Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — At its ninth plenary session, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis considered the Law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aimed at Improving the Institution of Mediation in Alternative Dispute Resolution.”

During the discussions, senators emphasized that in recent years, Uzbekistan has been gradually developing a practice of pre-trial dispute settlement through legal instruments, particularly mediation and arbitration courts. This approach helps protect the rights and interests of citizens and organizations, saves time and resources, reduces bureaucratic procedures, and promotes peaceful resolution of disagreements through reconciliation.

It was noted that the adoption of the Law “On Mediation” in 2019, followed by the Presidential Decree of June 17, 2020, “On Measures to Further Improve Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms,” marked an important milestone in this area. However, despite the measures taken, the courts continue to face increasing caseloads, and the share of pre-trial and court-approved mediation agreements remains below 4.2 percent, underscoring the need to expand the use of mediation and strengthen public trust in the institution.

The new Law introduces amendments to a number of regulations, including the Laws “On Mediation,” “On Notaries,” “On State Duty,” “On the Enforcement of Judicial Acts and Acts of Other Bodies,” as well as the Civil, Economic, Tax, and Family Procedural Codes. In particular, notaries will be granted the right to serve as mediators in accordance with established legal procedures.

In addition, the Law “On Mediation” is supplemented with a new chapter designating the Ministry of Justice as the authorized state body in this field. The Ministry will have the authority to issue regulations on mediation, approve professional ethics rules for mediators, organize retraining and advanced training, and develop educational programs in the field.

The Law introduces new requirements for mediators: the practice of non-professional mediators is abolished, higher education becomes mandatory, and mediators must undergo professional development at least once every three years. Qualification commissions will be established, and the enforcement of mediation agreements will become obligatory.

Senators stressed that the adoption of this Law will ensure the effective application of pre-trial dispute settlement mechanisms, reduce the burden on the judicial system, strengthen the legal framework for mediation, and ultimately enhance Uzbekistan’s investment appeal and international business ranking.

Following the discussions, the Senate approved the Law.