ISKUSTVA MEDIJATORA U PROCESU OBITELJSKE MEDIJACIJE U SLUČAJEVIMA PARTNERSKOG NASILJA

EXPERIENCE OF MEDIATORS IN THE FAMILY MEDIATION PROCESS IN THE CASES OF VIOLENCE IN PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS ABSTRACT The paper presents the experience of mediators in the family mediation process in the cases of violence in partner relationships based on the results of a research conducted in seven social welfare centres in which twelve experts adequately trained for the implementation of family mediation participated. The aim of the research was to describe and analyse the experience of the mediators in the family mediation process with the partners who had experienced violence and to determine the possibility of its application in such cases. The qualitative approach was used, and the procedure of topic analysis was used. The research results show that the mediators point out some specific features of the management of the mediation process with the partners who have experienced violence with regard to the safety of the process, establishment of the balance of power and a constructive dialogue of the parties in mediation, which demands the mediators to apply certain techniques and skills. Additionally, the results of the research indicate that the mediators perceive the possibility to implement family mediation with the partners who have experienced violence and that, apart from the basic prerequisites for the implementation of mediation, they emphasise the necessity to recognise the specific prerequisites, such as the time distance from violence, the influence of violence on the victim, creation of safe conditions, good level of the mediators’ education and the application of some procedures which should be conducted in terms of the assessment of violence, safety and selection of the mediation model. Key words: family mediation, violence in partner relationships, experience of mediators, description of the mediation process, possibility to conduct family mediation.