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Mediation in Lithuania: challenges and opportunities . D r . Rimantas Simaitis Associated Professor of Vilnius University, Attorney-at-law, Mediator, former president of CEPEJ-GT-MED Vilnius , 25 October 2012. Potential positive impact.
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Mediation in Lithuania: challenges and opportunities Dr.Rimantas Simaitis Associated Professor of Vilnius University, Attorney-at-law, Mediator, former president of CEPEJ-GT-MED Vilnius, 25 October 2012
Potential positive impact • Establishment of universal means of dispute resolution • Promotion of interest-based sensible culture • Better satisfaction with the result • Expediency and cost-efficiency • Alleviation of burden of courts’ caseload • Ease of social tensions
Development • Community mediation and analogous projects from 1998 • Court conciliation from 2003 • In-court mediation pilot project from 2006, extended in 2007 • Law on Mediation in Civil Disputes adopted on 15 July 2008
Education • Established mediation programs at universities • Continuous education and mediation training for professionals (judges, attorneys, bailiffs, others)
Challenges • Pro-litigious approach • Low level of mediation awareness • Mediation projects’ budgetary restraints
Trends • Culture of amicable resolution is improving • Mediation awareness is growing • Knowledge and experience as well • Success stories
Opportunities • Further evolution of in-court mediation • Establishment of State supported family, labour and/or penal mediation schemes • Promotion of commercial mediation at Vilnius Court of Commercial Arbitration • Increase of financing for public schemes • Financial support for private mediation initiatives
Thank you! E-mail: rimantas.simaitis@rln.lt