INTRODUCTION AND FOREWORD

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introduction and foreword by editors

The European Union is an alliance of different countries, values and people. Yet, the motto of the Union is ‘united in diversity’, meaning that differences that we as humans hold and share, form the foundation of our shared European identity. You have opened on your screen or hold in your hand a handbook that is put together by civil society organisations and experts across Europe who value human rights of everyone and stand up for the rights of LGBTI community.

This Handbook is a compilation of expert essays and country chapters on history, policies, practices and procedures that have shaped and are being used in the field of restorative justice. It will guide you through the evolution of the topic and give you insight of current situations in different countries. It focuses more specifically on the possibilities and challenges that restorative justice approaches have and can have in case of LGBTI hate crimes.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and intersex (LGBTI) people experience discrimination, harassment and violence in different areas of life. These phenomena but also our social environments that do not value human diversity may lead to hate crimes that are criminal offenses against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against victims real or perceived identity. Hate crimes are special types of crimes, they cause feelings of vulnerability, anxiety, anger, and shame but also spread fear and anger throughout communities. So the question is: how do we address the problems of hate crime and other bias based human conflicts in ways that productively incorporate the values of diversity, respect, accountability, and ultimately reconciliation?

14 There is no easy fix to people’s attitudes and prejudice, but restorative justice offers some good approaches to deal with the root causes and consequences of a hate crime. Restorative justice views crime much broader than just breaking the law and deciding on the punishment. Any crime causes harm to people, relationships and community the victim belongs to. Restorative justice practices focus on repairing the harm caused by crime and reducing future harm through crime prevention. It also gives active role in the process to the victim and offers the perpetrator a possibility to understand the cause of the crime.

In today’s age of global knowledge and technology, our interconnected network of LGBTI rights organizations have much to contribute to the discussion about restorative justice so that it would meaningfully serve our community. Yet it often seems that wherever we are in our journey towards a society that fully respects human and LGBTI rights, we still have a long way to go. At the same time, the journey is much easier if you have sorted out the fundamentals and know the tools available. It is our hope that this handbook will introduce and facilitate many good practices in working toward safer Europe for LGBTI people, and peaceful coexistence for everyone.