Beijing Women's Federation

In line with the directives of the central and municipal authorities to strengthen the prevention and resolution of marriage and family disputes, the citywide “Grand Competition” for marriage and family dispute mediation was successfully held at the Fangshan Mediation Academy from September 9 to 10, 2025. The Beijing Women’s Federation (BWF) and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice jointly organized the event, which was hosted by the Beijing People’s Mediation Association. Mediators representing 16 districts, along with the Municipal Lawyers Association, competed on the same stage, showcasing their professional expertise. The judges were experts from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Beijing Municipal Committee, the Beijing High People’s Court, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, and the Third Mediation Office. Over one hundred participants, including staff from district-level Women’s Federations, district justice bureaus, and grassroots people’s mediation associations, gathered to share experiences in dispute resolution. The event was attended by Zhang Ningyu, Vice President of the BWF, and Ma Pinfang, Level II Bureau Rank Official of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice, who also presented the awards.

This competition served not only to test mediation skills but also to provide a comprehensive evaluation of Beijing’s marriage and family dispute mediation efforts. Participants demonstrated their expertise through written exams, on-site Q&A, and simulated mediation sessions, showcasing their legal knowledge, mediation techniques, and emotional communication skills. This impressive demonstration of marital and family dispute mediation capabilities highlighted professional excellence and underscored the dedication of mediators in safeguarding the happiness and well-being of numerous families.

The competition began with a closed-book written exam, which showcased participants’ skills and solid theoretical knowledge. The exam comprised nearly a hundred questions covering the Marriage and Family and Inheritance sections of the Civil Code, the People’s Mediation Law, the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women, and other pertinent regulations. In addition to practical tasks such as drafting mediation agreements and analyzing case studies, the exam tested mediators’ precise understanding and application of legal provisions.

During the on-site Q&A, advanced participants faced timed questions and “risk” challenges, fully demonstrating their quick thinking, adaptability, and ability to perform under pressure. The segment highlighted mediators’ analytical judgment and problem-solving abilities in high-pressure situations, creating a fast-paced and intense atmosphere.

In the simulated mediation sessions, carefully crafted scenario cases closely replicated real-life mediation settings. Contestants were evaluated on five key aspects: identifying the core issues of a dispute, explaining the law and reasoning, applying mediation techniques, demonstrating on-site verbal communication, and maintaining overall mediator demeanor. With other mediators acting as community members, the contestants displayed genuine skill in resolving practical disputes, demonstrating real expertise and hands-on competence in mediation.

Professional guidance and on-site coaching further enhanced the participants’ skills. During the competition, Liu Yuexin, Vice President of both the China People’s Mediation Association and Vice President of the Beijing People’s Mediation Association, conducted a special session titled “Enhancing the Concept of Substantive Mediation.” He offered targeted feedback on the contestants’ performances, helping mediators focus on key areas, address weaknesses, and further enhance their overall capabilities.

In the end, the competition awarded three first-prize winners, three second-prize winners, eleven third-prize winners, and several excellence awards. Outstanding participants will progress to the municipal-level training program to prepare for the upcoming national competition.

In recent years, Beijing has attached great importance to preventing and resolving marriage and family disputes, aiming to promote social harmony by fostering harmonious family relations. Significant progress has been made in people’s mediation for marriage and family disputes. In terms of policy and institutional frameworks, several departments—including the courts, public security, civil affairs, justice, and the Women’s Federation—jointly issued the Opinions on Strengthening the Prevention and Resolution of Marriage and Family Disputes, fostering collaborative governance, coordinated efforts, joint dispute mediation, and risk control. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice and the Beijing Women’s Federation issued two key notices in 2020 and 2023: the Notice on Further Strengthening People’s Mediation of Marriage and Family Disputes and the Notice on Further Standardizing Marriage and Family Dispute Mediation in the City. These measures further regulated people’s mediation in marriage and family disputes, reinforcing a system in which people’s mediation serves as the foundation and is complemented, coordinated, and integrated with administrative, judicial, and industry-specific mediation mechanisms. At the grassroots level, the city has established 425 people’s mediation organizations for marriage and family disputes, with over 1,600 registered mediators, creating a mediation network that covers both urban and rural areas. In terms of program branding and practical initiatives, the city has held citywide “Grand Training” competitions for marriage and family dispute mediators, continuously promoting the “Guarding Families in Beijing” mediation brand. In Daxing District, the Women’s Federation collaborated with the local court to address challenges in arranging visitation for minors after divorce by establishing the “Companion Vision Home” within the Women’s Federation, exploring mechanisms that link family adjudication enforcement with dispute mediation. In Dongcheng District, the Public Security Bureau launched the “Qihe Station” conflict resolution center, introducing innovative measures including the “Four Excellence” law enforcement standards, the “4-3-3” petition handling method, and a three-step mechanism for dispute investigation and resolution, enabling residents to experience fairness in institutional practices and gain confidence in the rule of law. In Shijingshan District, Jinding Street established the “Jinjiefen Tongxin Forum”, integrating community committees and local offices, and yielding notable outcomes in handling marriage and family disputes.

The Grand Competition is not the end, but a new starting point for “learning and applying.” The BWF will transform the knowledge, insights, and reflections gained from this event into strong motivation and practical skills to enhance mediation of marriage and family disputes. We will continue to explore new mechanisms, pathways, and approaches for preventing and resolving marriage and family conflicts, ensuring that the protection of the rule of law reaches more families, women, and children. These efforts will contribute to advancing a higher level of rule-of-law governance and building a safer, more harmonious Beijing.