-
.
- Ελληνικά
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to today's information event, organized by the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, on the topic: "The Institution of Mediation in Family Disputes in Cyprus". The aim of the event is to present the institution of Family Mediation and to highlight the very important role it can play in the settlement of family disputes.
Today's event is the start of a series of targeted actions to inform and enlighten civil society about the highly beneficial institution of family mediation. The institution was effectively put into operation only last June, following the adoption of a relevant amending law, which "allowed" the Ministry to proceed with the creation and operation of the Registry of Family Dispute Mediators.
The Law on Mediation in Family Disputes and the related Regulations have established a very useful tool, which is expected to contribute positively to the out-of-court resolution of family disputes, significantly improving communication and relations between the parties involved.
Based on European and international practice, mediation as a dispute resolution procedure has proven to be effective in many cases, particularly in the case of family disputes.
In Cyprus, the institution of family mediation offers an alternative to court proceedings in relation to the resolution of family disputes. But what is mediation and who is it for?
Mediation is a structured process in which two or more members of a family attempt on a voluntary basis to resolve their differences with the help of an independent third party, the mediator.
According to the relevant law, the term family dispute may relate to parenting, child support, spousal or cohabitation support and property relations between spouses or cohabitants.
The purpose of mediation is for the parties, with the assistance of the mediator, to reach joint decisions to settle their family disputes. In no case does the mediator decide on behalf of the parties, but encourages cooperation and makes suggestions with the ultimate aim of reaching solutions that are as satisfactory as possible to both parties.
Through the institution of mediation, the aim is to encourage consensual approaches in order to reduce conflict and hostility, to minimise the negative effects of family rivalries and to maintain and strengthen relations between family members, particularly between parents and children.
It is worth noting that at the core of the protective framework of this reform effort is the child and his or her best interests, while at the same time encouraging equal treatment of men and women and the assumption of shared parental responsibility for the care and well-being of their children.
Furthermore, the institution of mediation is expected to make a positive contribution to a quicker resolution of such disputes than the corresponding time required to settle them in court. At the same time, it will lead to the saving of court time, since it is expected that the number of disputes before the courts will be reduced, while at the same time the costs of both the parties involved and the state will be reduced.
In Cyprus, the institution of family mediation has now been established through a comprehensive legislative framework. We expect that both citizens and professionals will choose to make use of this alternative way of resolving disputes, which aims to achieve more fair and family-friendly solutions.
The Ministry of Justice will closely monitor the progress of the institution, so that if, after a reasonable period of operation, any need for improvement or enrichment arises, it will immediately make the necessary additions and amendments.
There is no doubt that family mediation will enable family members to examine better and jointly their needs, concerns and worries about key issues of concern to them. By improving communication between them and through honest and fruitful dialogue, they will be able to arrive at mutually acceptable solutions that are advantageous and more beneficial to all parties.
It should of course not be overlooked that mediation is not suitable for all cases, particularly where it is established that violence and abusive behaviour exists or is likely to occur and judicial protection is de facto deemed necessary.
The institution of mediation will hopefully have a direct positive impact on the well-being of all family members without exception and society at large. Solutions reached through mediation processes are often more sustainable and can prevent the recurrence of similar types of disputes and rivalries in the future.
Overall, settling disputes through consensual approaches lays the foundation for healthier and more harmonious relationships between family members and creates the conditions for social stability, prosperity and development.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all of you warmly for your presence here and invite you to embrace and support, as a state and as a society, the institution of mediation in family disputes.
I would like to express my special thanks to the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights and the representatives of the Cyprus Bar Association, the Cyprus Association of Psychologists, the Cyprus Association of Social Workers and the Family Mediation Association for accepting the invitation to participate in today's event and to contribute with their interventions to the best possible presentation and promotion of the institution.
Thank you.
(ΕΠ)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
