A 7-Day Intensive Workshop on Family Mediation Skills for Social Workers
The International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC), Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Invisible Scars Foundation (ISF) and Centific, successfully concluded a seven-day intensive workshop on Family Mediation Training. The programme brought together professionals from the social sector, including the Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), Wishes Foundation, Seva Bharathi, among others.
Designed to equip participants with the tools of family mediation, the workshop focused on the use of mediation as a transformative approach to addressing common issues that arise between family members, especially those that involve elements of domestic violence abuse (DVA) and gender-based violence (GBV). It also brought together legal professionals, mental health practitioners, and mediators from across the country as resource persons.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Ms. Shikha Goel IPS, Director General, Director, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau & Director, Telangana Forensic Science Laboratories, who delivered an insightful address on the role of mediation in resolving family disputes. Ms. Reshmi Arun, Branding & Corporate Communication and CSR Lead at Centific India, also addressed the participants and concluded her speech with the powerful words: “Oftentimes, the deepest scars are the invisible ones.” Mr. A. J. Jawad, Registrar, IAMC, Hyderabad, spoke on the broader role of mediation beyond the courtroom, describing it as an essential life skill. Ms. Ekta Viiveck Verma, Founder & Director of Invisible Scars Foundation, gave an introduction to the relevance of mediation for social workers and the objectives of the workshop.
The training spanned 7 days. Mr. K. S. Sarma, CEO, Life Skills (India) Training Pvt. Ltd., facilitated the first three days of the programme. On Day 2, participants were joined by Mrs. Susheela Sarathi, Senior Advocate, High Court of Karnataka, Senior Mediator and Master Trainer at the Bangalore Mediation Centre and MCPC, who conducted a comprehensive session on trauma-informed mediation.
Day 3 featured a session by Mr. Ranjeeth Thunga, Perspective Mapper, who spoke about the scars in our consciousness and the role of self-reflection in transformation. This was followed by an insightful presentation and discussion on gender empowerment led by Ms. Ekta Viiveck Verma.
Day 4 included an interactive session by Dr. Varudhini Kankipati, Psychologist, who emphasized the importance of recognising trauma and mental health in mediation. Participants also attended a virtual session by Ms. Tanu Mehta, Legal Counsel, Mediator and Arbitrator, Committee for Mediation and Conciliation, Bombay Chamber of Commerce, who delivered a lecture on the Fundamentals of Family Law.
Days 5 & 6 focused on practical learning through structured mock mediation exercises, allowing participants to implement their learning in simulated environments.
The workshop concluded with the final mediation assessment, followed by the Valedictory Ceremony. Social workers were felicitated with certificates by the Chief Guest, Hon’ble Ch. Panchakshari Garu, District & Sessions Judge and Member Secretary, Telangana State Legal Services Authority. The ceremony concluded with closing remarks by Mr. A. J. Jawad, Registrar, IAMC; Ms. Ekta Viiveck Verma, Founder & Director, ISF; Dr. Dinesh Chandrasekar, Chief Strategy Officer & Country Head, India, Centific; and a vote of thanks by the IAMC team.
