i-RESTORE Research report on the application of restorative justice in cases involving child victims in Greece

A research review on the application of restorative justice in cases involving child victims in Albania, Greece and Romania was conducted within the “i-RESTORE - Better Protecting Child Victims Rights through Restorative Justice” project. The EU-funded project is led by Terre des hommes Regional Office in Hungary and implemented in partnership with the European Forum for Restorative Justice, Restorative Justice Netherlands, Terre des hommes Romania and Terre des hommes Greece.

The review resulted in four research reports: one European and three national reports (Albania, Greece, Romania). The research was carried in consultation with children and key stakeholders from these countries. 

Please find below report on Greece, in Greek and English languages.

The  national research report in Greece was produced by Cecilia Popa, Dimitra Moustaka, Martha Chatzopoulou and Effie Papaioannou. It aimed at identifying gaps and synergies concerning the application of restorative justice (RJ) in cases involving child victims. Amongst other goals, the project identified RJ practices in Greece, with a focus on the particularity of this process and the existence of best practices when working with children.

The first part of the report provides an overview of juvenile justice in Greece, including juvenile penal legislation; the policy framework for child victims; research, projects and training in restorative justice and children’s rights; and the current state of restorative justice and mediation in law and practice.

The second part of this report is based on an empirical study that draws on 24 consultations with 22 professionals and children. Analysis of the findings of these consultations are set out in six main areas:

• restorative work with child victims, 
• the challenges in working with children, 
• best practices in working with children, 
• the existence and the frequency of training in restorative justice and juvenile justice,
• differences in working with children and 
• the children’s opinions about restorative justice.

Based on the literature review and the analysis of the interviews, the authors propose a list of recommendations that aim to ensure and promote a coherent and balanced application of restorative justice for children.

Access the other research reports of the i-RESTORE project:

• European Research report on restorative justice in cases involving child victims 
• Research report on restorative justice in cases involving child victims in Albania
• Research report on restorative justice in cases involving child victims in Romania

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The project “i-RESTORE - Better Protecting Child Victims Rights through Restorative Justice” (September 2019 until August 2021) aims to promote the use of restorative justice in cases involving child victims by improving knowledge amongst national stakeholders on child-victim friendly restorative justice and empowering children to advocate for better protection of child victims.

The project is co-funded by the European Union’s Justice Programme (2014-2020). The content of the reports represents the views of their authors only and is their sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.