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Supporting Women Prisoners Through Restorative Justice

2004:08 Supporting Women Prisoners Through Restorative Justice

Whereas:

  • In 2000, Canada successfully introduced a resolution at the United Nations (UN) in New York titled “Basic Principles on the Use of Restorative Justice Programmes in Criminal Matters”, with consensus achieved in 2002 for a Declaration of these principles at the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna.
  • Restorative Justice views criminal offences as acts against the state or Crown and emphasizes healing, reparation, and restoration for both the offender and the victim, rather than punishment.
  • Some progress has been made since the release of the 1996 Arbour Report from the Commission of Inquiry into certain events at the Prison for Women in Kingston.
  • These basic principles have guided the National Council of Women of Canada’s policy, as reflected in Policy 88.17EM on Sentencing Reform.

Resolved:

  1. That the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy its full support for the United Nations document entitled “Basic Principles on the Use of Restorative Justice Programmes in Criminal Matters.”
  2. That the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to:
    a. Reaffirm its support for the “Basic Principles on the Use of Restorative Justice Programmes in Criminal Matters” and allocate adequate funding for implementing Restorative Justice in the Federal Corrections System.
    b. Encourage Provincial and Territorial Governments to adopt support for the “Basic Principles on the Use of Restorative Justice Programmes in Criminal Matters” and ensure adequate funding for its implementation in provincial correctional systems.
  3. That the National Council of Women of Canada request its Local and Provincial Councils to urge their respective governments to adopt and fund “Basic Principles on the Use of Restorative Justice Programmes in Criminal Matters.”