ICC’s International Court of Arbitration releases Guide for Disability Inclusion in International Arbitration and ADR

The new guide addresses the needs of people with disabilities participating in international arbitration and ADR procedures and beyond. 

The ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR has released the Guide on Disability Inclusion in International Arbitration and ADR. The ground-breaking publication provides clear guidance to address and accommodate the needs of people with disabilities participating in arbitral and ADR procedures or other activities and events in the field of dispute prevention and resolution. You can find the guide here.

By providing actionable guidance to practitioners, arbitrators, arbitral institutions, and associations, the Guide aims to drive disability inclusion within the field of dispute resolution by providing specific recommendations and checklists along with other practical tools.

Aligned with the ICC Centenary Declaration on Dispute Prevention and Resolution the guide builds on the ICC International Court of Arbitration’s cutting-edge work on diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of dispute prevention and resolution. The guide paves the way for more disability inclusion initiatives in the world of international arbitration and ADR.

Initiated by Claudia Salomon upon taking office as President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, a task force on disability inclusion in international arbitration and ADR was established in 2021. Its primary objective is to relieve people with a disability of the burdens they face and lead an inclusive conversation on advancing awareness and inclusion in all stages and activities in international arbitration in ADR. Led by people with a disability and their allies, the task force of over 50 members from 26 jurisdictions worked for one year and a half on the pioneering guide. The task force was co-chaired by Simon Maynard, Senior Associate at King and Spalding in the UK; Dr Todd Weiler, Independent arbitrator at Arbitra International, in Canada; and Dr Katherine Ramo, Head of Pro Bono Practice and Of Counsel at CMS in the UK.

Dr Todd Weiler one of the Task Force’s co-chairs, said:

“The Guide is an essential first step to placing disability on a level playing field with other protected characteristics. The Guide allows practitioners to educate themselves about the meaning of disability and how it can intersect with the practice of arbitration.”