2024 – The Year in Review

New Initiatives & Developments

• New! Peer Consultation & Intervision by Zoom for MiKK Mediators

On April 10th, we launched our monthly Peer Consultation and Intervision sessions, providing a platform for MiKK mediators worldwide to engage in structured discussions and reflect on mediation cases. The online sessions, held via Zoom on the second Wednesday of each month from 19:00 to 20:30 CET, offer a confidential space for mediators to exchange experiences, gain new perspectives and support each other's professional development. The sessions are facilitated by Dr Jamie Walker and Olav Sydow in English or German, depending on participants' preferences. Participation is free, and we look forward to seeing you there! More info: Click here. 

• New! Launch of MiPCAS Parent Support Groups (Online) - Europe, Asia-Pacific and USA Chapters

On June 10th the MiKK International Parental Child Abduction Support (MiPCAS) Groups were launched. These ONLINE sessions, facilitated by experienced MiKK mediators with psycho-social backgrounds from diverse cultures and countries, aim to assist and support individuals affected by international parental child abduction. The MiPCAS Groups offer a confidential and safe environment for parents to share experiences, provide mutual support and find strength in each other's stories. Participation is free of charge, thanks to EU co-funding. More info: Click here. 

• New! Expanded MiKK Advisory Service: The MiKK free-of-charge Advisory Service for parents from all over the world is now offered in 7 languages: English, Polish, German, French, Spanish, Hungarian and Italian with growing case numbers, countries and more mediations referred to MiKK Mediators.

• New! Pilot Spanish-Language CBFM^® Training in Madrid, Spain: As a landmark initiative MiKK conducted its first ever Spanish language CBFM^® training, held in Madrid in October of this year. Thank you to our Spanish language CBFM^® core trainer Ana Piernas López supported by Co-trainers Roberta Cifariello and Franziska Haas – all from the MiKK Mediators Network. The training was supported by a great line-up of expert speakers and trainers (see below at CBFM^® Spanish section).  More info: click here.  

• New! Newly Elected MiKK Board Members: Welcome and Congratulations to Dr. Jamie Walker(Germany/USA) and Ana Piernas López (Spain/Germany)!

Dr. Jamie Walker brings a wealth of experience as an international family mediator, trainer, and peace educator, with a career spanning numerous countries, including Afghanistan, Jordan, Sri Lanka, and Nigeria. Passionate about peaceful conflict resolution in cross-border family conflicts, and a founding member of MiKK, Jamie has been instrumental in shaping this field for over two decades. Jamie has been mediating child abduction cases since 2004 and continues to contribute her great expertise and cross-cultural perspective to the field of mediation.

Ana Piernas López, is a dually qualified international family lawyer and mediator based in Spain and Germany. Her bilingual and bicultural background, coupled with over two decades of experience in international family law and mediation make her a true expert in the field. Ana is a passionate advocate for peaceful conflict resolution in cross-border family disputes and has been a MiKK mediator and supporter for over ten years now.

We warmly congratulate Jamie and Ana!

You can watch the "Meet the Newly Elected Board of 2024" video by clicking here.

A great big thank you to our international MiKK Board Members & MiKK's Patron for their deep commitment, guidance & support!

Thank you to:

Olav Sydow, who now assumes the role of Chair of the Board, after serving as Vice Chair from 2023.
Dr. Jamie Walker, who takes on the position of Vice Chair as of 2024
Gert Nilsson Eldrimner elected in 2023, who continues to serve as Deputy Chair.

Timm Uekermann, MiKK Board Member since 2020
Ana Piernas López, MiKK Board Member since 2024
Isabel Pape, MiKK Board Member since 2020
Swetlana von Bismarck, MiKK Board Member since 2017
Christian Hartwig, MiKK Board Member since 2023 

Christoph C Paul (Founder of MiKK and MiKK Patron) for his continued inspiration!

For more details on the international MiKK Board click here.

Together this highly experienced and multi-professional international Board of experts will continue to support MiKK to realize its  Mission to continue to act as a thought leader and multiplier in the field of cross-border family mediation internationally and MiKK's Vision to work towards a world where international family conflicts are amicably resolved through mediation in the best interest of all parties, particularly the children involved. Click here for MiKK's Mission & Vision.

Media Appearances

• Also again this year, MiKK and the topic of parental child abduction were featured in the Press in different publications, such as  Der Spiegel, Focus Online as well as on TV (SWR, Südwestdeutscher Rundfunk), raising awareness about cross-border family mediation. Thank you for the contributions from Isabel Fernández de Castillejo and Konstanze Welz. You can read the articles and watch Konstanze's TV interview by clicking on the links.

