The Belgian Union of Professional Mediators, or the Union of Peacemakers… Have You Heard of It?

The Belgian Union of Professional Mediators, or the Union of Peacemakers… Have You Heard of It?

Mediators, facilitators and conciliators have existed since time immemorial. Human communities and societies have always appointed those they considered the wisest to restore harmony and enable people to live together in peace. Whether they were tribal chiefs, religious leaders or family members, these mediators were advocates of peace within their own communities.

Today, we can rejoice in having a Union that brings them together and trains them to develop even greater wisdom, listening skills, impartiality and reflection. It takes love, compassion, empathy and patience to practise this profession, which is essential to maintaining balance in human relationships. These relationships have become increasingly complex in a society that is constantly changing, moving at a frantic pace and focused on the immediate and, sadly, one must acknowledge, marked by violence at every level, from the family unit right up to nations.

1991 marked a turning point in Belgium, with the introduction of postgraduate courses in mediation. The French-speaking Social Advancement Education sector (Promotion sociale) established a training programme for this profession, which had become fashionable.

In 2003, the Belgian Union of Professional Mediators (UBMP) was founded, providing structure, advice, advocacy and a professional network for these practitioners. Its activities are numerous, both within the organisation and beyond. Training, both initial and continuing, plays an important role. The Union also offers highly specialised training courses.

At the anniversary conference on 11 October 2023, I discovered that mediation was not limited to difficult family situations. It encompasses everything from the smallest to the most significant differences of opinion. It ranges from mediation between family members to mediation between members of a professional team, between a client and their supplier, or between an individual or legal entity and public authorities, for example. I invite you to visit the website: http://ubmp-bupb.org/newsite/fr/ and discover this community of men and women who are peacemakers.

Mediation is a profession, but it is much more than that: it is also an art and a science. Simply possessing theoretical knowledge is not enough; that would be far too easy. One must also be able to be rigorous yet flexible, to acknowledge the emotional distress of all parties while restoring balance to the relationship, to be firm while remaining gentle and patient, to listen attentively while maintaining a healthy distance from both other people's emotions and one's own, to be creative while respecting certain limits imposed, for example, by legislation, and to take on significant responsibilities while allowing the parties to fulfil their own.

Today, one university in Brussels, three Walloon universities and various associations offer a certificate in mediation.

And does this Belgian Union operate only within Belgium? Belgians are discreet travellers, experts in their fields. The UBMP is no exception: it also has an international presence, through exchanges, training programmes and discussions on legislation with foreign authorities, for example. The UBMP has become a go-to source of expertise for those wishing to learn from Belgian experience in the field of mediation, a field in which the UBMP has helped foster diversity and specialisation.

Victoria B. Lohay
Ambassador
Wallonia.be