What's Happening [08.21.12]

The 7 Deadly Sins of Mediation

Lakhdar Brahimi, the former Algerian foreign minister and veteran U.N. trouble-shooter, was appointed lead mediator for Syria on Friday, placing the 78-year-old diplomat at the forefront of international efforts to head off a lengthy civil war in Syria.

...Brahimi said in an interview today with France 24 that he was prepared to begin "meeting anybody who wants to talk with me, whether from the opposition or the government."

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ABA Creates Task Force to Consider Internal Dispute Resolution Program

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution has created an Ombuds Task Force "to explore the feasibility of offering ombuds services as an ABA Member Benefit." Bennett Feigenbaum and Peter Scarpato have been appointed to co-chair the group, but other members have not been identified. One of their first tasks will be developing a mission statement and an action plan.

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International Ombudsman Association Issues Call for Conference Prop...

The professional association for Organizational Ombuds is seeking speaker presentation proposals and topic suggestions for the IOA 8th Annual Conference taking place April 21-24, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Miami in Miami, FL.