Fields of interest
The field of conflict management is very diverse. So diverse that it
is practically impossible to pay equal attention to each and every aspect
of it. For this reason the Conflict Management Expert Centre chooses to
select two subjects each year which are the focus of attention for that
year. In 2004-2005 these subjects are::
Narrative mediation
Narrative mediation is an approach to mediation that many mediators have
never heard of. Unjustly so, we think. In 2004-2005 the Conflict Management
Expert Centre wants to reach the following goals:
- making narrative mediation better known in the Netherlands;
- mapping the applications of narrative mediation;
- organizing lectures and workshops on narrative mediation;
- publishing a number of articles on narrative mediation;
- setting up an international network of people who are involved in
social constructionism.
Restorative justice
In April 2004 Dutch Minister of Justice Donner announced that he wants
more judges to refer cases to mediation. Up till now restorative justice
has not really taken off. Apparently Donner does not want to experiment
with this form of mediation, although it has proved very successful in
other countries. In April 2004 the German mediator and professor Thomas
Trenczek gave a workshop on victim-offender mediation for the Conflict
Management Expert Centre which convinced its participants of the value
and merits of this instrument. Ample reason to:
- list the results of restorative justice in other countries;
- find out what activities take place in the Netherlands concerning
victim-offender mediation;
- to establish national and international contacts within the restorative
justice field;
- pay attention to restorative justice in publications;
- organize lectures and workshops on restorative justice.