Mediación y Trabajo Social: especial atención al ámbito comunitario

Abstract

Cuadernos de Trabajo SocialISSN: 0214-0314Vol. 29-2 (2016) 275-283http://dx.doi.org/10.5209/CUTS.51877275IntroductionAlternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) covers aset of techniques aimed at reaching a satisfactoryagreement for the parties involved in a disputeavoiding judicial processes. It operates throughflexible processes and active participation of theparties/subjects.The most frequently used forms of ADR inthe European Union include arbitration, conci-liation, non-binding opinions, «amiable compo-siteurs», mini-trials, ombudsmen, negotiation,and mediation.The European Union has made considerableefforts to encourage the use of ADRs for manyMediation and the Social Work profession: particularly in the community contextMediación y Trabajo Social: especial atención al ámbito comunitarioMarta BLANCOCARRASCOUniversidad Complutense de Madrid, Españamartabla@ucm.esRecibido: 13/02/2016Revisado: 17/02/2016Aceptado: 27/04/2016Disponible on line: 01/07/2016AbstractIn 2008, the European Union published its Directive on mediation in civil and commercial matters, offering generalregulation of this conflict resolution system, its principles, and its objectives. Social workers have for some time defendedtheir role as mediators, but this reality has changed and mediation appears to have taken shape as an independent professiondue to existing regulation, its introduction to universities and the implementation of training courses. This article analysesthe differences between the two professions: mediator and social worker. It also considers the mediation that is carried outin the community context. Community mediation is a perfect tool for achieving a changed understanding of public socialservices, seeking to encourage citizens to participate in and take responsibility for community life and thereby to becomeactive citizens as envisaged by the 2012 Global Agenda for Social Work. However, mediation in this context has certainpeculiarities, and at times confusion may arise between the figures of social worker and mediator.Keywords: mediation, community, Social Work, profession, social conflict.ResumenEn 2008, la Unión Europea publicó la Directiva sobre mediación en asuntos civiles y comerciales, ofreciendo una regulacióngeneral de este sistema de resolución de conflictos, sus principios y sus objetivos. Los trabajadores sociales han defendido du-rante mucho tiempo, como muchas otras profesiones, su papel como mediadores. Pero esta realidad ha cambiado y la media-ción parece haber tomado forma como profesión independiente debido a la regulación existente, su introducción en las univer-sidades y la implementación de cursos de formación. Este artículo analiza las diferencias entre las dos profesiones: mediadory trabajadora social. Se centra especialmente en la mediación que se lleva a cabo en el contexto comunitario. La mediación co-munitaria es una herramienta perfecta para lograr una nueva perspectiva de los servicios sociales públicos, tratando de incenti-var a los ciudadanos a participar y asumir la responsabilidad de la vida en comunidad y por lo tanto convertirse en ciudadanosactivos, tal y como se prevé en la Agenda Global de 2012 para el Trabajo Social. Sin embargo, la mediación en este contextotiene ciertas particularidades, y en ocasiones puede surgir cierta confusión entre las figuras del trabajador social y el mediadorIn 2008, the European Union published its Directive on mediation in civil and commercial matters, offering generalregulation of this conflict resolution system, its principles, and its objectives. Social workers have for some time defendedtheir role as mediators, but this reality has changed and mediation appears to have taken shape as an independent professiondue to existing regulation, its introduction to universities and the implementation of training courses. This article analysesthe differences between the two professions: mediator and social worker. It also considers the mediation that is carried outin the community context. Community mediation is a perfect tool for achieving a changed understanding of public socialservices, seeking to encourage citizens to participate in and take responsibility for community life and thereby to becomeactive citizens as envisaged by the 2012 Global Agenda for Social Work. However, mediation in this context has certainpeculiarities, and at times confusion may arise between the figures of social worker and mediator.