The “Launching Ceremony on Court-Led Mediation Pilot Program” is held by the Supreme Court of the Union at Myanmar International Convention Center-II (MICC-II) in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

At the ceremony, the Chief Justice of the Union U Htun Htun Oo, in his opening speech, stated that alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms were being used in many countries since years ago and ADR system plays a vital role not only for the public’s access to justice but also for the business opportunity of the country. As Myanmar people are being familiar with the amicable dispute resolution mechanism, the Supreme Court of the Union has tried to set up the Court-Led Mediation System since its first judicial strategic plan (2015-2017).

Then the Supreme Court of the Union adopted a strategic initiative to develop Court-Led Mediation System in courts in its second judicial strategic plan (2018-2022). In accordance with this initiative, Court-Led Mediation Pilot Program will be implemented in Dekkhina District Court, Taungoo District Court, Takkone Township Court and Taungoo Township Court on 1st March 2019 in collaboration with JICA. This is the leading role of the Supreme Court of the Union in the implementation of ADR system in Myanmar as a need.

After that, the Chief Representative of JICA Myanmar Office, Mr. Karasawa Masayuki, gave an opening remark. He said that JICA will continue to cooperate with the Supreme Court of the Union for successful introduction of Court-Led Mediation System at courts in Myanmar nationwide and hoped Court-Led Mediation System would be recognized as an effective dispute resolution by the Myanmar people.

Later, the Chairperson and members of Court-Led Mediation System Implementation Committee explained the Court-Led Mediation Pilot Program and the Court-Led Mediation System. They also replied the questions raised by the audience. Attending the ceremony were Chairperson of the Constitutions Tribunal of the Union, Union Attorney General, Justices of the Supreme Court of the Union, Chief Judges of the High Courts of Bago and Mandalay Regions, Chairmen, Secretaries and Members of the Commission, and Committee of the respective Hluttaws, Heads and responsible officials of the governmental departments, Chief representative of JICA Myanmar Office, Chief legal advisor and responsible persons of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mediation experts from Japan, Representatives from UN and International Organizations, Lawyer Associations, Civil Society Organizations, Law Departments of the Universities, Medias, Judicial Officers of the Union Supreme Court, Judges and Judicial Officials from the Courts at different level.

Following this ceremony, the stakeholders’ consultation meetings on Court-Led Mediation Pilot Program will be held at respective courts.

—MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)