Doha: The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC), in cooperation with Qatar University (QU), has launched a professional diploma program in family mediation. This significant step aims to qualify national cadres in family mediation and the amicable resolution of family disputes, in addition to enhancing effective communication within the family unit in support of the state's restorative justice system.

According to Qatar News Agency, this program comes in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, which emphasizes the importance of creating a cohesive society, supporting the vision's Social Development pillar. It also aligns with SJC's strategic directions that deem restorative justice a key foundation for achieving amicable settlement before resorting to litigation.

Graduating a first cohort of 20 family mediators, the program is supervised by the Community Service and Continuing Education Center at QU and consists of workshops and interactive lectures which combine theory and practice to equip participants with advanced skills in the field.

Administrative director of the Family Court Khamis Almuraikhi said that the program is a strategic step towards generating professional mediators capable of settling family disputes in a civil and effective manner, thus, reducing the negative effects of family conflicts and strengthening family and societal cohesion.

Almuraikhi said that the Family Court is keen on raising the performance level of its staff applying reconciliation strategies, in a way that supports and achieves the objectives of SJC and the Third National Development Strategy. He added that the program bolsters the state institutions' efforts in materializing the social development pillar, achieving family cohesion, and working to resolve family disputes amicably as much as possible, as to reduce social and psychological impacts of conflict, especially on children.