Mediation Programme
In Ireland the relationship between the Traveller community and the majority population is one, which is often characterised by hostility, prejudice, discrimination and conflict.
The Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community (1995) acknowledged the distinct cultural identity of Travellers. It identified mediation as part of a strategy of reconciliation between Travellers and settled people. In response to the report's recommendations, a Mediation Service was established under the auspices of Pavee Point Travellers' Centre. Its purpose is to support better relations between Travellers and settled people by encouraging members of these two communities to develop creative responses to conflict and to find new ways of living with cultural difference.
Transforming conflict
Conflict can be threatening and destructive. It can also provide an opportunity to bring about positive change, depending on our ability and willingness to handle conflict situations in a way that creates positive outcomes for all concerned.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a specific approach to conflict transformation that facilitates and empowers people to sort out their own conflicts and to build better relationships. It is a process in which a third party - a mediator - creates a space for people to listen to each other when the normal lines of communication have broken down. Mediators help the people in conflict to:
- make it clear what their problems are;
- identify their needs;
- explore possible solutions;
- work out an agreement that suits everyone;
Participation in a mediation process is voluntary. It encourages mutual respect and can help sort out disputes confidentially before they escalate towards court cases or criminal offences. The Parties, not the mediators decide what to put into their agreement. Even if agreement is not reached, mediation can be a first step towards transforming and ultimately resolving conflict. Where agreements are reached they are more likely to last when worked out jointly by all those involved in the conflict.
Who is it for?
The Service is available to individuals and groups from both the Traveller community and the majority population. While mediation interventions are available in the greater Dublin area only (including some parts of Wicklow, Meath & Kildare) the Mediation Service conducts a range of other activities on a national basis.
A Mediation Case Study
A local authority felt compelled to withdraw maintenance services from an estate accommodating both Travellers and settled people because maintenance workers felt intimidated by the behaviour of a small number of young men from the estate and due to concerns about the risks of children playing in and around work areas. The Local Authority contacted Pavee Point Mediation Service requesting intervention. Through a process of mediation agreement was reached on a framework for the resumption of maintenance services and mechanisms for dealing with problems that could arise in the future. Moreover, the mediation process led to a greatly improved working relationship between the parties and agreed mechanisms for regular communication and consultation regarding planning for the upgrading and development of the estate.
What does the Mediation Service do?
The Service supports better relations between Travellers and settled people by:
- Raising awareness of mediation and its potential for transforming conflict between Travellers and settled people and also within the Traveller community;
- Responding to requests for help in dealing with conflict between Travellers and other sectors of the population;
- Working proactively to help diffuse potential or recurrent situations of conflict;
- Acting as a third party to facilitate exchange, dialogue and understanding between conflicting parties;
- Building relations with key sectors (e.g. Trade Unions, the Church, An Garda S%uFFFDoch%uFFFDna, Local Authorities) capable of taking a lead role in improving relations between Travellers and settled people;
- Producing and disseminating conflict transformation resources;
- Networking with other conflict transformation initiatives in order to exchange learning and support the development of non-violent approaches to transforming conflict.
- Enhancing Travellers' capacity to develop ways of dealing with conflict in their lives;
- Developing links with existing and emerging mediation services around the country to ensure that, where appropriate, these services are accessible to Travellers and that they are equipped to respond to requests for mediation either between Travellers and the settled population or within the Traveller community;
- Supporting Traveller groups that are developing their own mediation initiatives.
Mediation Service Resources
The service has produced a range of resources including:
- "We Can Sort it Out: An Introduction to skills for resolving conflict (2002), a six-part training module designed for use by a variety of Traveller groups and training programmes. It provides an opportunity for participants to explore the issue of conflict, to examine their own and others' responses to conflict situations and to develop skills that are useful in resolving conflict. Price %uFFFD6.35.
- Mediation Service Information Leaflet
- A Mediation Case Study - available free of charge
For further information email the Co-ordinator:Caroline Keane (caroline.keane [at] pavee.ie)
The Mediation Service is core-funded by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
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