ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the safety and utility of mediation in cases involving intimate partner violence, drawing upon the views of women service users in the contexts of shared waiting areas and seating arrangements during mediation. Women who have suffered violence are likely to experience great anxiety about meeting their ex-partner. The protection of women in cases where violence is involved is clearly the most compelling reason for not proceeding with mediation. While waiting to be called to the mediation session, parents often find themselves sharing the same waiting area at court. In Essex study, 63 per cent of women had found the sharing of the waiting area a cause for concern and, of these women, 20 per cent made explicit reference to a history of violence from their ex-partner. Within the mediation session, seating patterns are variable although by far most frequently reported configuration in the Essex study was 'face-to-face' that is two parents are seated directly opposite each other.
