The first Regional Meeting on Restorative Juvenile Justice was held in San José, Costa Rica, marking a significant regional event aimed at strengthening judicial systems in Central America.
The meeting took place within the framework of the project “Promotion and Strengthening of Restorative Juvenile Justice in the SICA Member Countries” (AID 12792), funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by the Italo-Latin American International Organization (IILA) in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA).
The event brought together international and regional experts, with delegations from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Belize. Participants shared knowledge and best practices to develop a restorative juvenile justice model tailored to the Central American context.
Italy’s strong commitment to this issue was reaffirmed by the Italian Ambassador to San José, Alberto Colella, who attended the event’s opening session. Paolo Gallizioli, Director of the AICS Office in San Salvador, which oversees Central America and the Caribbean, also emphasized the determination to strengthen strategies for crime prevention and intervention. Additionally, Gianluca Guida, Director of the Juvenile Penal Institute of Nisida (Naples), gave a presentation on the exchange of experiences and best practices between the Italian juvenile justice system and the SICA-coordinated Central American system.
One of the most significant outcomes of the meeting was the establishment of the Regional Table for Juvenile Justice, a working group composed of representatives from national working groups. This new coordination platform ensures the continuity of regional efforts and represents a decisive step toward integrating and modernizing juvenile justice systems in Central America. By fostering a shared and coordinated vision, it aims to address the sector’s challenges effectively.
