In the Americas, restorative justice programs are common in Canada and many U.S. states. In the U.S., founded the Association of mediation between the victim and the offender (VOMA). Restorative Justice Programs are conducted in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. In Europe, restorative justice programs are active in almost all countries. December 8, 2000 was the formal establishment of the European Forum program of mediation between the victim and the offender and restorative justice - the first in Europe, an international organization that brings together researchers, practitioners, government and non-governmental organizations working in this field. In the framework of the European Committee on Crime Problems (CoE) Committee of Experts established by the organization of mediation in criminal cases, which amounted to the Recommendation, which covers the basic principles, legal basis, organization and development of mediation in criminal cases. This recommendation was adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on September 15, 1999.

UN playing a key role in developing strategies to international rules, standards and recommendations on criminal justice, the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice (adopted at the Tenth Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders - Vienna, 10-17 April 2000), notes , among other things, "restorative approaches to justice that aim to reduce crime and promote the healing of victims, offenders and communities." Paragraphs 27 and 28 of the Declaration specifically devoted to mediation in criminal justice.

The UN established a special working group efforts which the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) adopted a resolution N 2000 \ 14 as a draft "Declaration on Fundamental Principles of restorative justice programs in criminal justice."