JICA, Law Ministry hold advanced mediation training at JATI
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MoLJPA), conducted a two-day advanced mediation training for legal professionals at the Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) on 21–22 December.
The programme was organised under the Development of Mediation and Civil Litigation Practices for Enhancement of Access to Justice Project and aimed to strengthen the capacity of mediators. It built on a foundational training held in August, focusing on advanced mediation knowledge, applied skills and practical implementation in real cases.
As part of the project, a pre-case mediation system led by lawyers was introduced in legal aid offices in the pilot districts of Narsingdi and Cumilla in April, resulting in the resolution of a significant number of disputes. Recent legal amendments have also introduced the role of Special Mediators, allowing trained lawyers and retired judges to conduct pre-case mediation.
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The training was delivered by Japanese mediation expert Masako Miyatake and attended by 40 participants, including legal aid officers and lawyers from the pilot districts. The sessions combined lectures with interactive mock mediations based on cases commonly encountered in Bangladesh.
All participants successfully completed the programme, and certificates were awarded by Professor Miyatake at a ceremony attended by Liaquet Ali Molla, Secretary of the Law and Justice Division. He said mandatory mediation reflects a commitment to accessible and efficient justice.
JICA said the training is expected to strengthen mediation practices and improve access to justice across Bangladesh.
