The Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF) is a civil society organization which works closely with the Government of Jamaica primarily through the Ministry of Justice to advocate, train and deliver related services in support of a national agenda for Justice, Peace & Development. The DRF currently employs the primary process of Mediation, along with deliberation, dialogue and facilitation while also building an Arbitration capacity.

 

The philosophy of Restorative Justice, that is of engaging victims, offenders, the State and the community in valuing all persons’ capacity to contribute to healing of harm, underpins much of its work in communities, the Courts and other areas in which Restorative practices and Mediation can be reasonably embedded.

 

The Mission Statement of the DRF is:

To achieve accommodative and non-violent relationships between citizens, corporations and other organizations within a democratic and restorative justice framework, thereby profiting citizens, communities and the country, by strengthening and expanding the use of mediation and other alternative effective methods of preventing and resolving disputes in Jamaica and the region. Successful projects include:           

1. UNDP Workshops for political parties in Spanish Town 2003
2. Training for over 100 mediators in St. Catherine in 1994-1996
3. Training and sensitization of thousands of persons island wide under USAID project
4. Facilitating the design and implementation of mediation I the Court System with the appropriate legislation and rules through consultation, negotiation, process design under the GOJ/CIDA Social Conflict and Legal Reform Project and the Ministry of Justice
5. Working with a cross disciplinary international team to design the Citizen Security and Justice Project a US$16million dollar project in 16 Corporate area communities, the public sector and in Civil Society, working with colleagues as part of a team to develop and implement this seminal project for reduction of the murder rate.
6. Staging of the 3rd Caribbean Conference on Dispute Resolution in May 2006 in partnership with Mona School of Business

 

Advocacy Promoting Respect, Restorative Justice, negotiation, facilitation, democratic participation and deliberative planning and decision-making and Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) through direct and media contact to numerous audiences.

 

Training Services for organizations such as Kingston Restoration company, Peace Management Initiative, Service Clubs, National Housing Trust, Supreme Court, Justice of the Peace organizations, Grace Kennedy Company Ltd., Cable and Wireless Jamaica Ltd., Insurance College of Jamaica, Farquharson Institute, Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Inner-City Leadership Project.

 

Services

• Mediation – providing a world-class service to all of Jamaica’s Courts with a Roster of trained certified mediators
• Peace and Justice & Mediation Centres – working through affiliates and branches island-wide to provide vocal point for peacemaking, conflict resolution and community development working with churches, police, courts, schools and businesses.