Parliament approves law on mediation

Some 247 MPs voted for the relevant decision, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

The approved document proposes defining the legal basis and procedure for mediation in Ukraine.

The law defines the legal basis and procedure for conducting mediation as an out-of-court procedure for resolving a conflict (dispute), the principles of mediation, the status of a mediator, the requirements for its preparations and other issues related to this procedure.

The document envisages that mediation may be used in any conflicts (disputes) that arise in civil, family, labor, economic, administrative legal relations, as well as in criminal proceedings during the conclusion of reconciliation agreements between a victim and a suspect (defendant), and other social spheres.

Also, individuals and legal entities will be able to apply for mediation at any stage of a dispute (before court, arbitration court or international commercial arbitration proceedings commence, as well as during ongoing proceedings and enforcement).

According to the document, mediation will be conducted upon parties’ consent and in line with the principles of voluntariness, confidentiality, independence and neutrality, impartiality of the mediator, self-determination and equality of parties, etc.

As Ukrinform reported, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the relevant law at first reading on July 15, 2020.

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