Mediation as a structured process within the legal, political, and social systems in Mexico is not yet mainstream. Rather, mediation is an exception, and a fairly innovative idea on most fronts. Nevertheless, progress is happening, and many things indicate that a different approach to dispute resolution is foreseeable in the near future. Besides legislative changes, adjustments in public policies, and international trends, there are increasing negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution educational programs. So, it is possible to forecast that future generations will have better tools to manage disputes and collaborate with one another when facing conflict.

Mexico, much like many other nations in the world, faces strong divisions. In Mexico, these divisions are particularly emphasized by inequality and a deeply rooted distrust within the citizenry. In many ways, those two phenomena eventually intersect and are perpetuated by the contentious, competitive approach to conflict resolution, common in the country.  

On the flipside, mediation, in all of its expressions, whether integral to the legal process, or as part of community reconciliation programs, can strongly contribute to the reduction of the divisions that Mexico now faces, with all of its subsequent benefits. Indeed, mediation as a collaborative process, which recognizes the dignity and reality of the other, offers a better method for the resolution of not only legal disputes, but it can also help bridge the corrosive divisions that the Mexican people now face.

In summary, mediation can contribute to creating a path for a better quality of life for a large percentage of the Mexican population. The promise and the opportunities of mediation are enormous. To be able to contribute to part of that process is a privilege.

By Fernando Navarro Sánchez, Senior Fellow-Mexico, Weinstein International Foundation