Name of the organization/initiative and year of foundation

The National Association of Mediators of Ukraine (NAMU) was founded in 2014 in Kyiv as a voluntary, professional, independent, self-governing public association in the field of mediation and conflict resolution.

Mission

The mission is to form a systematic, structured, and sustainable societal request for mediation in Ukraine. NAMU’s primary goals are to promote the development, usage, and dissemination of mediation as a high-quality services and as a practical approach to resolving and transforming conflicts in various spheres of life; to unite specialists to develop mediation profession according to international best practices; protect common interests of its members; represent their interests in Ukraine and abroad, and promote a culture of dialogue.

Actions and projects in the context of armed conflict

Currently, NAMU unites 185 members – mediators from all regions of Ukraine who have professional training in mediation and practice mediation. A significant number of NAMU members are also involved in the facilitation of dialogue processes in eastern Ukraine and other regions.

NAMU conducts legislative drafting activities on the development and adoption of the law “On Mediation” by the Parliament of Ukraine, as well as other legal regulations governing mediation aspects in various spheres of life. NAMU has developed the draft text of the mediation law and coordinated it with representatives of the mediation community and other stakeholders. NAMU conducts regular consultations with MPs, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, courts of all levels, the Administration of the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, and other stakeholders.

With the support of USAID’s “New Justice” Program, NAMU has developed the Code of Ethics for Mediators, Foundation Principles for Basic Mediator Skills Training, which make the ground for professional development of the mediator community in Ukraine.

NAMU regularly initiates campaigns to promote mediation and dialogue culture and co-organizes the annual Mediation and Dialogue Forum held by the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine. NAMU assists in recruiting experienced dialogue facilitators by the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine into the programs for dialogue between/within the central and local governments, between government, civil society, and local communities on civil service reform, decentralization, education, and other issues.

With the support and co-operation of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine, NAMU promotes a culture of dialogue in the civil service. NAMU assists in methodological support for dialogues – development of training materials and conducting trainings on conflict management, mediation, and dialogue for the central and local authorities; an online educational course for civil servants of category B “Mediation and Dialogue Services for Public Service”; a series of publications explaining the value and algorithm of dialogue for the needs of civil service.