Leuven Restorative City - From connections to capacities

‘Leuven Restorative City’ aims at developing methodologies that allow for dealing with polarising tendencies, ‘otherness’, conflict and tensions in society. The ‘file rouge’ is the use of direct dialogue in order to rebuild trust. A dynamic-relation idea of security underpins this approach. New methodologies will be designed, tested and evaluated within particular societal settings, starting from restorative justice values and principles. The latter refer to identifying and understanding personal and social needs from the life-world of people, respect and inclusion, countering stereotyping, non-violence, responsibility, voice and participation. The focus is not only on responding to conflict or crime, but also on strengthening social cohesion, in short: the art of leaving together.