Tim Chapman

Professional Profile

Position

Dr. Tim Chapman currently serves as a Visiting Professor at both the University of Strathclyde in Scotland and the University of Sassari in Italy. In addition to his academic roles, he holds the position of Chair of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, where he continues to shape policy, practice, and research in the field.

Personal statement

The VicTory project addresses issues that are extremely important in Europe today – victims’ needs and rights in relation to hate crime and violent extremism. These are areas that I have engaged in both in practice and through direct research. I am an academic from Northern Ireland, a country which has suffered from many years of violent civil conflict and has struggled to fully victims of this conflict. I am currently completing a book based upon several years of listening in depth to the narratives of victims of serious crim.

This has given me a much clearer understanding of victims’ lived experience of harm and injustice and the suffering that they cause. I have published widely and practised in the field of restorative justice, an approach to victims that focuses on their participation in a process of justice which enables them to give an account of their experience of harm and restore their personal power through holding perpetrators accountable. My role in VicTory will be to assure that the services that victims receive in the future will focus on what matters to victims,  be of a high quality, ethical and sensitive to their suffering.

Ana Rodríguez Cordero

Professional Profile

Position

Dra. Ana Rodríguez Cordero is a professional specialising in the promotion and protection of human rights. She currently lectures as a collaborative professor at the Open University of Catalunya and also serves as a member of the EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism, where she supports European initiatives aimed at strengthening victim-centred policies and practices.

Personal statement

As an expert in victims’ rights, I am honored to contribute to the VicTory Project as part of its Expert Advisory Board. I firmly believe that ensuring the rights and dignity of victims must be at the core of any initiative seeking to promote justice and social transformation. This project offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen the visibility of victims’ needs, to ensure that their voices are respected, and to translate principles of fairness and sensitivity into practical tools and sustainable outcomes.
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My commitment in this position is to provide an independent perspective that protects both the ethical standards and the human dimension of project development. I believe it is essential that the project and the activities arising from it respond to the realities experienced by victims, respecting their diversity and vulnerabilities.

 By collaborating with the consortium and other experts, my goal is to support the development of approaches based on respect for human rights and practices that place victims at the centre, protecting their rights and promoting their recovery and empowerment.

Florentino Ruíz Yamuza

Professional Profile

Position

Dr. Florentino-Gregorio Ruiz Yamuza is a Senior Judge at the Appeal Court of Huelva in Spain and a member of the Spanish Judicial Network for International Cooperation (REJUE), Criminal Division.

Emanuela Biffi

Professional Profile

Position

Dra. Emanuela Biffi is the Programme Coordinator and projects event officer at the European Forum for Restorative Justice.

Personal statement

My interest in restorative justice comes from the belief that everyone deserves a second chance, and that no one should be confined to a single identity, whether shaped by something they have done or something that has happened to them. At the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ), we work to strengthen the capacities of professionals, connect the global restorative community, and encourage cooperation across sectors, so that restorative justice is accessible to all those affected by crime and violence, both within and beyond criminal justice systems.  

Over the years, I have been involved in projects on access to restorative justice, victims’ rights, intercultural contexts, violent extremism and terrorism, as well as on the development of restorative cities and communities. These experiences have reinforced my conviction that restorative justice offers valuable ways to complement other responses to harm. 
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Joining the VicTory Project’s Advisory Board is an opportunity to continue this journey. At a time of increasing polarisation and hate-related violence, victim-centred and restorative approaches are essential. I hope to contribute in professional community building and networking, stakeholder engagement, and project work to support VicTory in strengthening practitioner capacities and promoting collaboration that truly honours victims’ rights and voices.