Merging Ethiopian Wise-Counsel Mediation and Facilitative ...

II.2Commonalities and Differences between Wise-Counsel Mediation and Facilitative Mediation> > Both involve a third party to mediate conflicts.> > The final solution is intended to benefit all the parties (win-win).> > Both aim to restore peace among the conflicting parties.Wise-Counsel Mediation> > Mediators are respected persons/elders from within the society.> > Mediators take initiatives, make suggestions or decisions.> > Shuttle sessions are considered as a key to breakthrough. 12> > The process often focuses on fact-finding or“"searching the truth".”> > Ceremonies such as handshaking, sharing foodor hugging each other; or symbolic acts, such asslaughtering a calf are vital components of the processin order to formalise and sustain agreements.=Facilitative Mediation> > Mediators are external and trained professionals.> > Mediators only facilitate the process and supportthe parties in generating their own solutions.> > Shuttle sessions are used to prepare, but joint sessions arepreferred since the aim for each party is to communicateits needs and interests to the other party. The breakthroughis the ability of the parties to change their perspective.> > The process puts emphasis on the explorationof needs, interests and fears and subjectiveperceptions rather than on "objective truth".> > The process follows systematically-different stagesof mediation and a written document is often thekey instrument used to formalise agreements.12 In a shuttle session the mediator talks to the conflicting parties in separate turns. He or she "shuttles" between them. It is used when the parties are notyet ready to face each other. See Chapter III.8 The use of Shuttle Mediation in Early Mediation Stages and in Escalated Conflicts, on page 76.16 Mediation Trainer’s Manual