Arlene Manoharan

The program gave me a deeper insight into myself and provided me with an introduction to mediation, while further nuancing my understanding of Restorative Justice- my current area of work. Given that the Mediation Act, 2023, is now in force, this learning helps me to contribute to processes aimed at using mediation for children and families.

With a basic understanding of Therapeutic Jurisprudence, I was enthused to see how mediation requires a different approach to justice and lawyering – one that is refreshingly grounded in needs, interests and rights, as well as ethics and principles, while valuing the role of emotions and the primacy of human relationships.

The course has opened up avenues for me to explore mediation while also being a Restorative Justice practitioner in the Indian context. Since I also work part-time in an international faith-based organization on the issue of Safeguarding, I am also exploring the possibility of enabling the organization to institutionalize a mediation centre through which mediation could help prevent the escalation of conflict, and also serve as a means to meaningfully respond to harm where appropriate.