It is time for reflection and looking forward as the year comes to a close and we get ready for the holiday season in my part of the world. There is much to celebrate from the viewpoint of the International Mediation Institute (IMI). To name a few - the Global Pound Conference (GPC) series was launched in the first quarter and is progressing quickly to engage stakeholders throughout the world; new Board members joined IMI, broadening our diversity; IMI published its 2016 Biennial Census Survey; talks continue in Working Group II to explore the adoption of an instrument to enforce mediation settlements for cross border disputes; and IMI established criteria for mediators resolving Investor State Disputes. Let’s celebrate these accomplishments.

The Global Pound Conference SeriesThe Series was launched in Singapore and since that time events were held in Lagos, Mexico City, New York City, Geneva, Toronto, and Madrid. In total 41 events have been planned in 31 countries. We promised a unique event to engage stakeholders in a modern conversation about the future of dispute management and resolution and we delivered through the hard work of many people on the ground. We started to collect information about what is being currently delivered to stakeholders, but more important, what they want in the future. In reviewing the information collected in very different locations, we find that there are many similarities in viewpoint. This intelligence will help shape the processes to meet stakeholder needs. We encourage you to review the reports from each event by going to: http://globalpoundconference.org/gpc-series-data/local-voting-results
In 2017 GPC events are planned in 35 cities so far. Please sign up for notifications about scheduled events at: http://www.globalpoundconference.org/conference-series/attend-a-gpc-series-event
Thank you to all of our Sponsors for making these events a reality. Special thanks for the Diamond Sponsors HSF and SIDRA and Platinum Sponsor PWC. A list of Sponsors and Sponsorship opportunities can be found at: http://globalpoundconference.org/supporters-(2)/global-sponsors
In order to continue the promise, we need you to engage users of dispute management and resolution processes to attend the events. Please invite your colleagues and clients.

​We hope to see you at one or more of the GPC events.

Article extracted from Khmer Times 03/11/2016 link>>

​Conflict over forest resources is one of the major challenges in forest management, particularly in Cambodia. It is believed that the number and severity of forest conflicts has increased in the last decades. The Royal Government of Cambodia, for example, put conflict resolution as one of the important aspect in its National Forest Program, underlining its commitment to address the issue.
 
To minimize the negative impacts (and maximize the positive impacts) of forest conflicts, there is a need to develop and strengthen appropriate conflict management methods, tools and practices. There are some approaches of conflict management including avoidance, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, adjudication, coercion, and violence. Among others, mediation is considered a key method for addressing forest conflict. As a process in which a third party helps the conflicting parties in resolving the conflict, mediation is considered not only an effective tool in resolving conflict, but also in transforming social relationships and building peace.
 
This study will be analyzed with the aim to develop a better understanding of mediation and its dynamics of success, gaining insight into the challenges facing this conflict management method, and to strengthen its practices. The results of this analysis will cover the state of the art of forest conflict mediation in the Cambodian community, the trends observed through the analysis of various case studies, as well as proposing innovations for the development and application of conflict mediation in the transformation of conflict. It is also hoped that the result of the analysis will contribute to the development of policy and capacity building on conflict mediation.
 
The purpose of this presentation is to examine the application of different mediation methods in Cambodia by focusing on the process of mediation, including the aims of mediation, role of mediators, process of mediation, methods and outcomes of the mediation.
 
As resulted of this analysis mediation will be perceived as an important method to address conflict in Cambodian society, especially traditional conciliation is practiced widely in the rural Cambodia  to manage tensions and reduce angers between the community people and Economic Land Concession-based Company, and thereafter, to create peaceful resolutions at community level, pursue several strategies to improve conflict transformation and promote the capacity building programs of conflict management.