PRESS RELEASE
8 NOVEMBER 2024
Renewal regime for accredited mediators to be refined to emphasise continuing professional develolpment.
The Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI) celebrated 10 years of upholding the standards of mediators and mediation training and service providers on 8 November 2024. A celebration lunch was held to mark the organisation’s milestone achievements and to acknowledge the contributions of the stakeholders who have contributed to SIMI’s growth and development as the premier independent professional standards body in Singapore and the region.
The celebration was officiated by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Murali Pillai SC, Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport.
A Refreshed Renewal Regime for SIMI-accreditation for Mediators
In conjunction with its 10th Anniversary, an exercise was undertaken to review and align the requirements for renewing SIMI accreditation of mediators, with other professions[1]. The revamped renewal regime, targetted for implementation in 2026, will emphasise the importance of undertaking continuing professional development via a broader scope of qualifying continuing professional development (CPD) events[2].
This review was undertaken as part of a wider effort to improve SIMI’s systems and processes, with the goal of strengthening its mark of quality and developing professional practice standards amongst mediators and mediation training and service providers. This would contribute towards generating trust among users of mediation and encourage greater use of mediation as a dispute resolution platform.
The key objectives of the renewal regime of SIMI-accredited mediators were two-fold:
- To ensure that SIMI Mediators (at various experience levels) maintain their skills and knowledge of mediation to enable them to conduct a mediation or co-mediation to the highest professional practice standards.
- To reinforce each SIMI mediator tier as a mark of quality which identifies mediators as trained professionals, who are able to effectively facilitate resolution of disputes, thus generating trust among mediation users.
“With the coming into force of the Singapore Convention on Mediation in September 2020, and the continued growth in the use of mediation as a dispute resolution platform in cross-border disputes, it is increasingly important for mediators to be accredited by an independent professional standards body to reflect the high quality of standards to which they subscribe to in the conduct of their mediations with international parties.” – Prof Joel Lee, Chairman of SIMI.
SIMI’s recent work in upholding quality standards include the launch of a competency framework for mediators and the updating of its Code of Professional Conduct in 2023.
Launch of “Contemporary Issues in Mediation” Volume 9
The celebration event was also the platform for the launch of “Contemporary Issues in Mediation” (CIIM) Volume 9. CIIM is a novel series with content that originates from SIMI’s annual mediation essay competition, open to tertiary students in universities, colleges or other education institutions from around the world and across all disciplines. The series has found its way into the international academic publishing world through SIMI’s partnership with Singapore-based World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd.
The CIIM series was launched in 2016 and aims to develop greater interest in mediation among students by encouraging them to think more deeply about mediation issues and providing them with a platform to have their works published. The essay competition and the publication of CIIM aligns with SIMI’s mission to promote the development of professional mediation practice through research and thought leadership. We believe that event students, regardless of age or experience can contribute to this endeavour.
The 10 articles in CIIM Volume 9 cover key aspects of mediation applicable both in Singapore as well as internationally, with a focus on professional practice issues.
- Mediation in Addressing Human Rights Violations in Asia;
- The Choice of Law Issue in Article 5(1)(a) Singapore Convention;
- The Potentiality for Victim-Offender Mediations in Singapore’s Criminal Justice System;
- The Hidden Potential of Game Theory in Mediation;
- The Role of Negative Emotions in Mediation;
- Investigating Neighbour Disputes and Mediation in Singapore through Behavioural Economics;
- The Value of Mediation Competitions in Mediation Education;
- A Contemporary View on the Mediation in Russia and Areas for Reform;
- Resolving Drama in Family Mediation through a Trauma-informed Approach; and
- The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Assisting Mediators.
For more information on CIIM Volume 9, kindly refer to Annex A.
Copies of CIIM Volume 9 can be purchased here.
Background
SIMI was established in 2014 on the recommendation of the International Commercial Mediation Working Group formed by the Chief Justice, Mr Sundaresh Menon, and the Ministry of Law, to look into developing Singapore into a centre for international commercial mediation to support the need for trusted and efficient dispute resolution solutions amidst burgeoning trade and investment into Asia. One of the recommendations supporting this initiative was to establish a professional body to set standards and provide accreditation for mediators.
Over the past decade, SIMI has accredited mediators spread over 28 jurisdictions in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. SIMI has also accredited mediation training programmes and mediation service providers locally, and abroad (namely Germany, Kenya and the United Kingdom). It has also formed an Alliance with other mediation organisations which promotes (amongst other things) the cross-recognition of mediators in France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Portugal and Singapore.
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About the Singapore International Mediation Institute
SIMI was incorporated on 15 July 2014 as a non-profit organisation, with support from both the Ministry of Law as well as the National University of Singapore. SIMI is headed by an international Board of Directors with representatives from both mediation practitioners as well as corporate users of mediation. SIMI works closely with the International Mediation Institute (IMI), a non-profit public interest initiative to drive transparency and high competency standards into mediation practice across all fields, worldwide.
SIMI's Vision
Vanguard of mediation in Asia.
SIMI's Mission Statements
1. Set and achieve high mediation standards through the professionalization of mediation.
2. Promote understanding and inspire the use of mediation.
3. Stimulate and facilitate the development and growth of mediation through research and innovation.
4. Foster a strong mediation community in Asia by engaging stakeholders in discussion, events and outreach activities.
Contact
[1] SIMI-accredited mediators are required to renew their accredited status every two years to ensure that their competence levels remain updated and relevant. This will assure users of mediation that the mediator possesses the highest quality standards and will inspire trust in the mediation process.
[2] These include (amongst others) judging or participating in mediation competitions, being a speaker at any mediation event, contributing articles on mediation, or serving on any committee of a SIMI Partner.