FBE Mediation Commission Statement

More than five months have passed since the beginning of Russia's war offensive on Ukraine and its citizens. There were and are days of desolation and solidarity, as well as support from many European countries and other continents. Today we see the worst face of the invasion: a humanitarian crisis that has exposed and exposes, once again, numerous groups of society to situations of helplessness and risk. Military operations for these purposes, which do not attend to the use of speech or listening, neglect the population and violate human rights. We believe that the international community must address this extreme situation directly, providing itself with all possible means and instruments to deal with it.

In accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and in relation to the peaceful settlement of disputes, the parties of a conflict whose continuance is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall seek a solution primarily through negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice. The objective of maintaining and developing an area of freedom, security and justice and the principle of access to justice are provided in the European Directive 2008/52 EC on mediation in civil and commercial matters. 

Promoting the culture of peace and the creation of spaces for dialogue in the face of conflicts is of paramount importance. From the Mediation Commission of the European Bars Federation (FBE), we consider it essential to urge representatives of the legal profession and ADR, as well as all jurists and legal professionals to promote the use of peaceful means of conflict resolution, especially in processes that affect vulnerable groups of people requiring special protection and as a guarantee of the effective right of universal access to justice.

To say no to war and violations of international law is also to say yes to mediation and the promotion of dialogue and the culture of peace to save human lives.