Twenty-one senior justice officials in Bougainville have completed the region’s first-ever Basic Mediation Skills Training (BMST), aimed at promoting peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue rather than court proceedings.
Held from July 21–25, the training introduced participants to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a method praised for being faster, more affordable, and culturally grounded. It was facilitated by Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi and experts from PNG’s judicial ser-vices.
Participants included representatives from the Police, Magistrates, Village Courts, Correctional Services, and the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Justice and Legal Services (DJLS).
Martin Tisivua, a Juvenile Justice Officer said, “This training gave me deeper insight into mediation. It’s a vital skill that helps keep families and communities together.”
The training was supported by the Australian Government through the Australia–Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership.
Participants at the BMST included representatives from the Police, Magistrates, Village Courts, Correctional Services, and the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Justice and Legal Services (DJLS.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100