Panaji, Goa | March 28, 2026 — In a significant stride towards reimagining access to justice at the grassroots, Goa is set to host the Community Mediation Conclave 2026 at DoubleTree by Hilton, Panaji. Organised by the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation (IIAM) in collaboration with the Mediators’ Council of India and Beyond Barriers, the conclave reflects the broader national vision of fostering participatory, efficient, and community-driven dispute resolution mechanisms. At its core lies the idea that justice is not merely delivered in courtrooms, but cultivated through dialogue, trust, and collective understanding within communities.
The conclave will bring together an eminent gathering of jurists, policymakers, and mediation leaders, including Hon’ble Justice Ashwin Bobde, Judge, Bombay High Court, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Advait M. Setna, Judge, Bombay High Court, and Shri Devidas J. Pangam, Advocate General of Goa, along with Dr. Sayanora Telles-Laad, former District & Sessions Judge and former Member Secretary, Goa State Legal Services Authority, underscoring the judiciary’s growing endorsement of mediation. The distinguished panels will feature Senior Advocate Anil Xavier, President of the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation (IIAM) and Chairman of APCAM, Dr. M.R.K. Prasad, Professor of Law at V.M. Salgaocar College of Law, Adv. Albertina Almeida, Advocate and human rights activist, Prof. Dr. Karuna Akshay Malviya, Director, School of Law, D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University, and Adv. Iram Majid, Central Government Standing Counsel, Director – IIAM and Executive Director – APCAM, who will moderate the session. The discourse will be further enriched by Dr. Abhishek Mishra, Associate Professor at IULER, Goa, Chirag Balyan, Associate Professor of Law at D.Y. Patil University, Adv. Eric Correia, Dr. Saba D’Silva, Professor of Law, Adv. Savio Travasso, Mediator, Nominee of the Goa Human Rights Commission and Secretary, Beyond Barriers – Towards Hope, and Zyfern Diaz, Treasurer, Beyond Barriers – Towards Hope, along with other representatives from Beyond Barriers, engaging with critical questions of governance, institutional frameworks, and the integration of community mediation into public systems, while shaping a forward-looking dialogue on its legal recognition and future trajectory in India
A key highlight of the conclave will be the formal launch of the Goa Chapter of the Mediators’ Council of India, marking an important institutional milestone in strengthening mediation networks and capacity-building at the regional level. Drawing from the evolving philosophy of community mediation which emphasises reconciliation over adjudication and harmony over hostility the conclave aspires to nurture a culture where disputes are resolved not merely through law, but through understanding. With the convergence of thought leadership, institutional vision, and judicial insight, the Goa Conclave stands poised to shape the next chapter in India’s journey toward a more humane and accessible justice system.