A Kind of Mending : Restorative Justice in the Pacific Islands

Abstract

This collection of essays grew out of the conference 'Restorative Justice and Conflict Management in the Pacific Islands' hosted by the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Project at Australia National University and the Law School of the University of South Pacific. The group of academics, criminal justice professionals, and community activists discussed restorative justice as a viable option for the Pacific Islands because it resonates with traditional processes and practices. This optimism is reinforced by descriptions of innovative practices used to resolve conflict situations in recent history. At the same time, several writers caution against the assumption that traditional practices or attitudes are automatically restorative. Edited by Sinclair Dinnen, Anita Jowitt, and Tess Newton Cain. Canberra, ACT: Pandanus Books. ISBN: 1 74076 015 8. Pacific. The group of academics, criminal justice professionals, and community activists discusses restorative justice as a viable option for the Pacific Islands because it resonates with traditional processes and practices. This optimism is reinforced by descriptions of innovative practices used to resolve conflict situations in recent history. At the same time, several writers caution against the assumption that traditional practices or attitudes are automatically restorative. In his introduction, Sinclair Dinnen describes the situation of the Pacific Islands as vulnerable, with fragile justice institutions and high levels of insecurity and violent conflict. For Dinnen, the ability of local communities to respond to violence and crime will be important in enabling the development of stable State structures. He also reports that the " resonance between restorative justice and more traditional approaches " was a stimulus for discussion among conference participants.