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Mediation is a process whereby a neutral person assists the parties in dispute to reach a settlement.

All parties to the dispute have to agree to refer it to mediation. During the mediation, there are sessions with all parties present as well as private sessions between the mediator and just one party. During these private sessions, everything that is said to the mediator is strictly confidential, unless that party passes on the information himself or authorises the mediator to do so.

The mediator will endeavour to guide the parties to a settlement through questioning and by discussion of the various strengths and weaknesses in the disputants' cases.

Because of this privacy, the parties can talk frankly, and safely indicate their hopes and fears to the mediator, which gives the mediator a unique overview of the dispute.

Until a binding agreement is reached, each side is free to walk away. If no agreement is reached, then nothing said or produced in the mediation can be used for any other purpose, e.g. court proceedings, save as required by law.