Dak Lak: Enhancing the capacity of grassroots mediators towards a community with respect for the rule of law

On 12–13 November 2025, at the headquarters of Son Hoa and Dong Xuan Communes (Dak Lak Province), the Department of Legal Dissemination, Education, and Legal Aid (Ministry of Justice), in coordination with the Dak Lak Department of Justice, organized a training conference on “Enhancing Legal Knowledge and Mediation Skills for Grassroots Mediators.” This activity is part of the implementation series of the Project “Enhancing the Capacity of Grassroots Mediators for the 2024–2030 Period” and the National Target Program on New Rural Development for the 2021–2025 Period, aiming to build a stable, cohesive community with respect for the rule of law.

The conference was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen, Hanoi Law University; Ms. Nguyen Kim Thoa, Department of Legal Dissemination, Education, and Legal Aid (Ministry of Justice); representatives of the Dak Lak Department of Justice, local authorities, and numerous mediators from Son Hoa and Dong Xuan Communes.

Mediators - A strong "bridge" within the community

In her opening remarks, Ms. Nguyen Kim Thoa emphasized the importance of training and enhancing the capacity of grassroots mediators: “Enhancing the capacity of the mediator workforce is a key task, enabling them not only to master the law but also to be proficient in resolving disputes and conflicts within the community. Mediators are a force close to the people, understanding the people and serving the people; they are an important bridge to promote respect for the rule of law, contributing to the maintenance of unity within the community”.

According to Ms. Thoa, within the framework of Project 315, the Ministry of Justice coordinated with localities to select 30 communes across 15 provinces and cities for pilot implementation, including Dak Lak. Numerous professional training materials have been compiled and distributed; notably, the publication “Typical Cases of Grassroots Mediation” presents practical situations, flexible and creative handling methods, providing practical support for training activities and the replication of effective mediation models.

At the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen, the main lecturer, delivered an in-depth presentation on the core contents of the Land Law 2024, focusing on provisions closely related to the lives of people at the grassroots level, including: mechanisms for land allocation and land lease; regulations on land recovery, compensation, support, and resettlement; responsibilities for transparency and public disclosure in land use planning and plans; decentralization and delegation of authority to local governments in land management; and enhancing the effectiveness of monitoring and management of land resources.

In particular, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuyen devoted considerable time to discussing and addressing practical situations commonly encountered by mediators, such as boundary disputes, land use rights disputes, changes in land use purposes, and the division of inherited land.

He emphasized, “Land is a sensitive area prone to conflicts. Grassroots mediators who thoroughly understand legal provisions and know how to skillfully apply them in specific cases will contribute to resolving disputes early at the local level, reducing escalated complaints, and maintaining order within the community”.

The knowledge conveyed was closely linked to the actual situation of villages and residential areas, where land disputes remain one of the most common forms of conflict.

Strenghtening "soft but firm" mediation skills and methods

Alongside legal knowledge, mediators were also provided with in-depth training on mediation skills and methods, delivered directly by Ms. Nguyen Thi Diem Hang, lecturer of the Dak Lak Department of Justice.

Ms. Hang emphasized that a mediator must first be someone who knows how to listen, be patient, and understand the parties’ psychological state.

“Each case has its own circumstances, requiring an appropriate approach. A mediator must not only state the law correctly, but also express it in a way that is acceptable to the parties, so that they voluntarily agree, thereby resolving conflicts sustainably and preserving neighborhood harmony”.

Through hypothetical scenarios, mediators practiced steps such as gathering information, analyzing conflicts, selecting appropriate approaches, organizing mediation sessions, handling the parties’ psychological reactions, and developing skills in concluding sessions and preparing mediation minutes. Many participants highly appreciated the lively, easy-to-understand, and practical delivery style.

The discussion session at the conference took place in an active atmosphere, with numerous questions and real-life situations raised. Mediators confidently shared “difficult” cases, including long-standing disputes or matters involving relatives, clans, inheritance issues, land use boundaries, and property attached to land.

The lecturers directly analyzed and suggested ways of handling cases that both ensure compliance with legal provisions and pay attention to emotional and social factors at the grassroots level. Many valuable experiences were drawn, highlighting the role of mediators in preventing minor disagreements from escalating into major conflicts, thereby contributing to maintaining security and order within the community.

In the closing remarks, leaders of the People’s Committees of Son Hoa Commune and Dong Xuan Commune expressed their honor at being selected by the Ministry of Justice as pilot communes for the training program. Local leaders noted that both communes are in the process of reorganizing and consolidating their administrative apparatus under the two-tier government model; with a large area, diverse population of multiple ethnic groups, and difficult socio-economic conditions, disputes frequently arise concerning land, boundaries, and ownership of property attached to land.

Local leaders affirmed that “Being selected as pilot communes and receiving direct training is an important opportunity to enhance the quality of the conciliator workforce, reduce complaints and petitions, and preserve community harmony. We will continue to expand effective models and good practices, turning grassroots conciliation into an important mechanism for resolving conflicts and building a government that is close to and serves the people”.

The training conference on “Improving Legal Knowledge and Conciliation skills for grassroots mediators” held in the pilot communes of Dak Lak Province was not only an occasion to equip conciliators with legal knowledge and practical skills, but also contributed to spreading the message of: respect for the rule of law, value of dialogue, and the promotion of solidarity and mutual support within the community.

Through this activity, grassroots mediators were further empowered with confidence, motivation, and professional tools to continue fulfilling their role as a “solid bridge” between the government and the people, and between the law and daily life, thereby contributing to building stable and cohesive residential communities and moving towards the goal of sustainable development in Dak Lak Province and across the country.