Training and Professional Development

I. Cross-Border Family Mediation (CBFM^®) Trainings

• German CBFM^® Training in Berlin, Germany: Split into two modules (conducted 1^st-3^rd March and 30^th May- 2^ndJune), the 50-hour German language CBFM training brought together a group of high-spirited and experienced multi-lingual mediators from Germany, Poland and Lebanon who were fluent in 8 different languages. The group's mix of mediators from legal and non-legal backgrounds fostered a diverse and enriching learning environment.

• English CBFM^® Training in Berlin, Germany: Held from October 6th to 12th, this 50-hour training brought together 22 international mediators from 15 countries with different legal and non-legal backgrounds. In addition to the represented countries of Australia, Bulgaria, Czech  Republic, Cyprus, Germany,  Greece; Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the USA and the UK the participants collectively spoke a whopping 17 (!) different languages. It was a highly memorable training with this lively and international group where there was ample opportunity for networking and knowledge exchange. Special highlights were the additional sessions by Laura Martinez-Mora from the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) presenting on the important role and many projects of the Hague Conference, followed by Professor Marilyn Freeman, PhD, focusing on the critical topic of international child abduction occurring against a background of violence and/or abuse. And finally, our deep gratitude goes to mediation expert Lisa Parkinson for sharing her presentation slides with important insights, definitions and case studies on the topic of Parental Alienation. Thank you also to all our usual CBFM^® trainers and speakers for their continued support.

• English CBFM^® Training in Osaka, Japan: In collaboration with Osaka University, Graduate School of Law and Politics der Universität Osaka MiKK co-organized the MiKK Cross-Border Family Mediation (CBFM) Training held from 26^th-28th, 2024. This year's training marked the 10^th Anniversary of MiKK Seminars in Japan at the University of Osaka following the trailblazing initiative and fantastic collaboration of Professor Mari Nagata (University of Osaka) and Christoph C Paul on behalf of MiKK. As every year the 20-hour CBFM training (Module 1) was led by Christoph C. Paul, Christian von Baumbach and Dr Eva Schwittek. It focused on the international legal framework applicable in international parental child abduction (such as the 1980 and 1996 Hague Conventions), differences in national family law, communication techniques and on high emotions in mediation. The seminar brought together participants from Japan, Germany, Korea, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Taiwan. The training was preceded by an Introduction to Mediation course from January 19th to 21st, providing participants with essential mediation skills. The MiKK CBFM training also marked the nomination of both Professor Mari Nagata and Christian von Baumbach as MiKK Ambassadors for Japan. Many Congratulations to you both and a big thank you to all trainers! You can read more about the training and the 10 years of the MiKK German-Japanese Bi-national project on the MiKK website by clicking here.

• Spanish CBFM^® Training in Madrid, Spain: For the first time, the Cross-Border Family Mediation (CBFM) Training was offered in Spanish, marking a significant milestone in MiKK's commitment to providing mediation education in diverse languages. Held in Madrid, this training was led by an exceptional team of core trainers: Ana Piernas Lopez, Roberta Cifariello, and Franziska Haas. The core CBFM^® program was successfully adapted to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking countries, attracting participants not only from Europe but also from Central and South America. A highlight was the session on the Voice of the Child by Drs. Lillian van Wesemael-Smit, the presentations of Spanish Hague Network Judge Francisco Javier Forcada Miranda and Family Judge Rosalía Fernández as well the address of Ignacio Goicoechea and Laura Martínez-Mora of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, HCCH. This new initiative of offering a Spanish language CBFM^® reflects MiKK's dedication to sharing expertise and providing access to expert mediation training in this field worldwide by reaching also non-English speaking target audiences.

II. Spring Webinar Series:

In April, MiKK hosted yet another series of Spring Webinars led by experts from the International MiKK Mediators Network:

• Trauma-Informed Mediation: On April 19th, Konstanze Welz explored approaches to mediation involving parties affected by trauma.

• No Conflict Without Grief: On April 22nd, Veerle Lisabeth introduced the "Grief-Conflict Model," highlighting the interplay between grief and conflict.

• Navigating High-Stakes Waters: On April 24th, Dr. Jorge Guerra González discussed mediation in international parental child abduction cases.

• The Child's Right to Be Heard: On April 26th, Lisa Parkinson emphasized the importance of including children's voices in mediation processes.

The Spring Online Webinars are a very successful MiKK initiative aimed at MiKK Mediators and Lawyers wishing to share their expertise on topics surrounding cross-border family mediation and parental child abduction. Tapping into the global MiKK Network with MiKK mediators, lawyers and experts based in over 45 countries the Online seminars offer a fantastic way to share knowledge, connect and network with other like-minded people!

