The Palestinian Judicial Institute Launches Specialized Training Program on Judicial Mediation
Ramallah | October 23, 2026
His Excellency Judge Wisam Al-Salaymeh, Director of the Palestinian Judicial Institute, inaugurated a specialized training program on judicial mediation. The initiative was organized in coordination with the High Judicial Council, in cooperation with ACT for Conflict Resolution, and with support from the Sawasya III Joint Programme through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The program aims to enrich the participating judges' knowledge and refine their practical skills in managing mediation and settling civil disputes. This initiative empowers disputing parties to reach consensual settlements that safeguard their rights while enhancing the overall justice system's responsiveness to litigants' needs.
In his opening remarks, Judge Al-Salaymeh emphasized the pivotal role of judicial mediation in advancing the justice ecosystem. He noted that mediation offers consensual conflict resolution avenues, alleviates court caseloads, and fosters a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding between parties while upholding rights and ensuring judicial guarantees.
He further highlighted that modernizing judicial work extends beyond legislation and procedures, requiring continuous investment in judicial capacity building, ongoing professional development, and leveraging proven practices to improve the quality and efficiency of justice delivery.
Delivered by Mr. Mohammad Hadieh, Executive Director of ACT for Conflict Resolution, the training program covers the Palestinian legal framework governing judicial mediation pursuant to Decree-Law No. (32) of 2021 on Civil Dispute Settlement Mediation. The curriculum addresses core mediation principles and ethics, the skill set required for judge-mediators, stages of managing the mediation process, dispute management techniques, interest discovery, and settlement option development.
The program utilizes an interactive training methodology combining theoretical foundations with practical applications, enabling participants to effectively apply mediation skills within their judicial practice.
This program forms part of the Palestinian Judicial Institute’s ongoing efforts to institutionalize mediation within judicial practice by enhancing judges' operational capabilities and strengthening collaboration with national institutions and justice sector partners.
