Gender-based violence and restorative justice
Gender-based violence is a stark example of how power imbalances manifest within society, reinforcing structural inequalities and perpetuating harm. I have always said that gender-based violence is not merely an individual act of wrongdoing, but also a reflection of systemic power abuse, where harmed parties are stripped of agency and silenced.
I have argued that Restorative Justice can become the “biopower that can restore persistent inequalities and the misuse of power by top-down structures.” (Gavrielides 2021, p.5) In my power book, I argued that fairness, in particular, can serve as the biopower that can “counterbalance the power structures that blind us all.” (Gavrielides 2021, p.38). In restorative justice, both victims and offenders (or more accurately harming and harmed parties) are viewed as free individuals responsible for their actions and decisions. They are considered free from power. They possess rights that must be respected and protected. (Gavrielides 2021, p. 69)
In cases of gender based violence, this framework challenges the existing power hierarchies by offering a space where survivors can reclaim their voice and agency while holding offenders accountable in a way that traditional justice systems often fail to do. Under the restorative justice framework and values of power sharing, equality and involvement in decision making, the oppressive structures that enable gender based violence collapse. This can allow restorative justice to restore the broken liaison – a social connection that bonds individuals in a relationship of respect for the rights and freedom of others – that used to exist before harm occurred. By addressing these imbalances, restorative justice operates as a biopower capable of reconstructing fairness, challenging dominance, and fostering a justice process.
I am well aware that critics have argued that when it comes to gender based violence, restorative justice may:
◉ Reinforce power imbalances.
◉ Shift gender based violence cases into the private realm, reducing state intervention.
◉ Be perceived as an “easy way out” getting offenders “off the hook”.
However, research counters these concerns. The work presented here as well as of many other researchers suggest that restorative justice can be highly effective in serious and complex cases, including gender based violence (Gavrielides, 2017; McGlynn et al., 2012; Knowles, 2013; Chan et al., 2015). Restorative justice can play a crucial role in empowering victims, enabling them to voice the full extent of their harm and articulate their healing needs. For example:
◉ Immediate protection – victims are given support to stop the violence received as a first step.
◉ Provides agency – victims can actively participate rather than being passive observers of the conventional criminal justice system. Victims have the chance to state their story and seek validation and vindication.
◉ Acknowledges harm – offenders take responsibility without victim-blaming.
◉ Encourages healing – victims receive public validation and emotional closure.
◉ Balances power dynamics – facilitated dialogue in a non-judgmental environment ensures victim safety and dignity.
Pelikan (2010) and Gavrielides (2021) emphasize empowerment as RJ’s most significant benefit for GBV victims. During RJ processes, victims experience:
◉ A safe space to be heard and believed.
◉ Support from facilitators who ensure balanced communication.
◉ Opportunities for offenders to accept responsibility and demonstrate empathy (Loeffler et al., 2010).
Live projects on gender-based violence and restorative justice
CPD eCourses on using restorative justice for gender-based violence
- Train the trainer to prevent gender-based violence
- Preventing gender-based violence in youth settings through restorative justice and media education
- Induction to restorative justice circles
- Preventing cyberbullying towards LGBTQ+ youth: A restorative justice and human rights approach
- Safeguarding & Empowering crime victims
Published work
- Gavrielides, T. (2024). A Practitioner’s Guide To Implementing Restorative Justice. Intimate Partner Violence & Domestic Violence. London: RJ4All Publications, ISBN: 978-1-911634-99-7, DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18070.73280
- Gavrielides, T. (2023). “Domestic Violence and Power Abuse Within the Family: The Restorative Justice Approach” in Sturmey, P. (Eds). Violence in Families in Book Series Advances in Preventing and Treating Violence and Aggression, New York: Springer. ISBN 978-3-031-31548-0.
- Gavrielides, T. (2021). Power, Race & Justice: The restorative dialogue we won’t have. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-4724-8835-0.
- Gavrielides, T. (2019). Collapsing the criminal labels of domestic violence: A social and restorative justice approach, London: RJ4All Publications. ISBN: 978-1-911634-15-7, DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18407.73123.
- Gavrielides, T. (2018). Human Rights and Restorative Justice, London: RJ4All Publications. ISBN 9781907641503. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23257.90729.
- Gavrielides, T. (2018). Equality Matters for Restorative Justice, London: RJ4All Publications. ISBN 978-1-907641-51-0.
- Gavrielides, T. (2016). Time to Move on: A comparative study into gender, migration and counselling in Europe, IARS Publications: London, ISBN 978-1-907641-35-0.
- Gavrielides, T. (2015). “Is Restorative Justice appropriate for Domestic Violence cases?”, Vol 14. Issue 4, Social Work Review. pp. 105-121.
- Gavrielides, T. (2015). “The Victims’ Directive and What Victims Want from Restorative Justice", Victims and Offenders Journal, Vol: 10. Issue 2. pages 1-22. DOI 10.1080/15564886.2014.982778.
- Gavrielides, T. and V. Artinopoulou (2012). “Violence against women and restorative justice”, Asian Journal of Criminology, Volume 8, Issue 1, pp 25-40 ISNN 1871-0131.
- Gavrielides, T. (2017). “Structured & Unstructured Restorative Justice: The case of violence against women” in Halder, D. and Jaishankar, K. (Eds). Therapeutic Jurisprudence and Overcoming Violence Against Women, Pensilvania: IGI Global Publications, 106-120.
- Gavrielides, T. (2017). Gender and Diversity: A Teaching programme for migrants’ career guidance and counselling, London: IARS Publications. ISBN: 978-1-907641-43-5.