 III. Ongoing Training  - Workshops: 

On November 8^th, 9^th and10^th the MiKK Ongoing Training Workshops took place in Berlin, featuring yet another series of 3 excellent Seminars presented by international trainers for MiKK mediators wishing to deepen their knowledge and acquire new skills:

1. Trapped in Ego: On November 8th, Dr. Jamie Walker and Shai Ordan addressed handling narcissistic behaviors in cross-border family mediation.
2. The Voice of the Child in Mediation: On November 9th, Tetiana Bilyk and Carlie Norris discussed new trends and developments in incorporating children's perspectives.
3. Emotional Intelligence Training: On November 10th, Sven Lauch provided insights and tools into applying emotional intelligence in conflict resolution.

The Ongoing Training seminars brought 31 MiKK Mediators from 17 countries to Berlin. Each year the Ongoing Trainings present a great chance for MiKK Mediators to catch up with old friends and make new ones!!

The 9^th November 2024 marked the 35^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This year, the Ongoing Training participants were invited to a different kind of city walking tour through Berlin – with music!! Check out the footage by clicking here.

Ambassador Programme

Congratulations & Welcome on Board to our new MiKK Ambassadors!!

In 2024 a total of 9 MiKK Ambassadors for 11 new countries were nominated, representing diverse regions and backgrounds: Prof. Mari Nagata and Christian von Baumbach (Japan), Odeta Intė (Lithuania/Latvia), Fedoua Aitbaha (Belgium/Morocco), Noura Addad (France/Tunisia), Liv Dyrhauge-Klargaard (Denmark), Mirella Kreder (Czech Republic), Roberta Cifariello (Italy) and Konstanze Welz (India).

The new Ambassadors join the 12 existing MiKK Ambassadors for Sweden (Alexandra Lyckmann), Spain (Ana Piernas Lopez & Mirka Tielemann), Austria (Christine Seemann & Sira Fera Tischler), Luxembourg (Dr Suzanne Karsai), Bulgaria (Veneta Ivanova) , Ireland (Emily Dunne), Poland (Joanna Wsolek), Greece (Spiros Livadopoulos), Sira Fera-Tischler (Spain), Romania (Simona Aradei-Odenkirchen), Hungary (Dr Soma Kölcsenyi).

Together these 23 MiKK Ambassadors representing 20 countries, both EU and Non-EU offer a wealth of expertise and commitment which will help advance cross-border family mediation globally! The MiKK Ambassador Project is a unique project. MiKK Ambassadors act as representatives of MiKK in their respective countries, raising awareness about the benefits of mediation in cross-border family disputes. Ambassadors are instrumental in building networks with local professionals, legal practitioners, and government institutions to create stronger support systems for families in crisis. They also facilitate regional outreach efforts, organize MiKK training programs and promote MiKK's resources to help spread knowledge and expertise in the field of cross-border family mediation. Together, they bring invaluable experience and a shared passion for advancing cross-border family mediation across the globe.

At this year's Ambassador Meeting, the discussion centered on how ambassadors can further amplify MiKK's mission. Plans to bring expertise into new countries, including also to Tunisia and Algeria were discussed, along with the need for multilingual training resources, such as French and Arabic. The ambassadors also explored strategies to connect with younger audiences via social media platforms like Instagram and emphasized the value of testimonials in spreading the message of mediation. These efforts are part of a collective push to make mediation more accessible and effective worldwide, ensuring MiKK continues to lead in shaping the future of cross-border family mediation.

This new group of 23 ambassadors covering 20 countries represents the global reach and collective strength of MiKK's International Mediators Network spanning 45 countries to date, and we are excited to see how their efforts will contribute to making mediation a trusted and widely recognized tool for conflict resolution.

Other Activities

Presentations at Judges Seminars

• Judges Seminar in Madrid, Spain (18-19 March 2024) : La Mediacón en el ámbito de la sustracción internacional de menores. Ana Piernas Lopez spoke about MiKK and Cross-border Family Mediation at this very exclusive judicial seminar.
• Hague Judges Seminar in Berlin, Germany (13-15 May). Organized by the German Central Authority, Bundesamt für Justiz; Ischtar Khalaf-Newsome and Magdalena Janczuk presented on MiKK and Mediation In Child abduction cases.
• Hague Judges Seminar in Bavaria, Germany (23-25 September). Organized by the German Central Authority, Bundesamt für Justiz; Magdalena Janczuk and Elina Lauterbach presented on MiKK and Mediation in Child abduction cases.
• Bulgarian Judges Conference on cross-border mediation (31 May); Conference for Bulgarian Judges; Organizer; ITERA Institute; University Mediation Centre at the University of Economics, Varna; Ischtar Khalaf-Newsome presented on MiKK and on Cross-border Family Mediation. MiKK was invited to speak at this important event on the great intiative by Veneta Ivanova (MiKK Ambassador Bulgaria).

