Mediation, violence and conflict Messages   Discover the new cohesion policy 2007-13: it opens a wide range of public and private investment opportunities. Public-private partnerships: working together for more competitiveness, innovation and sustained regional growth. EU Cohesion policy means achieving more together – Structural Funds investments make enlargement a success for all. Investing in Europe: Regions and cities deliver the Growth and Jobs agenda. Brendan McAllister Mediation Northern Ireland

Values within mediation Non-violence to promote or defend justice by serving truth, with compassion. Independence from state control or sectional interests. Justice served by building and maintaining right relationships. Mediation should be more than mere technique; more than professionalism. It should have an underlying philosophy in relation to violence and conflict. Mediation Northern Ireland’s approach to mediation has evolved from within a philosophy of peace. Our philosophy is expressed in the corporate values of our organisation.

A mediator is a neutral third party The idea of mediation A mediator is a neutral third party Mediation is about conflict resolution It is about inter-personal conflict It is needs-based Realities of the Northern Ireland context A cross-generational conflict Change happens incrementally Intervention must be systemic Much of the conflict is ‘identity-based’ Indigenous practitioners can only be impartial Image: Security gates on the peace line at Lanark Way, Belfast. Source: cain.ulst.ac.uk/photographs Developing the practice of mediation for peacebuilders in Northern Ireland involved a critique of the abstract idea of mediation, taking some of its orthodoxies and applying them to realities of the Northern Ireland context.

A concept of mediation - 1 Definition: mediation involves an impartial outsider helping people affected by conflict or division to engage each other to effect positive change to their situation. Functions: assisting communication improving understandings supporting creative thinking exploring accommodations facilitating agreements. Applying the abstract, universal idea of mediation to such realities, enabled us to fashion a concept of mediation which fitted our context. Image: Dialogue

A concept of mediation - 2 Three civic tasks: 1. Conflict intervention 2. Building good relations 3. Promoting social partnership Dimensions of societal reconciliation: Agreed law and order Economic development Social progress

Methodology Conciliation: working with each side separately Facilitation: mediation without fanfare; relatively superficial. Mediation: Inter-personal Systemic Inter-group

Mediation Northern Ireland strategy Practice: Casework: intervention in specific, short-lived disputes Projects: longer term, systemic change Training: developing skills Education: facilitating learning The importance of being ‘practice-led’; demonstrating what would otherwise be abstract and theoretical; St.Augustine: ‘it is solved by walking’.

Mediation Northern Ireland sectors of work Beyond Northern Ireland Neighbourhoods and Communities Policing Local Governance Housing

Mediation Northern Ireland - 1 EU support to Mediation Northern Ireland - 1 A Place Apart: the Mediation Development Centre The Monitors’ Project: civic peacekeeping on the streets Supporting Learning: travel and conferences (Norway; Helsinki; Cyprus; Mediation U.K. conference in England; World Mediation Forum in Geneva; Summer School in U.S.A. - 4 people; Nordic Mediation Conference, Helsinki – 3 people; Global Migration Forum in Geneva)

Mediation Northern Ireland - 2 EU support to Mediation Northern Ireland - 2 The Civic Leadership Project: Boston- on Policing (2003) Leuven- on Restorative Justice in Europe (2005) Amsterdam- on Migration and Diversity (2005) Newry- on The Challenge of Change Convention (2006)

EU support to Mediation Northern Ireland - 3 European Mediation Conference, Belfast, 8 -10 April 2008 Building Relationships and Getting Results. Objectives: To reflect on the task of building peace for Europe and the world. To explore developments in the practice of mediation. To raise awareness of mediation among policy makers, opinion formers and the general public. To strengthen relationships in the European mediation field. To make a record of the conference widely available.

EU support to M ediation Northern Ireland – 4 The Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation Strategic Leadership seminars (2000 – 2001) Staff training in mediation and peacebuilding (2000 – 2001) MCIC Study Visits to Belfast: Senior Journalists (2004) Church and Faith leaders (2006) Address by MCIC Director, Community Relations Conference, Belfast (2007) MNI Director at U.N./O.S.C.E. mediation seminar, Geneva (2007)

Thank you for your attention Questions? www.mediationnorthernireland.org