Thursday 10 April 2008

Workshops in Session 1A (Sessions in GREY are already fully booked)

Marital Mediation: a New Alternative to Therapy?
Marianne Souquet (France)
Family mediation has developed mainly in the field of divorce and separation. Little by little, it has also developed in other sub-fields, such as parent-adolescent relationships, care of an older relative, etc…  An even newer field is marital mediation. It will be suggested that more couples consult because they are going through a crisis and want to change things, not necessarily separate. They do not want therapy.

The workshop will consider how the principles and techniques of mediation can be applied with couples who want to stay together and find concrete solutions to change things. The differences between divorce mediation and couple counselling will be explored.

Internal v. External Workplace Mediators
Katherine Graham (England)
This workshop will include data on the use of internal workplace mediation services in England; and provide an interactive opportunity for attendees to consider the pros and cons of using in house versus ‘professional’ mediators for workplace disputes. We will challenge some of our assumptions and stereotypes relating to mediation at work.

Two Mediate or Not Two Mediate
Patricia B. Hayes (Ireland)
The aim of this workshop is to introduce research on the co-mediation model of practice and to develop an understanding of co-mediation as the delivery method of the mediation process. The workshop explores developments in the practice of mediation in Ireland. The workshop will present research findings together with a brief description of the research methodology.  In addition there will be consideration of the benefits and perceived drawbacks of co-mediation, the practicalities of delivery e.g. preparation, synchronised performance and performance evaluation, and will conclude with a group discussion on the notion of co-mediation as the defining characteristic of the mediation method.

Online Dispute Resolution: Making it Work and Making it Effective
Paul Randolph (England)
The workshop will identify the various formats of ODR – from the e-bay type e-mail dispute resolution processes and the more sophisticated software which adopts algorithms in online mediation, through to video conferencing and ‘virtual mediation rooms’. The presentation will also cover the psychological and logistical problems of on line communication.  If possible a live demonstration may be included.

Mediation as a Tool for Peace Building
Facilitated by Brendan McAllister (Northern Ireland)
A roundtable discussion among practitioners and policy makers concerned with the contribution of mediation to the task of building peace in conflicted societies.Participants will include:

• Eamon McKee (Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Irish Government)
• Professor John Paul Lederach (Notre Dame University USA)
• Antje Herrberg (Crisis Management Initiative)

Community Mediation and Anti-Social Behaviour
Brendan Donaghy (Northern Ireland) and Ian McDonough (Scotland)
This workshop will explore the Northern Irish and Scottish experiences in community mediation and anti-social behaviour. Anti-Social Behaviour is high on the public agenda in the UK and Ireland. It is a matter debated by policy makers, local authorities, housing providers, community representatives and the media. Mediation has been placed at the heart of the fight again anti-social behaviour and identified as an important preventative measure. But what exactly is it that mediation is being tasked to prevent?  Is there a danger that these measures are counter to the principle and ethics of mediation? Should we change the policy, or change the definition of mediation? 

Workshops in Session 1B

Mediation and Lawyers: Prejudice or Interest?
Blazo Nedic, (Serbia)
The workshop will explore situations where one or all parties in mediation might be represented by an attorney, and where reluctant or uncooperative attorneys might impede successful mediation.  In countries where mediation is a relatively new concept certain resistance of the legal profession is noted.  Few programmes are intended for practicing attorneys who are often crucial for their client’s decision to attempt mediation and also for the successful outcome.    The workshop aims to initiate discussion by exploring the relationship between attorneys and their clients as well as between attorneys and mediators. 

Using Art to Explore Conflict
Marian Liebmann (England)
The workshop will use simple art materials to do a number of short exercises looking at different aspects of conflict. Using a different (non-verbal) means of communication can result in insights and ways forward not seen in other ways. There will be individual and pair exercises, with time for discussion.

Youngsters in Conflict: Dilemmas & Possibilities
Lotte Christy (Denmark)
Participants will discuss dilemmas, limits, and possibilities learnt from a programme for 12-15 year olds in eight cities organised by The Ministry of Social Affairs in co-operation with the Danish Crime Prevention Council. Since the end of the project term, (May 2006), the programme has expanded and new interactive materials have been produced. This project has been subject to a thorough evaluation.  The session will pose many questions for mediation in this context and will explore the outcomes of the initiative.

Supervision in Mediation:  Linking Quality and Practice
Lesley Allport  (England)
The workshop will present research into Supervision and Mediation practice.  The research was undertaken in Geneva in 2005 and has a European dynamic.  The session will include an examination of how mediation has developed and the functions of supervision that have developed alongside this.  A  model of supervision specific to mediation will be proposed.  The structure of the workshop will provide opportunities for feedback and the exchange of practice information, thereby contributing to the strengthening of relationships in the European mediation field.

Mediation and Social Partnership Building
Denise Hughes, Laurie Randall, Brent van der Linde, (Northern Ireland)
Mediation Northern Ireland have been working for a decade with public sector organisations, local government & civic leaders, in support of building partnerships to deal with contention and conflict. At a time when there is interest in developing social capital and a model of community planning for Northern Ireland this workshop will outline a model for enhancing effective partnerships.

 
Creative Development of Family Mediation: Challenging the Principles
Manuela Pliżga-Jonarska (Poland), Sheena Bell (Northern Ireland)