UNAFEI Holds the Public Lectures on Criminal Policy

On 31 January 2003 the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) held a Public Lecture Programme on Criminal Policy, together with the Japan Criminal Policy Society and the Asia Crime Prevention Foundation, at the main conference hall of the Ministry of Justice in Tokyo, Japan, as an annual event.

Two visiting experts from the 123rd International Senior Seminar of UNAFEI gave lectures on contemporary issues in the area of criminal justice. Professor John Braithwaite, Professor of the Australian National University, gave a lecture entitled “Restorative Justice: Justice of the Future,” which outlined the current situation of restorative justice programmes around the world, the effects of restorative justice programmes on reoffending and the future prospects of restorative justice. Oberregierungsrätin Sylvia Frey, Executive Assistant of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Germany, presented a comprehensive overview on victims’ rights in Germany. The title of her lecture was “Victim’s Rights in Germany – Information and Participation in Criminal Procedure, Reparation and Practical Assistance.” In the question-answer session after each lecture, there were active discussions between the lecturers and the audience.

The two lecturers successfully widened the perspectives of the audience of over 200 consisting of senior officials from the Ministry of Justice, public prosecutors, practicing attorneys, legal trainees, scholars and university students as well as the participants of the 123rd International Senior Seminar.