Over the decades I’ve conducted scores of training programs for volunteer mediators and about 80% or more of the participants have been women.

With the recent publication of my book “How to Survive a Mediation,” I compiled a list of Community Mediation Centers throughout America. For those I could identify in the role of Executive Director, 90% or more were women.

Historically women have been leaders in peace building. Since the mid-nineteenth century, women have been forming peace groups. Jane Addams convened a meeting of women’s peace groups in 1915. Critics included Theodore Roosevelt, who called the International Congress of Women a “shrieking sisterhood of pacifists.” Nonetheless, the concepts developed at the congress preceded what was to become the League of Nations.

Currently, a goal launched by the United Nations is to esstablish full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding by 2030. As recently as 2022, women represented only 16% of negotiators in active peace processes led or co-led by the United Nations. Of the eighteen peace agreements concluded that year, only one had a woman signatory.

Irene Santiago, one of the first woman negotiators for the Philippine government, identified a historical barrier to women’s participation in peace negotiations. When the negotiations focus only on ending war, women are less likely to be included, but when negotiations are both on ending war and building peace, women have had a seat at the table. And research has shown women’s participation increases the probability of a peace agreement lasting at least two years by 20% and lasting 15 years by 35%.

With such results, it’s unfortunate men don’t participate as much in local community mediation programs and equally unfortunate women aren’t included to take part in more international peace negotiations.

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Fred Jandt is the author of “How to Survive a Mediation,” available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.

I’ve been asked the following additional questions about Divorce Mediation:

1. Should our attorney be our mediator? Many mediators who administer divorce mediation are attorneys, but it’s not a requirement. The advantage of such an attorney is that it’s more likely they are familiar with the legal requirements of divorce agreements in your state and, if you choose, can also prepare the appropriate court papers in an uncontested case. On the other hand, the disadvantage of working with a mediator who’s an attorney is they may be less comfortable with the interpersonal issues of your conflict and direct you towards a legal conclusion, which may leave some details unresolved. Lastly, if you use a non-attorney Divorce Mediator, you may still have to retain an attorney to prepare and submit your agreement to the court.

2. What happens when we reach an agreement? Typically, the mediator will help put your verbal agreement into a written summary or memorandum, which you’ll be asked to sign. It’s very important you have advisers review the memorandum and settlement agreement. You want to be sure everything is clear, unambiguous, and comprehensive, that is, that it has resolved all your concerns. Your memorandum will be used to prepare the formal settlement agreement filed with the court. If your Divorce Mediator is an attorney, they may agree to prepare the necessary documents that will be submitted.

3. Does mediation work for all couples? No. Some people have circumstances they feel call for the assistance of an adversarial attorney. Consider all of your options to make the best choice to best address your specific needs.

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Fred Jandt is the author of “How to Survive a Mediation,” available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.