Peru - Major success for restorative justice

The World Congress of Restorative Juvenile Justice organised by Tdh in Lima, Peru was a major success. 700 experts from 60 countries were present which lets us hope that a consequent improvement in the field of child rights, specifically concerning children in conflict with the law is underway.
“The idea is that there are alternatives to detention; less expensive and more efficient, explains Jean Schmitz, Tdh Delegate in Peru. One of these alternatives is a legal form of “remission”, which does not confront the adolescent with a penal process, but instead integrates him/her in a socio-educative programme run by professionals." The Congress was a great media success at national and also at international level.
Several important personalities like Jean Zermatten or Michel Lachat, have been interviewed by the Swiss media. The Newspaper Le Monde even places Tdh’s Congress in its headlines, stresses its importance and explains: “Since 2005, only 7% reoffended. Before the programme, the reoffending rate in El Agustino was as high as 56%, declares the police Major, Daniel Llaury”.