Artist Statement:
Themis or Lady Justice is often symbolic of existing legal systems. Instead of a culturally foreign icon sitting on a pedestal who decides the fate of parties for them, restorative justice perceives Lady Justice (Lady Restorative) as someone who is from among the people and, instead of being positioned in a seat of power, someone who sits with the people. Lady Restorative creates space for the people directly impacted by the harm to come together to address it. By giving her sword and scales to the people involved in the conflict, she remains a facilitator of the process than an all-powerful decider. Rather than being blindfolded in an attempt to achieve neutrality, she is mindful of each participant's lived reality and their needs.
Location: India
This project is supported by Grant No. 2020-MU-CX-K001 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view, images, or opinions in this document and are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.