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Introduction to International Family Mediation

Most developed family justice systems support, encourage and sometimes subsidise alternative dispute resolution in family cases with specific training of mediators, and other ADR professionals. Some countries are more advanced than others. Some countries have a body of highly committed family mediators doing exceptionally good work. Some are regulated, accredited, with codes of practice, suitable lists, standards of training and similar.

This all ends at national borders. With only some limited work going on, there is barely the rudiments of what could be described as a recognisable international family mediation profession. Yet there are a huge number of international families throughout the world. Familiar with the benefits of mediation or recommended to consider mediation by lawyers or others in the family justice system, they seek mediators who can help the distinctive aspects of their family with international elements. They are invariably very frustrated. Such mediators are either not around or not easily identifiable and, in any event, have no connectivity or collectiveness.