 of the Recommendation.

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