Press Release
Cyprus, March 2025: With the support of the Erasmus + Programme, RJ4All Europe is pleased to announce the launch of the Restoring Respect in Sports (RRiS) project, an initiative dedicated to addressing and preventing discrimination in European sports, including racism, misogyny, and xenophobia. Using a restorative justice approach, the project aims to promote dialogue and mutual understanding within sports communities and institutions.
Co-funded by the European Union, through the Erasmus + Programme, RRiS brings together a network of NGOs committed to creating more inclusive and respectful sports communities.
The project is a collaborative effort supported by the following NGOs:
Together, they aim to equip sports professionals with practical tools and strategies to effectively identify, address and prevent discrimination, ensuring a safer, more inclusive space for all stakeholders. The project aims to drive long-term, sustainable change at regional, national, and European levels, creating a cultural shift towards respect, equality, and fairness in sports.
Dr. Theo Gavrielides, Founder & Director of RJ4All and RJ4All Europe, stated: “Sports and restorative justice share the same founding principles. They exist to bring people together through the values of equality, and power sharing uniting communities across the world. I am extremely proud to launch this project under our RJ4All Sports arm and our global vision of challenging systemic biases and fostering inclusivity. By leveraging the bio-power of restorative justice, we aim to build environments where diversity is celebrated, and all individuals, regardless of their background, can also participate in sports without fear of prejudice or exclusion.”
Restorative justice offers a positive and constructive alternative to traditional forms of addressing discrimination in sports. Instead of focusing on punishment and exclusion, this approach emphasises healing, dialogue, and reconciliation. By integrating restorative justice practices into sports, RRiS seeks to cultivate a more respectful and inclusive sporting culture across Europe.
Eleni Sakellariou, Head of the European Projects Department at EDRA, shared: “At EDRA, we believe that sports should be a space of inclusion, respect, and fairness. Through the RRiS project, we are committed to equipping sports professionals with the tools and strategies needed to combat discrimination and foster a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding across Europe.”
The project’s key objectives are the following:
◉ Combat discrimination in sports, with a focus on racism, misogyny, and xenophobia.
◉ Introduce restorative justice practices to help sports professionals address hate incidents in a non-punitive way.
◉ Build partnerships across sports organisations, NGOs, and communities for a collaborative response to discrimination.
◉ Raise awareness and provide resources to ensure sustainable, long-term change.
Iliana Moridou, RJ4All Europe Project Officer, added: “Restorative justice transforms the way we address hate incidents by shifting the focus from punishment to dialogue, accountability and healing. Through the RRiS project, we are embedding these principles at the core of sports communities, helping to foster a sporting culture where inclusion, respect and solidarity thrive – both on and off the field. It is rewarding to be part of a project that recognises and promotes restorative justice and its values in the sports sector, and I look forward to witnessing its impact across Europe.”
Through specialised training, and targeted awareness campaigns, the RRiS project will contribute to a safer and more equitable sports environment across Europe—one that reflects the values of equality, mutual respect, and social harmony.
You can find out more about the RRiS project, here.
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About RJ4All Europe:
RJ4All Europe is the leading European non-profit institute advancing community cohesion and human rights through restorative justice. With the office in Cyprus and headquarters in the UK, we have members from all EU states and over 60 other countries. The organisation delivers social justice projects and programmes through dialogue, education, and restorative justice practices. RJ4All Europe aims to create a global peace movement for social change, aligning with UN agencies’ emphasis on informal justice in dispute resolution. Europe is registered under Company No. 451674 (Cyprus), PIC No. 880528850, and OID E10342055.
For more information: https://www.rj4all.eu/
