XIIIth Conference of the World Mediation Forum
The 13th Conference of the World Mediation Forum will focus on the theme “Cultures of mediation and mediation as a transformative culture”, offering four days of shared reflection and practice through conferences, panels and workshops with specialists from different fields.
November 16–19, 2026 · Donostia–San Sebastián, Spain
Description
The World Mediation Forum (WFM) is an international non-profit organisation serving mediators from all continents, based on interdisciplinarity.
The mission of the World Mediation Forum is to develop and exchange knowledge, information and skills in in all mediation areas, notably through the regular organization of international congresses for more than twenty years: (2003 in Argentina, 2005 in Switzerland, 2007 in Israel, 2009 in Venezuela, 2012 in Spain, 2017 in Quebec, 2019 in Luxembourg, 2022 in Portugal - virtual and 2024 in Brazil).
The XIIIth Conference of the World Mediation Forum, which will take place in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain, from 16 to 19 November 2026, will focus on the theme of: "Cultures of mediation and mediation as transformative culture".
With this general theme, the conference will address mediation in a wide variety of fields: justice, universities, schools, businesses, NGOs, sports and leisure organisations, religious fields, health systems, neighborhoods, municipalities, etc. It will thus address the most traditional themes, while questioning the prohibitions and limitations of the practice of mediation, restorative justice, therapeutic justice, transitional justice and transformative justice. The conference will feature theoretical panels presenting research findings, as well as more practical workshops and specific training sessions for particular groups.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Proposed sessions and the guidelines for the conference.
Abstract submission and acceptance dates:
- Abstract submission: from February 2
- Abstract submission deadline: June 1
- Notification of abstract acceptance (usually, one-two weeks after submission): before June 20, all submissions will have a reply.
Submit your abstract proposal through this FORM.
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
- Prof. Riccarco Cappi (Brazil)
- Prof. Yves Cartuyvels (Belgium)
- Ana Míria dos Santos Carvalho Carinhanha (Brazil)
- Prof. M. Kamuzinzi (Rwanda)
Basque Institute of Criminology (University of the Basque Country, Spain):
- Prof. Gema Varona (coord.)
- PhD researcher Luis Conde
- Prof. Isabel Germán
- Prof. Idoia Igartua
- PhD researcher María Ochandorena
- Prof. Alberto Olalde
- Prof. Ignacio Subijana
- Prof. Isabel Trespaderne
- Dr. Letícia Trombini
- Prof. Ane Viana
- PhD researcher Devi Yerga
- Technical administrative support: Jorge López
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
- Jean-Pierre Bonafé-Schmitt
Dr. Experto en mediación, Francia. - Daniela Bolívar
Profesora de la Escuela de Trabajo Social de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. - John Braithwaite
Profesor y Fundador de RegNet en la Universidad Nacional Australiana. - Jacques Faget
Director emérito de investigaciones en el CNRS, Francia. - Fernanda Fonseca Rosenblatt
Profesora asociada en el IIRP, Brasil. - Mylene Jaccould
Profesora de la Escuela de Criminología del Centro de Derecho Público de la Universidad de Montreal, Canadá. - Marie Keenan
Profesora en la Escuela de Política Social, Trabajo Social y Justicia Social, Universidad de Dublín. - Raoul Kienge
Profesor de Derecho Penal y de Criminología en la Universidad de Kinsasa, República Democrática del Congo. - Bhanu Prakash Nunna
Director de la Fundación ThinkJustice, Centro de Investigación Victimológica y Asistencia a Víctimas, Universidad RV, India. Secretario General de la WSV. - Lode Walgrave
Profesor Emérito de Criminología en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Lovaina, Bélgica.
Objectives
Training on mediation in a broad sense
Activity directed to
- All public
- University student
- Teachers
- Professionals
Organised by
In collaboration with
Directors
Gemma Maria Varona Martínez
IVAC KREI
Gema Varona Martínez (Madrid, 1969) is director of the Basque Institute of Criminology/Kriminologiaren Euskal Institutua (Donostia/San Sebastián, University of the Basque Country), where she coordinates the Laboratory of Theory and Practice of Restorative Justice (https://www.ehu.eus/es/web/ivac/sarrera), which directs the Technical Secretariat of the Basque Forum of Restorative Justice promoted by the Basque Government. PhD in Law, Diploma in Criminology and Master in Legal Sociology, she teaches Criminal Policy and Victimology at the Faculty of Law (UPV/EHU), co-directs the Postgraduate course “Working with victims” (UPV/EHU) and is co-editor of the Journal of Victimology/Journal of Victimology. Principal researcher in several projects (among them, in addition to those on interpersonal and political violence, currently one of the Ministry of Science on restorative justice in damages against ecosystems and animals), she is president of the working group on environmental restorative justice of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, and author of monographs, chapters and articles in specialized journals (her most recent publications can be found at https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2794-2239
Registration fees
Online registration will allow access to the practical training materials for the morning sessions, but participation in the practical training cannot be certified for online participants as it requires attendance in person. Participation in all other Conference activities will be certified in accordance with ECT regulations.
Those who register for the Conference in person may be accredited for the practical training received (9 hours in total). The same language of practical training (English, French or Spanish) must be chosen for all three days.
| Registration face-to-face | Until 15-07-2026 | Until 08-11-2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 70,00 EUR | 120,00 EUR |
| Registration Live Online - ZOOM | Until 15-07-2026 | Until 08-11-2026 |
|---|---|---|
| - | 60,00 EUR |
Venue
EHU Campus of Gipuzkoa
Gipuzkoa
Sustainable development goals
Agenda 2030 is the new international development agenda approved in September 2015 by the United Nations. This agenda aims to be an instrument to favour sustainable human development all over the planet, and its main pillars are the eradication of poverty, a reduction in equality and vulnerability and fostering sustainability. It is a unique opportunity to transform the world up to 2030 and guarantee human rights for all.
16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions
Foster peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, facilitate access to justice for everyone and construct efficient and inclusive institutions that are accountable at all levels. Key issues: a reduction in violence, mistreatment and exploitation, the rule of law, equal access to justice, a reduction in corruption and bribery, efficient and transparent institutions, participation, access to information, protection of fundamental freedoms.
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