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ispartof: De Standaard pages:62-63 status: published

Groundwater is an important source of drinking water in Belgium. In some regions, locally produced groundwater is the source of 100% of the drinking water supply. One of the most important aquifers in the eastern part of Belgium is the Chalk Aquifer. This aquifer is phreatic in the northern part of Wallonia, but dips down towards the north, in Flanders, where it quickly reaches large depths. This largely confined aquifer is of strategic societal importance because it is well protected against negative influences from the surface (nitrates, pesticides) on the water quality. However, geological and hydrogeological information is scarce leading to important uncertainties regarding sustainable yields. Due to the large depth of the aquifer in its confined part, relatively little borehole information is available. Furthermore, the Chalk Aquifer is characterized by a double porosity system which results in a strong heterogeneity and spatial variability of the hydrogeological properties. The goal of the CHARM projectis to analyse the capacity of the Chalk Aquifer on a regional scale, and to deliver a management instrument that can be used for decision-making with regards to the quantitative use of this strategic aquifer for drinking water purposes. Special attention will be given to the characterization of all sources of uncertainty and its incorporation in a groundwater flow model. In a first step, the geology and hydrogeological parameters of the Chalk aquifer are characterized in detail. Based on gamma-ray logs, flow measurements, pumping tests and literature data, the horizontal and vertical variability of the hydrogeological parameters are identified. Exploitation results are linked to geological and hydrogeological data providing insights why some exploitations have a higher yield than others. Next, a regional groundwater model (MODFLOW) is set-up. The integrated Bayesian multi-model approach of Mustafa et al. (2018) is adapted, so that input, parameter and conceptual model uncertainty can be quantified. This is done by coupling the MODFLOW model with the DiffeRential Evolution Adaptive Metropolis (DREAM) algorithm (Vrugt, 2016) and by applying Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA). Based on the results of this approach, well-founded decisions can be made regarding the quantitative use of this aquifer considering all different sources of uncertainty, which is of strategic importance for long-term drinking water purposes.

This Manual is a guidebook for trainers who will lead and facilitate training on restorative justice to judges and public prosecutors in learning about restorative justice. It is a result of a joint effort of several partners and multidisciplinary professionals within the context of project RE-JUSTICE. RE-JUSTICE is a 30-month project, co-funded by the European Union’s Justice Programme, led by Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) and carried out between November 2019 and April 2022. Through a process of desk and field research and consultation with experts, RE-JUSTICE has developed this training Manual and a training package (handouts, video materials, resources) that were used to provide training on restorative justice to judges and public prosecutors in pilot training sessions in Greece, Italy and Spain. This project involves partners from Belgium, Greece, Italy and Spain. Belgium sees cooperation between KU Leuven, the National Institute for Judicial Training (IGO) and Moderator Forum for Restorative Justice and Mediation, to provide together their technical support through the well-established knowledge and capacities on training and implementation of restorative justice practices. For each of the countries in which the pilot training was given, a partnership between an academic institute and the national judicial training school ensured country-specificity and the long-term sustainability of the training provided. Additionally, endorsement by the national training school confers a level of credibility to the training that is necessary to engage with such judicial professionals. The country-specific knowledge and perspective is supported and coupled by the European expertise brought by the European Forum for Restorative Justice and the European Judicial Training Network. As part of the specialised set of training needs presented by judges and public prosecutors in the context of the Victim’s Directive, this training project focuses on the specific training needs connected to the referral of cases to restorative justice services considering the specific needs of victims (Art. 12, par. 2), and the appropriate, respectful and safe communication with victims, providing them with key information about the availability of restorative justice (Art. 4, par. 1, al. j). The goal of the project is thus, through training, to contribute in a sustainable way to the process of raising awareness, building knowledge and developing skills and attitudes amongst the target groups. Initially and directly, this is done in the three Southern EU MS partners. Ultimately, on the basis of gained experience, RE-JUSTICE aims to contribute to the promotion of the same process across the EU. For approximately 20 years multiple European bodies and actors have highlighted the importance of judges and public prosecutors receiving training on restorative justice. The RE-JUSTICE project addresses this training need, with a specific focus on the topic of criminal law and the implementation of the Victim’s Directive 2012/29/EU. status: Published online

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ispartof: Nieuwsbrief Leergang Pensioenrecht 2020-2021 vol:2020-2021 issue:3 pages:21-21 status: Published online

status: published