Last Tuesday, May 19, the Historical Archive of the Basque Country—home to the Gogora Institute for Memory in Bilbao—hosted the seminar “Victim-Centered Justice and Contribution to Coexistence in the Basque Country: Experiences from the VicTory Project.” The event, organised by the Ararteko (the Ombudsman of the Basque Country) alongside the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, was held within the framework of the VicTory project, funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the Euro-Arab Foundation.
The gathering was designed as a space for dialogue on a model of justice that goes beyond resolving conflicts by simply applying the law, focusing instead on active listening to victims, offenders, and the community. Similarly, participants—including institutional representatives, experts, and young people—reflected on how to build a coexistence sustained by justice, recognition, and humanity in the Basque Country, highlighting the intergenerational dimension and the commitment to a more inclusive society.
The VicTory project is committed to putting victims at the center, preventing secondary victimization, and promoting models of dialogue and reparation for harm. This seminar highlighted the value of restorative justice as a key tool for healing social wounds.
This project provides both justice professionals and NGO victim support workers with factsheets that reflect lessons learned and a series of recommendations.
Download them here:
