Over the past two decades, restorative justice programmes have proliferated vastly into the conflict management arenas of many western contexts. Although usually envisaged as an alternative to retributive criminal justice institutions, restorative justice is notoriously difficult to define.1 Even so, most protagonists portray it as a hospitable, nonalienating, victim-centred and community-orientated way to resolve conflicts.2 Its processes are guided by values respectful of all parties to a dispute. It aims to empower victims, communities, offenders and families to repair the effects of a harmful event, using effective ‘repentance rituals’ to restore community life. Justice is thus understood as restoring harms and hurt, reflecting a commitment to such normative values as individual empowerment, responsibility, peace, community strength, respect, compassion, agreement and so on.3