A GROUP of 21 senior justice officers of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) have completed the first basic mediation skills training, held from July 21 to 25, to strengthen community-based conflict resolution.
The training aims to equip justice sector officers with practical mediation skills to promote dialogue-driven solutions rather than relying on formal court processes.
The training was facilitated by Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi and experts from Papua New Guinea’s judicial services. The program introduced participants to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a method celebrated for being faster, cost-effective, and culturally appropriate.
Among the participants were representatives from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, Magisterial Services, Village Courts, Correctional Services, and the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Justice and Legal Services (DJLS).
Martin Tisivua, a Juvenile Justice Officer, described the training as transformative and a way forward for Bougainville’s justice system.
“This training gave me deeper insight into mediation. It’s a vital skill that helps keep families and communities together,” he said.
The initiative was supported by the Australian Government through the Australia–Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership, reinforcing their continued international support for strengthening Bougainville’s justice systems and community resilience.