FAMILY MEDIATION AS A METHOD OF RESOLVING FAMILY DISPUTES

Family mediation as a method of resolving family disputes Family disputes rank among the most mentally and emotionally demanding. Despite that they can be resolved in a cultivated manner through an intermediate. A mediator does not decide the dispute on behalf of the parties but he/she can help them to find their own solution acceptable for all the involved parties. The theoretical part of the thesis outlines the conflict as a subject matter of the mediation. It also describes mediation as a form of negotiation. One part of the thesis is dedicated to the person of the mediator and his/her role and competence in the mediation process. Further, the thesis deals with the process and forms of mediation. The theoretical part also contains a characterization of mediation in family conflicts and it describes objectives of family mediation, its advantages and limitations. It also describes the tasks of the mediator in a divorce procedure and the legal regulation of family mediation. The thesis also deals with children in parental legal disputes and with the importance of a family for a child. The objective of the practical part was to determine how mediation, as a method of resolving divorce disputes, is viewed by workers in charge of social and legal protection of children operating in the South Bohemian region and to determine to what extent the respective social workers are familiar with mediation. In order to obtain comprehensive information about the divorce mediation, we also approached mediators involved in this type of disputes. One of the objectives of the thesis was to determine how the mediators view divorce mediation in the South Bohemian region. Last but not least, I was interested in mutual cooperation between the two involved entities. The purpose of the conducted interviews was to find out whether there are any obstacles which prevent the development of divorce mediation and its more frequent use in the South Bohemian region. Main object, by having answered partial questions, was to describe the potencial of divorce mediation and its real usage in the South Bohemian region. In order to obtain the necessary data we used a qualitative research. As a technique to collect the qualitative data we used semi-structured interviews with open questions. The respondents {--} workers of social and legal protection of children - were asked previously defined circles of questions which focused on a mediation method in general, mediator´s working post, divorce mediation and questions focusing on cooperation with mediators specialized in divorce mediation. The first three circles of questions were identical also for the interviewed mediators. The latter were additionally asked questions about the introduction of divorce mediation and availability of the method. Interviews were recorded on a dictaphone and subsequently converted into a written form. Before the beginning of the interview each interviewed person was assured that the interview was anonymous and no names or workplaces were recorded. For the purposes of a qualitative research we approached seven workers of the authority in charge of social and legal protection of children at workplaces in Písek, České Budějovice, Strakonice and Milevsko. For the purposes of research we also interviewed four mediators dealing with family (divorce) mediation in the South Bohemian region. The results of the thesis may improve the awareness of the discussed issues. The thesis may also serve as a pilot project for a more extensive research