Global Reference Models – Canada & France

Why High-Level Mediation Standards Matter

Across the world, mediation is evolving into a strategic profession.
Two countries stand out as role models for modern, structured, high-impact mediation:
Canada and France.
They demonstrate what becomes possible when mediation is treated not as a side-tool,
but as a core instrument of organisational stability and conflict risk management.

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Canada – A Blueprint for Organisational Conflict Resolution

Canada’s mediation system is widely recognised for its high settlement success,
systemic approach and strong professional culture around conflict resolution.
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has reported success rates of
up to 95 % in labour-related conflicts resolved without work stoppages.

Canada shows that mediation works at scale when:

• standards and procedures are clearly defined,
• mediators are properly trained and recognised,
• and mediation is integrated into labour relations and organisational practice.

For the RMMS Foundation, Canada serves as a reference for:
strategic clarity, integration of mediation into formal systems,
and the recognition of mediators as key actors in organisational risk management.

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France – A Mature Mediation Culture

France has developed one of Europe’s most active mediation landscapes,
including family, commercial and organisational mediation.
In recent years, tens of thousands of mediation processes have been formally registered annually,
with a significant share in family and civil matters.
Institutions like the Centre de Médiation et d’Arbitrage de Paris (CMAP)
have handled thousands of cases over several decades and are recognised partners for businesses and organisations.

France demonstrates:

• strong institutional adoption of mediation,
• a balanced field between family, civil and commercial cases,
• and a growing culture of professional recognition for mediators.

For the RMMS Foundation, France provides a reference for:
institutional depth, long-term practice and the integration of mediation into national legal and organisational systems.

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Our Ambition for Europe

Based on these and other international reference models,
the RMMS Foundation aims to create a European Quality Standard for Economic and Organisational Mediation.
This standard is designed for mediators who operate at the intersection of:
psychology, systems thinking, governance, leadership and organisational risk.

We seek to combine:

• Canada’s strategic clarity and conflict-resolution performance,
• France’s institutional maturity and mediation culture,
• Germany’s systemic and psychological depth,
• and the expertise of leading mediators across Europe and beyond.

Our goal is not to replace existing associations or certificates,
but to add a layer of quality, transparency and competence standards
for mediators working in complex organisational, economic and family-related contexts.

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Why This Matters

In many jurisdictions, there is training but no coherent quality system;
titles but no clear competency profiles;
certificates but no structured framework for psychological, systemic and organisational literacy.

The RMMS Foundation responds to this gap.
By defining, describing and progressively validating high-level competence standards,
we aim to support organisations, families and institutions in choosing mediators
who can genuinely handle complexity, risk and long-term impact.

This is not merely a national initiative.
It is a European and international project,
developed in dialogue with practitioners and experts who share a commitment
to deep, responsible and effective mediation.