RAK Courts, Ajman Courts and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department Alternative Dispute Resolution Bureau Participate in Singapore Mediation Centre Training Programme
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 15 January 2010: Justices from the DIFC Courts, the Dubai International Financial Centre's (DIFC) independent, common law judicial system, the Dubai Courts, Ras Al Khaimah Courts, Ajman Courts and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department Alternative Dispute Resolution Bureau this week completed a training programme sponsored by the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) called "Managing Conflicts and Resolving Disputes Effectively Through Mediation", aimed at providing hands on experience in conflict resolution.
The use of mediation in courts has gained international popularity as a means of conflict resolution through a neutral third party who facilitates the negotiation process between the conflicting parties to result in a mutually agreed upon solution.
The DIFC Courts and the Dubai Courts partnered to bring the SMC to Dubai to benefit from this unique opportunity. The SMC is a non- profit organization supported by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), Singapore Judiciary and the Ministry of Law (MinLaw), who have successfully spearheaded the mediation movement in Singapore and continue to promote the use of mediation and other non-confrontational dispute resolution methods.
The justices attended seven workshops over four days covering every aspect of mediation training. The workshops "Fundamental Concepts in Interest Based Conflict Management (I-III)" introduced participants to the seven elements in interest-based conflict management. The first four elements impact the substantive aspects of conflict management. They are interests, options, criteria and alternatives. While the last three elements, communication, relationship and commitment, impact the process aspects of conflict management.
Separate sessions include "Essential Communication Tools" where participants are introduced various key communication skills which form the basic skill-set required for conflict management, and "Evaluative Mediation", where participants are equipped with the ability to deal with the merits of dispute. The justices are taught to deal with how the participants can harness this ability to help parties resolve disputes amicably whilst avoiding the pitfalls associated with evaluation in mediation. During the workshops participants learned hands on practical mediation skills which will aid them in managing disputes in the Courts more efficiently.
H.E. Justice Ali Shamis Al Madhani, DIFC Courts, said "I was pleased to have the opportunity to further understand the benefits of conflict resolution through mediation with the SMC. We at the DIFC Courts, alongside our colleagues at the Dubai Courts, RAK Courts and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, strive to provide the best possible outcomes for all parties who pass through our Courts through swift, transparent and efficient justice. At the DIFC Courts, for example, mediation plays an extremely important role in the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) where 90% of disputes are resolved in under three weeks and lawyers are not permitted. The workshop provided us with an opportunity for personal development and the tools to improve upon our conflict management skills in cooperation with Dubai Courts, RAK Courts, Ajman Courts and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department who we continue to work extremely closely with, as outlined in the MoU agreements we signed over the last year."
Mohamed Amin Mubashri, Head of the Amicable Settlement of Disputes Centre-Dubai Courts, added, "I was very pleased to be included in the mediation training workshops this week alongside participants from DIFC Courts, Dubai Courts, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and Ajman and RAK Courts as we had a chance to improve upon our knowledge and skills in the judicial sector through SMC initiatives and workshops. Internationally mediation as a form of dispute resolution is becoming more popular and the UAE judicial system wants to ensure we have the necessary mediation training and expertise."