Law, Mediation and Human Rights. Member Spotlight: Jennifer Kyllergård

Jennifer Kyllergård is a mediator and legal professional based in Malmö, Sweden. She possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Lund University and a Master’s Degree in International Human Rights Law from Lund University in partnership with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Currently, she is also completing a junior judge training at the district court. As Jennifer says, she has always had an interest in human rights and sustainable development, and her whole career has been revolving around these topics, with a special focus on the rights of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.

Mediation as a key to a peaceful society

An important milestone in Jennifer’s career was a Legal Protection Internship at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in London, UK. “Our task was to look at individual cases where the UK Home Office was considering revoking, cancelling, or declaring the cessation of a person´s refugee status,” says Jennifer, we provided comments from an advisory point of view, to make sure the authorities keep human rights in mind while making such decisions”. She also assisted people who contacted UNHCR to find advisors and liaised with other UNHCR offices, British authorities, NGOs, etc. It was a valuable insight into the UN.

“Even if my experience is limited, I know that conflicts can arise between people from different cultural backgrounds, due to their different starting points.” Jennifer thinks that mediation is a means of helping people to sit down and have a dialogue, despite their cultural differences. It is important to acknowledge that we all have our own cultural background, and notice that our society is plural. “We have different experiences, but mediation can help us overcome those differences by enhancing understanding.” Unlike litigation, mediation is not focused on one party’s victory but allows everyone’s voices to be heard. In conclusion, everyone can win, and it shows that a peaceful life side by side is possible for everyone.

As Jennifer says, she is quite new to the field and has just completed mediation training, but she is open to new opportunities and ways to utilize the experience gained as a judge, and resolving civil disputes. “Ideally I want to work as a mediator to support the development of peaceful and sustainable societies. I would like to facilitate that development both in Sweden and internationally” she adds, also stating that she is very excited about what the future has to offer.

Joining MBBI

Jennifer joined the MBBI in early January 2021. When she came across the organization on the internet, she was very happy to find an institution that she can get involved with to promote a cause she’s passionate about. She aspires to actively promote mediation as an alternative form of dispute resolution, and sustainable means of facilitating dialogue in order to build a peaceful society. She also works as a member of the MBBI Europe Regional Group. “I want to help other people find constructive ways of communicating, having a dialogue, and reach a solution that everyone can accept. It is also crucial in order to achieve sustainable development as the world is running out of time. That is why I am really happy to join MBBI because I finally feel like I am a part of an organization where I can make a real contribution” Jennifer adds.

Article by Maciej Witek, MBBI Writer