João Lázaro holds a degree in Law and a postgraduate qualification in Victim-Offender Mediation and Restorative Justice. He served as Secretary-General of APAV from 1995 to 2007, as Vice-President and Executive Director from 2007 to 2012, and as Chief Executive Officer from 2012 to 2026, a position he held until his appointment as Deputy Ombudsman. He practised as a lawyer from 1995 to 2026. He was a founding member of the European Forum for Restorative Justice and served on its Board from 2002 to 2008.He served as Vice-President of Victim Support Europe from 2010 to 2015 and as President from 2015 to 2021. He has worked as an expert for the European Commission and is regularly invited to speak and deliver training in Portugal and abroad, particularly on issues relating to victims’ rights and victim support services, as an advocate for the rights of victims of crime and violence.