Mediation Northern Ireland
Tuesday 28 August 07
"Mediation: the act of peacemaking or acting as a ‘go-between’ (Little Oxford Dictionary)"
The Northern Ireland Conflict Mediation Association was founded in 1987 and registered as a charity in 1991, aiming to promote the practice of mediation in Northern Ireland and to train mediators. It was renamed ‘Mediation Northern Ireland’ (MNI) in late 2002 in light of advances in the Peace Process, and the increasing diversity of their Mediation practices.
The organisation has five main aims:
- Dispute Intervention: To help effect change in situations of contention
- Good Relations: To assist individuals, organisations and communities to benefit from good relations
- PeaceBuilding: To contribute to reconciliation and social stability
- Civic Diplomacy: To improve understandings between people in positions of civic leadership
- Resources: To ensure there are appropriate and efficiently used resources to support the activities of Mediation NI.
The organisation values its independence, peace building, justice, respect for human rights, a non-violent approach, its organisational diversity and its sustainability.
MNI provides many different services depending on the situation at hand. Through Conciliation they help to avoid an escalation of tensions between community groups in an area. MNI also provide advice and insight in to aspects of conflicts and this Consultancy scheme is used by Politicians, public bodies, private sector organisations and community groups. The organisation facilitates communication and focus during a meeting between community groups which may raise difficult issues or discussions. Through their Mediation, skilled mediators help and provide a way thought disagreements, difficult conversations and conflicts and can also negotiate (draw up aims and ground rules) when a goal must be achieved by a deadline for example funding for a community project. The Social Development aspect of MNI helps communities move through issues of contention, which as yet have not become disputes. MNI also provide Training and Learning through courses and workshops which include discussion and group work activities. These training methods are often used by statutory agencies, voluntary groups, colleges and businesses.
Further information can be found at MNI’s website:
www.mediationnorthernireland.org
All information above has been sourced courtesy of the Mediation Northern Ireland website.
