Brussels wants to resolve neighborhood conflicts through mediation: ‘Better than legal proceedings’
Bravvo, the prevention service of the City of Brussels, is launching an awareness campaign about solving neighborhood conflicts through the local mediation service. “With the campaign, we want to point out that Bravvo’s four local mediators are ready at any time to facilitate communication and dialogue between neighbors,” said Mayor Philippe Close (PS).
With flyers, posters and face-to-face meetings in various Brussels neighborhoods (the city center, the Marolles, the Antwerpsesteenweg, Laken Centrum and the Modelwijk), Bravvo wants to inform residents about the free mediation requests in neighbor disputes.
“Tensions between neighbors are part of city life. We must learn to address each other in time, to show our good will, to prevent tensions from escalating into a subcutaneous or uncontrollable conflict,” says Close.
In case of neighbor disputes, residents can contact four local mediators free of charge. Which first to the explanation of the applicant about the situation. Then they try to make an appointment with the other person concerned to hear his version of the facts and to propose mediation. If both parties agree, an initial meeting is arranged to find a satisfactory solution.
With the campaign, Bravvo wants to encourage people to get in touch as soon as there are tensions. “We want to let people know that we should contact us as soon as possible,” Nurinnisa Balci, Bravvo’s local mediator in the North District. “Good mediation offers a faster and more sustainable solution than legal proceedings. It has been proven that a negotiated solution calms a situation better than a bad trial with a winner and a loser.” Local politicians are therefore also sensitized to first accept residents to the implemented mediation services before submitting a complaint.