Changing the rules of dialogue

After exclusively announcing its creation, Iberian Lawyer interviews Marlen Estévez Sanz to explore the progress of Más Cultura del Acuerdo (MCA), an initiative championing mediation and a culture of agreement in a polarised world

by ilaria iaquinta

“When everything seems impossible, there is always a way to reach agreements.” With this statement, Marlen Estévez Sanz, president of Más Cultura del Acuerdo (MCA link to the news), encapsulates the spirit of the organisation, which aims to transform how we approach conflict. Co-founded with Clara Cerdán Molina (vice president and treasurer), Ana Martínez Eguídanos (secretary), and Pilar Cuesta de Loño (vocal), MCA promotes dialogue, mediation, and consensus as essential tools for building a more collaborative society.

Launched in a time marked by social polarisation, the association has already started its journey with educational projects in schools and international collaborations. According to Estévez, MCA’s impact is not just measured by immediate actions: “We have a duty to think about big things while working on small ones to ensure they move in the right direction.”

In this exclusive conversation with Iberian Lawyer, Estévez discusses MCA’s progress, initial challenges, and her vision to establish mediation as a key societal resource.

It has been a few weeks since the official launch of Más Cultura del Acuerdo. What initial reactions or feedback have you received since the association was announced?

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Both public and private schools have approached us to explore potential collaborations. This aligns with two key developments: the approval of the Procedural Streamlining Law and the signing of a collaboration agreement with ISDE University. This agreement will enable us to promote MCA’s principles in numerous schools across Spain. Part of the project involves producing educational materials to train students aged 14 to 16 in mediation techniques and the principles of a culture of agreement.

With such a diverse and influential Board of Directors and Advisory Council, how has collaboration between members taken shape during these early days?

We currently benefit from the altruistic support of various organisations, such as a company in Murcia that designed our website. We are also using proceeds from the book De la Cultura del Litigio a la Cultura del Acuerdo, that I edited, to fund MCA. The Advisory Council includes prominent figures from the business and legal sectors, both nationally and internationally, and we’re focusing on fostering synergy between the Board and the Council. One of our upcoming initiatives is to forge alliances with major institutions advocating for a culture of agreement.

The pilot project in schools is one of the first actions you announced. Have you made any progress in its implementation?

FOLLOW THE LINK TO READ THE INTERVIEW

Julia Gil

SHARE