One Year of Full Implementation of The Law on Mediation Procedure

Banja Luka, 01.07.2008 – In the 1st year of full implementation of The Law on Mediation Procedure 64 requests for mediation were submitted to The Association. More than 60% of them were referred by courts. 24 mediations were completed, of which in 19 parties reached settlement (80%). These were mostly commercial disputes, and value of signed agreements was about 850.000 BAM. By signing the settlement agreement and delivering it to the court these cases were closed at court as well. In 20 cases parties cancelled mediation or one of the parties didn’t provide consent for starting of procedure, while in 20 cases mediation is under way or is to be scheduled. Number of requests for mediation is in permanent increase. In the first several months there were only 1 to 2 requests submitted monthly, at the end of 2007 the rate was 4 or 5, while in April and May 2008 it reached 10 requests monthly. This trend is continuing as an evidence of increasing interest of the courts and general public for mediation services. Previously to this, mediation services were provided in the period April 2004 – April 2007, only within the Pilot Projects implemented by The Association of Mediators in BiH and International Finance Corporation, connected to the Municipal/Basic Courts in Sarajevo and Banja Luka. In that period 630 mediations were held, of which 350 closed with settlements. Most of the cases mediated were commercial and labour cases. The Association of Mediators in BiH is the only provider of mediation services authorised by the Law in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Source: Association of Mediators in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Language: English