Handbook on Restorative justice programmes

particularly critical for those persons who are involved in facilitating and
mediating cases involving women and children who have been victims 
of abuse. Mediator training should emphasize the safety of women and
children, and an understanding of systemic gender discrimination and
power imbalance.
Despite the proliferation of restorative justice programmes, relatively little
attention has been given to the issue of accreditation or certification of
facilitators and mediators. There is a need in many countries for an agreed
way of ensuring occupational proficiency in restorative justice, and a set of
agreed upon standards for restorative justice practice and a shared frame-
work for quality control and accountability. Legal mechanisms may also
be required to assure mediator accountability, including an accessible
grievance process, and a discipline process with consequences. An agreed
approach for accreditation can also serve to raise standards by encourag-
ing more practitioners to seek accreditation and meet its training pre-
requisites