On 4 and 5 December 2017, in Brussels (Moleenbek), a meeting for public and independent mediation institutions in Europe and the Americas was held for the first time, under the aegis of the Association of Ombudsmen and Mediators of La Francophonie (Association des Ombudsmans et Médiateurs de la Francophonie - AOMF).
The Monegasque High Commissioner took part in this particularly enriching meeting, alongside her European and Canadian counterparts. The meeting gave rise to much discussion and shared experience of six topics that are very useful for improving practices:
- Strategic planning;
- The quality management system within mediation institutions;
- Relations between the Ombudsman and parliamentarians;
- Relations between the Ombudsman and administrations;
- Specific issues related to the nature and scope of the recommendations;
- Consolidating the Ombudsman's reputation.
This peer-to-peer meeting was followed by a training seminar for employees of French-speaking institutions, in which Christelle Revel, who joined the High Commissioner staff in January 2017 as Legal Adviser, took part from 6 to 8 December 2017.
This training, given by Ms. Johanna Hawari Bourgely, Director of the Professional Mediation Centre of the Saint Joseph University in Lebanon and Mediator at the Association of European Mediators, focused on a human, efficient approach to the relationship between claimants and the services of the Ombudsman throughout the mediation process.
