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Previous | Next Healing the harm
Sandra Koop Harder
Mediation is a voluntary, cooperative, problem-solving process in which an impartial third party:
- helps participants clearly define and understand the issues in a dispute;
- helps the parties come to a better understanding of each other’s experience and interests; and
- helps the parties work towards a resolution that is acceptable to everyone involved.
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The practice of mediation is rooted in a restorative justice approach to conflict resolution. It seeks to identify the harm caused by an incident and then to repair or heal this harm. It asks, “Who has been hurt?”, “What are their needs?” and “Who is obligated to address these needs?” Therefore, empowering the victim to have his or her perspective heard and addressing the victim’s needs and concerns are primary concerns of a restorative justice approach.
Regarding the instigator, restorative justice processes strongly uphold the need for accountability. Violations of relationships, individuals, contracts, community, etc. create obligations – obligations which cannot be met simply by assigning blame or imposing punishment. Ideally, the instigator will respond with remorse and a desire to fulfill the obligations created by his or her harmful actions, to do what is possible to repair the harm, whether it has been done to an individual victim, an organization or the larger community.
Mediation Services of Winnipeg receives an average of 750 victim/offender referrals from the criminal justice system each year. Of those 750 cases, approximately 30% of the individuals involved agree to participate in a restorative justice process. Over 92% of all mediated cases result in an “agreement” that is acceptable to all parties. Often these agreements include things such as formal acknowledgements of impact, apologies, restitution, community service work and commitments to attend counselling. Victims have especially found these processes to be helpful, understanding that participation is one way to share their painful experiences, hold the offender accountable in a very direct way and have input into the outcome, something that victims say is missing for them in the traditional justice system.
Sessions are led by community volunteer mediators who have extensive and ongoing training in mediation skills and victim/offender issues. Throughout the years, over 150 volunteer mediators have been involved in providing services to the community through the victim/offender program. Over 33,000 community members have been impacted by Mediation Services, either through training workshops or as participants in a mediation process. More than 12,500 cases have been diverted from the justice system to our victim/offender program, over 800 families have been helped, and over 2,000 neighbourhood conflicts have been addressed. Collectively, Mediation Services volunteers, in all of their different roles and capacities, have served the community with over 70,000 hours of their time, energy and skills. That translates into over $1 million worth of services. Mediation Services would not be able to serve the community were it not for the commitment and dedication of these many gifted individuals.
Mediation Services understands that restorative approaches can be adopted in many situations beyond the criminal justice or legal system – for instance, by schools, parents, organizations and businesses. When codes or rules are broken and disciplinary actions would normally be taken, mediation can provide an alternative, restorative approach to the incident. In these cases, mediation contributes to the peace of the community by assisting persons to reach outcomes and resolutions that address the root causes of the conflict.
Mediation Services is rooted in the Anabaptist peace and social justice tradition. Restorative justice is a way of understanding relationships that honours each person and guides us to look beyond punishment and work towards healing. Mediation Services understands this work as ministry, a response to the call to servanthood proclaimed in the Bible, as well as in other faiths, including Aboriginal spiritual traditions. Mediation Services is held accountable to these values by its funders Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba, the Manitoba Department of Justice and The United Way of Winnipeg, its membership body and its community volunteers.
Sandra Koop Harder has been a mediator and trainer with Mediation Services since 1996, and is also coordinator of Mediation Services’ Volunteer Program.
About Mediation Services
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Mediation Services, “A Community Resource for Conflict Resolution”, has been offering restorative justice interventions and conflict resolution services since 1979. Mediation Services began providing services to the Winnipeg community as a Victim/Offender Reconciliation Program of Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba, continuing in this way until 1992, when it amalgamated with the Community Dispute Centre and created its own Board of Directors. This partnership strengthened the program and increased the types of interventions and services offered to include victim/offender mediation and community mediation for family/neighbourhood disputes, workplace consultation and intervention, comprehensive training in conflict resolution skills and volunteer opportunities.
Contact information
Mediation Services
302-1200 Portage Ave.,
Winnipeg, Man.
R3G 0T5
Phone (204) 925-3410
E-mail: info@mediationserviceswpg.ca
Mediation Services is one of many restorative justice and victim/offender mediation programs in Canada. Many of these programs are connected to Mennonite Central Committee. For information on the program nearest you, contact:
Restorative Justice Coordinator,
MCC Canada,
134 Plaza Drive,
Winnipeg, Man. R3T 5K9
Phone: (204) 261-6381 |
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Last modified April 17, 2002.
© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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