International Stakeholder Conferences

• Presentation at the HCCH Malta V Process Conference on cross-border child protection and HCCH Children's Conventions as Bridges between Civil / Common Law and Islamic L aw (24-27 September 2024) in Valetta, Malta.

It was a great honour for MiKK, represented by Ischtar Khalaf-Newsome, to have been invited to present this year at the 5^th Malta Process Conference organized by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). The aim of this international conference, initiated in 2004 by HCCH, is to facilitate dialogue and promote cooperation between countries whose family law is based on Civil & Common law and those based on Shari'ah Law. At the last Malta Process IV in 2016 MiKK had participated as an observer.

Ischtar Khalaf-Newsome spoke about the HCCH Guide to Good Practice on Mediation as a true gold standard and a key resource for cross-border family mediation. She also presented the various resources and best practices by MiKK developed for international parental child abduction cases, such as the International MiKK Mediators Network, MiKK CBFM Trainings, the CBFM Textbook (2023), Mediators in Court Model (MiG), the MiKK 4B Model and other resources.  Over 130 senior government officials, judges and other expert delegates from over 30 countries from Algeria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, European Union, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom, and the United States of America attended the Conference. There was great interest in MiKK's expertise as well as the Global MiKK Mediators Network and it was a very good opportunity to address questions, exchange ideas and network with delegates from the judiciaries and ministries of a number of Muslim countries and from other States.

For more information on the different speakers and the final Declaration adopted by the State Parties at the Malta Process V Conference see: https://www.hcch.net/en/publications-and-studies/details4/?pid=9048

Cultural and Diplomatic Events

• Participation in the event celebrating Mexico's national holiday (Day of the Boy Heroes), Mexican Embassy, Berlin (12 September). There were wonderful colorful costumes on display and delicious Mexican food to try at this event.

• MiKK's Co-CEOs Ischtar Khalaf-Newsome and Magdalena Janczuk were invited again this year to the Consular Meet & Greet at the US Embassy on 18^th September, Berlin. As every year this event was a good opportunity to connect with the US Consular section and Consular representatives from other countries.

• Mexican Embassy, Berlin: Information Day of "Familias Binationales" (27 September). MiKK represented by Elina Lauterbach, Mercedes Iglesias Plaza and Mirka Tielemann presented on Mediation in International Custody disputes and ran a MiKK information stand for participating parents from Mexico and other South American countries.

Exclusive Interviews:
Insights and Advice from MiKK Experts

This year, we had the privilege of conducting two insightful interviews with key members of the MiKK community. These filmed interviews were expertly produced by MiKK's Dr. Blanka Illes and by cinematographer Zalán Kiri.

• Interview with Dr. Jamie Walker and Olav Sydow, two highly experienced MiKK cross-border family mediators, shared their perspectives on the importance of peer consultation and intervision for mediators. Their discussion highlights the benefits of reflecting on mediation cases and the importance of offering professional support for peers. You can watch the full interview by clicking here.

• Interview with Konstanze Welz, who was abducted as a child to India, provided invaluable insight into the negative effects that international parental child abduction can have on a child. Her story serves as a reminder to parents of the traumatic impact that child abduction can have on the children involved. The interview will be available on the MiKK website starting January 2025.

In Memoriam: Isabel Fernández de Castillejo y Peetsch

With deep sorrow, we mourn the loss of Isabel Fernández de Castillejo y Peetsch, our remarkable Chair of the MiKK Board, wonderful friend and cherished member of the MiKK community, whose sudden passing in June left a profound void. Isabel dedicated her life to the pursuit of peaceful conflict resolution, earning great respect of her colleagues and friends and also collecting a number of professional awards for her great achievements  in international family law, asylum law and cross-border family mediation and conflict resolution.

Her great legacy was honored at this year's AGM, where we reflected on her achievements and contributions with a moving tribute of photographs that captured her professional excellence, personal warmth and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the best interest of children and MiKK's mission. The tribute concluded with a minute of silence, allowing all present to honor her memory and the inspiration she brought to all who knew her.

Isabel's dedication to MiKK, her cheerfulness, kindness and 'can do' attitude as well as her vision for a more compassionate world will continue to guide us. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy will forever be a part of MiKK's story.

Thank You for Your Support

We extend our deepest gratitude to all our members, partners and friends! Thank you also to our donors and to the EU for funding the MiKK ACCORD projects which have enabled MiKK to provide support to parents worldwide and to provide resources and help strengthen the International MiKK Community.

Your dedication drives our mission forward and we look forward to continuing this important work with you in 2025!

Warm regards,
The MiKK Team