Proudly presenting "Contemporary Issues In Mediation Volume 2"!


CIIM Vol 2 (Hardcover)

CIIM Volume 2

SIMI's second book to the widely acclaimed series, "Contemporary Issues in Mediation Volume 2", was officially launched on 8 November 2017 at NUS Faculty of Law.

CIIM Volume 2 is a collection of the best entries of the 2nd Singapore International Mediation Institute Annual Mediation Essay Competition.

3 essays focused on issues specific to family mediation are featured in a separate section in this volume.

The winning piece is by Khoo May Ann and it explores the applicability of mediation in situations involving family violence. While her research is based on the Singapore experience, the insights and observations she makes on the implications of adopting mediation in cases involving family violence are universally applicable.

Next we have Too Fang Yi's essay that comments on the impact of amendments to the Women's Charter in 2011 on family mediation. Taking a form that is commonly appreciated by legal practitioners, Fang Yi's piece is an excellent commentary on the legislative amendments that can serve as guidance for further development in this field.

Rounding out the family section is Yeoh Jean Ann's piece that takes the discussion on mediation in the family sphere in another direction. She explores the ways in which an interdisciplinary approach can add value to family mediators, referring to the benefits of a mediator having access to therapeutic and evaluative skills as complementary to the popular facilitative mediation model.

In the general section, we have the privilege of featuring the first-runner up essay by Justin Low on the cultural compatibilities of mandatory mediation, a must-read for anyone with an interest in the intersection between culture and mediation. 

There is also an interesting topic in Michelle Wong’s analysis of Hong Kong’s apology legislation, and in particular how Singapore may wish to consider implementing one of its own. At the time of writing, Singapore had yet to put a Mediation Act in force but since then, Singapore has seen its very own Mediation Act passed in Parliament in February 2017. 

We would also like to highlight a very unique piece by Rumani Kaushal Sheth, on the merits of incorporating Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Improvisation Theatre into mediation training. It is a creative inspiration to trainers and students of mediation alike.


Excerpt from Editors note by: Joel Lee (SIMI Chairman, NUS Associate Professor) & Marcus Lim (SIMI Executive Director)


Part 1: Essays on Family Mediation

 

  1. Scaling Up Safety for the Sake of Self-Determination: Exploring Options to Mediation and Cases of Family Violence in Singapore
    By Khoo May Ann Esther
  2. Mediation of Family Disputes in Singapore Following the Amendments to the Women's Charter in 2011
    By Too Fang Yi

  3. Mediation as an Appropriate Form of Dispute Resolution for Family Disputes: The Case for an Interdisciplinary Approach
    By Yeoh Jean Ann

Part 2: Essays on General Mediation

 

  1. Mandatory Mediation in Singapore: Cultural Compatibilities
    By Justin Low Ching Wei

  2. To Mediate or Not to Mediate: An Analysis of When It Would be Reasonable to Reject Mediation
    By Wang Chen Yan

  3. Promoting ASEAN as a Platform for Collaborative Dispute Settlement — Institutionalising Administered Mediation in ASEAN
    By Maryam H Rozlan

  4. Making Mediators Better Performers — Use of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Improvisation Theatre for Creative Results
    By Rumani Kaushal Sheth

  5. And Never the Twain Shall Meet? An Analysis of the Benefits of Caucus Mediation and Conference Mediation
    By Choong Jia Shun

  6. The Paradox of Power and Neutrality in Mediation
    By Seah Ern Xu

  7. Learning from Hong Kong for a Mediation and an Apology Legislation in Singapore 
    By Michelle Wong

Grab your e book here!

  

 

   E-copies of the essays are also available through our publisher here.

   Read the book review by Ms Michelle Woodworth here.

 

Foreword

By William Ury, co-author of Getting To Yes

It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The Singapore International Mediation Institute is taking that first step to inspire the youth of today and encourage them to engage in scholarship about mediation. It provides them the platform and the opportunity to plant seeds for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. As the first of its kind in Singapore, I look forward to seeing this book series not only continue to flourish, but also to show the way forward through innovative and thought-provoking work. And I take this opportunity to wish you much success in getting to yes! (pdf) 

 

Endorsements

"The thoughtful essays in the family themed section bring fresh perspectives and insights on family mediation, which occupies a central place in the current family justice system. I commend this effort to give young writers a voice and I hope it will go on to inspire students and practitioners to work in this very important area of ‘appropriate dispute resolution’."

Judicial Commissioner Debbie Ong Siew Ling
Supreme Court of Singapore

"The three chapters in the family themed section of Contemporary Issues in Mediation Volume 2 are balanced essays that provide useful suggestions following the 2011 amendments to the Women’s Charter concerning mandatory mediation. These suggestions are well worth considering if mandatory mediation is to achieve its goals and avoid pitfalls."

Professor Leong Wai Kum
Faculty of Law,
National University of Singapore

"Fresh, bold and innovative - these adjectives apply equally to both the publication as well as the essays it contains. This impressive volume offers an exciting collection of thought-provoking perspectives on mediation from our bright young legal minds."

Associate Professor Lim-Lum Kit Wye
Nanyang Business School,
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

 

Special Thanks

As always, this publication would not have been possible without the support and efforts of many people. We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to:

— Our wiser halves, Pearl and Li Jing, for giving us the space and peace of mind during our work;

— Mr William Ury, for writing the foreword for the series;

— Members of SIMI’s board, past and present, for their unwavering support of the project (Mr Poon Hong Yuen, Mr Han Kok Juan, Professor Nadja Alexander, Ms Josephine Hadikusumo, Mr Michael Leathes and Ms Irena Vanenkova);

— The Singapore Ministry of Law, for taking the lead in promoting mediation in Singapore;

— The National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law, for their staunch support;

— Our publishers, World Scientific Publishing Company, for their patience and guidance in bringing another volume to publication; and

— Our students (past and present) from the National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law for always being an inspiration to our work.

Last but not least, we would like to thank you, the reader, for supporting SIMI and this book. We hope that this project continues to inspire you in your work, whatever field it may be, to find collaborative solutions in resolving your disputes.

(An excerpt from Editors' Note)