Inma Sanz, the deputy mayor of Madrid, inaugurated the Third Mediation Conference, highlighting the city council's commitment to advancing mediation as a strategic tool in urban planning, environmental issues, consumer affairs, family matters, education, and community coexistence.
The initiative aims to effectively resolve conflicts, reduce litigation, and strengthen social trust. Sanz stated, “No city can prevent conflicts from arising, but there are more effective responses. For a modern administration, it is very useful to combine the defence of the general interest and the current legal framework with mechanisms of understanding and dialogue that include the affected individuals.”
The City Council's Mediation Office, established in 2023, has managed a total of 341 cases and achieved 267 satisfactory resolutions as of August this year. The office's success in reducing litigation and saving costs for involved parties has led to an increasing number of citizens seeking its services annually.
Moreover, the council's mediation activities encompass 18 initiatives across various municipal government areas and an additional 11 in local districts. These initiatives address common conflict areas, such as the Municipal Consumer Information Office, which handles thousands of complaints each year and reaches satisfactory agreements in over half of the cases. Other initiatives include Family Support Centres, which aim for lasting family agreements, the Municipal Police's Mediator Agent programme, and various community programmes developed by local districts, as well as services related to social welfare, health, education, housing, and coexistence.
Sanz concluded, “Mediation is not only the most civic and peaceful way to address conflict but also the most efficient for both the parties involved and the administration itself.”
