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A seminar discussion entitled “Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms" was held at the ASPU upon the initiative of the Chair of Jurisprudence and its Teaching Methods.
During the discussion, future lawyers and leading specialists of the justice sector referred to arbitration as a judicial means of dispute settlement. Arbitration is a technique for the resolution of disputes outside courts, a form of alternative dispute resolution when the parties opt to settle the dispute out of court.
During the meeting, the participants also stressed the importance of arbitration, as well as instances and frequency of using this method in Armenia and other countries.
Vladimir Hovhannisyan, a member of the Armenian Constitutional Court who heads the ASPU Chair of Jurisprudence and its Teaching Methods, noted with regret that even in the justice sector many are not well aware of this effective tool for conflict resolution; that is why people do not apply this method.
While Prof. Vladmir Hovhannisyan agrees with the famous saying “Justice must be done in haste slowly,” he stresses that there is a backlog of court cases pending for four years or more. “They have a negative impact on people. Lawyers and scientists have tried to find the right tools so that the time factor will not have a negative impact on the parties in the administration of justice,” he said.
Although the institute of arbitrators is just developing in the Armenian reality, the Doctor of Law considers it a useful tool and underlines several factors for its effective functioning – one should be confident that he is dealing with a fair arbitrator, besides, the process of formation of the institute must be ideal.
ASPU Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Srbuhi Gevorgyan highlighted the work of arbitrators from a psychological perspective and added that the seminar would arm young people with knowledge on the topic and enable them to have coordinated approaches.
“Psychology also emphasizes the importance of alternative dispute resolution models. The largest part of activities in this sector falls on lawyers and psychologists who try to understand the key components which are crucial in the mediation process,” the Vice-Rector said. She regretted to say that psychologists in Armenia do not have enough knowledge on the sector.
Later on, leading specialists of the sphere - Aida Avanesyan, Hayk Hovhannisyan and Lusine Tasalyan, presented in detail objectives and benefits of arbitration.
Talking to old.aspu.am, Lusine Hakobyan, the organizer of the seminar, Deputy Head of the Chair of Jurisprudence and its Teaching Methods, said alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are even more important nowadays as each judge has at least 1500 cases to hear. The lengthy investigation procedures violate a person’s right to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time.
“Settlement of disputes through mediation, arbitration and other alternative mechanisms are more effective, we only need to inform the public that we have a law On Arbitration Courts and Arbitration Procedures in Armenia,” Lusine Hakobyan said adding that they began work by raising the awareness of the matter among future lawyers, emphasizing the fact that arbitrators can resolve the dispute in the shortest possible time.
The seminar discussion was organized by the ASPU Faculty of History and Law, Armenian Association of International Law, mediation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution services and “Hovhannisyan and Partners” LLC.
