Does 'inter' really matter? The Italian government's ... - e-SPICES

Does ‘inter’ really matter?The Italian government’sredefining of the cultural mediatoras an intercultural mediatorNevin PecorelliCooperativa Sociale Perusia

Common Basic PrinciplesIntercultural mediation hasfundamental role in bi-directionalprocess of integration.

Common Basic PrinciplesIntercultural mediation has fundamentalrole in bi-directional process of integration.“Integration is a dynamic, long-term, and continuous two-wayprocess of mutual accommodation, not a static outcome. Itdemands the participation not only of immigrants and theirdescendants but also of every resident. The integration processinvolves adaptation by immigrants, both men and women, whoall have rights and responsibilities in relation to their new countryof residence. It also involves the receiving society, whichshould create the opportunities for the immigrants’ fulleconomic, social, cultural, and political participation.Accordingly, Member States are encouraged to consider andinvolve both immigrants and national citizens in integrationpolicy, and to communicate clearly their mutual rights andresponsibilities.”

Definition of Mediation:Preventing“Intercultural mediation promotes socialintegration processes, reducing problems andbarriers of communication between foreignersand services throughout the evaluation ofimmigration resources.” (Balsamo, 1997, p. 18)

Definition of Mediation:Preventing“Intercultural mediation promotes socialintegration processes, reducing problems andbarriers of communication between foreignersand services throughout the evaluation ofimmigration resources.” (Balsamo, 1997, p. 18)Communicative feature, decoding needs andquestions, prevention of discomfort andconflicts, effective execution of rights(health, medicine, services)

Definition of Mediation:Repairing“Mediation is a process with two or more partiesthat ask freely to a third neutral party, themediator, to reduce a serious conflict. The goalof mediation is to begin anew the dialogueprocess between the parties so they can reacha concrete objective: The realization of arelationship that can be the most satisfying toeveryone.” (Castelli).

Definition of Mediation:Repairing“Mediation is a process with two or more partiesthat ask freely to a third neutral party, themediator, to reduce a serious conflict. The goalof mediation is to begin anew the dialogueprocess between the parties so they can reacha concrete objective: The realization of arelationship that can be the most satisfying toeveryone.” (Castelli).Reparative feature, repair/regulation tool fordysfunctional interactions

Regulation: A BeginningLaw 40/1998 “Regulation on immigration andrules on foreigners” transformed into theLegislative Decree July 27, 1998, n. 286 “Thedocument for the disposition regarding theimmigration regulation and norms on thecondition of foreigners.”Art. 36: Education of Foreigners. Intercultural Education. For thefirst time the law provides the possibility to ask for the intervention ofqualified cultural mediator in case there is a need to communicatewith the families of the foreigner students.Art. 40: Means of social integration. The article includes theintercultural mediators as a way to facilitate communication betweenthe administration and the foreigners belonging to different ethnic,national, linguistic, religious groups.

Regulation: TodayIn February 2009 a law proposed to institute anintercultural mediator’s Register. The Proposal2138 “Proxy to the Govern for the Institution ofthe Intercultural Mediator’s Register” aims togive an adequate professional recognition,based on criteria and rules nationally valid, tothe intercultural mediator instituting aprofessional register and an adequateformation that is deliverable nationally.

Regulation: TodayOn April 8, 2009 all Italian Regions establishedcommon parameters in a document written bythe Conference of the Regions and AutonomousProvinces 09/030/CR/C9 “Recognition of theintercultural mediator as a professional figure” inwhich they recognize the professional figure ofthe mediator and its importance in the Italiancontext. The document defines common linesof action in reference to: Areas of activity,competencies and roles.

Regulation: TodayOn December 21, 2009 the Institutional WorkingGroup for the Promotion of InterculturalMediation published guidelines for therecognition of professional interculturalmediators.

Main Intervention Areasof GuidelinesMediators are agents of change and their primaryrole is the facilitation of "governance."

Main Intervention Areasof GuidelinesMediators are agents of change and their primaryrole is the facilitation of "governance."This role take place in contexts that relate to thefollowing main areas:

Main Intervention Areasof GuidelinesMediators are agents of change and their primaryrole is the facilitation of "governance."This role take place in contexts that relate to thefollowing main areas:(1) Communication(2) Information/Guidance(3) Conflict Management(4) Monitoring/Support(5) Formation(6) Consultancy and Projects(7) Research

Training GuidelinesTraining is most often done in reference to amodel that divides the field into a Basic andSpecialized Level

Fields Included in Guidelinesa) Schoolb) Healthc) Adult and juvenile justiced) Public Administratione) Emergencyf) Social Servicesg) Labor and Employment

Remuneration GuidelinesThe guidelines are not clear about how to dealwith remuneration, but they say that isnecessary to provide at national and territoriallevels, resources devoted to the mediation thatmust be seen as an investment rather than acost. Mediation can contribute directly andindirectly to solve employment problems. Canbe a means to improve the integration ofimmigrants in the social and economic fabricof the country.

Work UndertakenThe Working Institutional Groupundertook several measures, one ofwhich is the name of this professional:Intercultural Mediator

Work UndertakenThe Working Institutional Group undertookseveral measures, one of which is the name ofthis professional: Intercultural Mediator"In fact, the concept of Mediator with all its corollarieswas impartiality fixed as its primary meaning. Thebroad concept of culture introduced by the suffix"inter" focuses on the dynamic sense of dialogue,interactions and relationships, all inaccessible areaswithout the primary means of communication – i.e.,language, which is thus implicitly incorporated as thelintel of the founding words. "