Mediation NI good practice

Mediation Northern Ireland is a founding member of the European Mediation Network Initiative which draws its membership from across all the EU Member States and beyond to span some 35 countries. It is also an active member of the European Restorative Justice Network. A key benefit of its participation in these networks is the two-way sharing of information and expertise between Mediation Northern Ireland and like-minded organisations in other regions of Europe.

Mediation Northern Ireland has responded to interest among other regions and countries to learn of Northern Ireland’s experiences in relation to its emergence from conflict. Mediation Northern Ireland has therefore been involved in the delivery of training programmes designed to develop indigenous capacity in mediation skills in countries such as Albania and Macedonia. The level of expertise within Mediation Northern Ireland has also been recognised within the European Institutions as the organisation was specifically invited by the European Parliament to provide input into the design of the proposed European Mediation Directive.

In relation to learning from other regions of Europe, through its membership of European Networks, Mediation Northern Ireland is able to draw upon and utilise the skills and expertise in other regions in the delivery of its activities here in Northern Ireland through the exchange and sharing of personnel. This approach is evident in Mediation Northern Ireland’s organisation of a major international conference looking at the developments in the practice of mediation throughout Europe involving delegates from over 30 countries to be held in Belfast in April 2008.

Given its relative size and physical separation from mainland Europe, Northern Ireland risks becoming isolated if it does not learn and share information from other regions of Europe. For Mediation Northern Ireland there are many benefits to participation in European activities. While international training and facilitation work can provide opportunities for additional income, the core benefit is the gaining and sharing of knowledge in relation to mediation work.

For Mediation Northern Ireland there is also a moral responsibility to growth in the practice of mediation in other regions by sharing experiences and the lessons learned here. To learn more about the organisation you can visit the Mediation Northern Ireland website, while www.mediationconference.eu provides information on their forthcoming European conference.

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