A/HRC/25/47 accountability for criminal behaviour and commit to providing reparation of its consequences. 55. In a number of societies restorative justice values, such as healing and reconciliation, have long served to resolve conflict and repair harm. In recent decades, traditional forms of restorative justice have started to be promoted in both judicial and nonjudicial settings, a process that is resulting in a paradigm shift away from retributive models of justice (see the table below). From retributive to restorative justice Old paradigm: retributive New paradigm: restorative Focus on establishing blame and guilt Focus on problem solving, liabilities and obligations, focus on the future Stigma of crime permanent Stigma of crime removable No encouragement for repentance and forgiveness Possibilities for repentance and forgiveness Dependence upon proxy professionals Direct involvement by participants Action directed from State to offender Victim and offender’s role recognized in both problem and solution Offender accountability defined as taking punishment Offender accountability defined as understanding impact of action and helping decide how to make things right Response focuses on offender’s past behaviour Response focuses on harmful consequences of offender’s behaviour Imposition of pain to punish and deter/prevent Restitution as a means of restoring both parties; reconciliation/restoration as a goal Community represented abstractly by the State Community as facilitator Source: Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, “Restorative justice in Canada: what victims should know” (March 2011), third page. 56. One of the strengths of restorative justice processes is that they can be adapted and implemented through various models, such as mediation, conciliation, conferencing and sentencing circles. They apply to children who are victims, offenders or witnesses and promote healing, respect and strengthened relationships; they can be introduced at all stages of the criminal justice process and in a range of other contexts, such as in families, schools, residential care and communities. 57. In their most developed form, restorative justice programmes are multisectoral and go beyond the criminal justice system to include the provision of services, support and access to education and health services, vocational training and other activities in order to prevent reoffending. 58. The importance of restorative justice has become greater still in light of the growing perceived threat of juvenile delinquency, often fuelled by inflammatory media reports, which has led to the introduction of lower ages of criminal responsibility and longer periods of deprivation of liberty. As a result, child populations in detention have been growing exponentially. 12