Overview of judicial mediation in the world

Mediation, the universal language of conflict resolution

For the first time in the history of our judicial institutions, 350 judges, lawyers, academics, politicians and judicial mediators, representing the five continents, met on the 16th and 17th of October 2009, at the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris, for the first international conference on judicial mediation, organised by GEMME.

This event, described as historic by the participants, showed that across the world at the same moment, a universal language of conflict resolution is being established, a resolution based on listening and mutual respect : mediation.

The International Conference on Mediation for Justice (CIMJ) was created to sustain this widespread movement, which has just been launched.

High-level contributions have been collected in this book. They summarise, continent by continent, the approach of some judges and statesmen to shake up the habits of the legal world and make them look at new ways of solving conflicts.

The European Association of Judges for Mediation (GEMME) was established on the 19th of December 2003, under the chairmanship of Guy Canivet, Senior President of the French Supreme Court.

As an interlocutor with European institutions, GEMME has observer status within the Council of Europe. It brings together professional judges and elected judges and works for the development and quality of mediation and conciliation.

On the 16th of October 2009, at the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris, the International Conference of Mediation for Justice (ICMJ), known as CIMJ, was established.

The presence of CIMJ on all five continents will encourage the creation of an international network of those interested in mediation.

This tool for the promotion of international mediation allows contact to provide immediate assistance in cross-border disputes or in peaceful operations or disarmament.

Béatrice Blohorn-Brenneur