Working Towards a More Peaceful and Just World
Mediation can resolve disputes and bring peace and healing to participants. As conflicts and crises abound worldwide, mediators’ transferrable skills and outlook as well as the structure of the mediation process have a larger role to play. To mark World Peace Day, on 21 September 2022 the International Mediation Institute convened three panels of mediation, legal industry and corporate leaders to reflect on how we may work together, towards a more peaceful and just world.
Joined by 50 in person and almost 80 online participants, we explored mediators’ role in peacebuilding as well as their important role in enabling business to be conducted smoothly and Environmental, Social and Governance goals to be met by societies. Bearing in mind that lawyers are often instrumental for mediations to be considered and their outcome to be successful, we likewise explored mediation advocacy best practices – how they enhance a lawyer’s practice, what are the benefits for lawyers and clients alike and what is the role of training and the IMI Mediation Advocacy Criteria and certification.
Resources for Further Reflection
Panel I – Mediation in the Service of a More Peaceful and Just World
- Peacemaking and Peacebuilding in South Africa – The National Peace Accord, 1991-1994, by Liz Carmichael
- “Mediation in a Time of Crisis: Pandemic, Prejudice, Police, and Political Polarization”, by Kenneth Cloke, 2021
- 1st Key-Leadership: Adopt The Edinburgh Declaration, by John Sturrock KC and Tim Hicks, and Establish strong, collaborative, mediative leadership, by Kenneth Cloke, Joan Goldsmith, Rosemary Howell, and Alan Limbury, compiled by Valeri Primo-Lack (from the series: Seven Keys to Unlock Mediation’s Golden Age)
- Strengthening Displaced Women’s Housing, Land and Property Rights in Afghanistan, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
Suggested readings to reflect on gender and peace mediation
- Bell, C. and Turner, C (2021). Increasing the Representation of Women Peace Mediators: Collaborative Leadership Models for Ensuring Equality. Cairo, UN Women.
- Constantinou, C., (2022), Humanitarian diplomacy as moral history, Peacebuilding, London.
- Palmiano Federer J. P. and Gasser R., (2016). ‘International Peace Mediation and Gender: Bridging the Divide’, Policy Brief V.6. N.05, Rio de Janeiro, BRICS Policy Center.
- Sørensen, B., (2008), ‘Humanitarian NGOs and mediations of political order in Sri Lanka’, Critical Asian Studies, Volume 40, Issue 1, London.
- Turner, C (2019), ‘That’s Beyond You: Barriers to Women Accessing High Level Mediation Roles’. Durham University. Economic and Social Research Council.
- UN resolutions and frameworks on peace mediation and the role of women: UN Security Council Resolutions: 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2008), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013), 2122 (2013), 2242 (2015), 2282 (2016), 70/262 (2016)2467 (2019) and 2493 (2019). Women, peace & security and humanitarian action compact framework, UN Women.
Examples of organisations working on peace mediation (non-exhaustive list)
- The United States Institute for Peace (USIP)
- The International Crisis Group (ICG)
- Search for Common Ground
- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF)
- Berghof Foundation
- Norwegian Refugee Council
- Danish Refugee Council
- Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)
- Swisspeace
- Glencree, https://glencree.ie/
Women Mediator Networks
- Global alliance: https://www.globalwomenmediators.org/
- Mediterranean: https://womenmediators.net/
- Nordic: https://nordicwomenmediators.org/
- Commonwealth: https://www.c-r.org/programme/women-mediators-across-commonwealth
- Arab: https://www.globalwomenmediators.org/arab-women-mediators-network/
- African Union: https://www.globalwomenmediators.org/femwise-africa/
- SouthEast Asia: https://www.globalwomenmediators.org/southeast-asian-network-of-women-peace-negotiators-and-mediators/
Panel II – Lawyers as Peacemakers and the Future of Mediation Advocacy
- IMI Competency Criteria for Mediation Advocates and Advisors
- Mediation Advocacy Qualifying Assessment Programs may be searched here
Panel III – The Mediators’ Green Pledge and Mediating Environmental, Social and Governance Issues
Podcast Recommendation: “The Human Face of a Green Economy”: a three-part podcast series
This first episode in a 3-part series with Elise Groulx Diggs and Susanne Schuler explores ‘Climate Risk Mapping’. This involves the challenges of building social contracts and the need to achieve a “Social License” through the value of true consent. In this 3-part podcast series, you will learn how mediators can and should play a key role in facilitating a just transition to Net Zero.
“When talking about responsible investment, we need to consider both environmental and social project impacts including continuous assessment and management oversight, and to engage with local stakeholders in all phases of the project.”
CEDR’s Virtual Roundtable on resolving Environment, Social and Governmental (ESG) disputes
Mediator’s Green Pledge
- World Mediators Alliance on Climate Change: https://womacc.org/
- “The Future We Choose: THE STUBBORN OPTIMIST’S GUIDE TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS”, By Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
Pretendo realizar uma formação de mediação e conciliação, afim de puder ser certificado pelo IMI. Como devo proceder?
Thank you for all you do to bring in wealth of knowledge about Mediation and its experiences across borders.
However, I am a certified and practicing Mediator at the Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse in Nigeria.
I would also like to be certified by IMI, can you kindly direct me on how to initiate the process towards achieving that?
Thank you.
IMI Certification is for experienced mediators who have completed at least 200 hours/20 mediations, have an independently reviewed feedback digest and have been assessed as having the required mediation skills and knowledge by an IMI Qualifying Assessment Program (QAP). Please search QAP’s here: https://imimediation.org/orgs/find-program/, to find the most appropriate program for assessment.
IMI Qualified status is for mediators who have begun their professional career by completing their basic mediation training with an IMI Certified Mediator Training Program (CMTP), but who do not yet have the above requisite experience for certification. Please find your nearest CMTP here: https://imimediation.org/orgs/find-program/, by filtering the search tool with “CMTP” and/or “CMTP (online)”.
Being recognised as an ‘IMI Qualified’ mediator means you have completed a training program that meets the worldwide standards established by the International Mediation Institute and recognized by intergovernmental standard-setting bodies, such as the CEPEJ. These standards are independent measures of quality and are created in consultation with international stakeholders and practitioners, under the guidance of IMI Task Forces.
Therefore, to be recognized as an IMI Qualified mediator you need to have completed a training program delivered by one of IMI CMTPs. These programs are vetted and assessed against the independent world-wide standards for training and assessment established by IMI.
For their part, to become IMI Certified you would need to approach an organization with an IMI QAP to undertake the required assessment.
As a first step, please have a look at the following helpful resources available on our website:
About Certifying (IMI Qualified, IMI Certified, specialisations, etc.): https://imimediation.org/certify
We would be delighted to have you join the IMI community!