Today, the Georgian Mediators Association (MAG), with the support of the USAID Rule of Law Program, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Council of Europe (CoE) Office in Georgia, reviewed its past activities and unvealed its plans for the Year of Mediation. Through the campaign, MAG will popularize and increase the use of mediation as a dispute resolution method in Georgia, both for individuals and businesses.

In his opening remarks, MAG Chairman Irakli Kandashvili stated: "Mediation, as a dispute resolution mechanism, is being established in Georgia with the support of many actors involved in this process as well as international donor organizations. Lack of awareness about mediation is a significant challenge, and with the support of the USAID Rule of Law Program, UNDP, and the Council of Europe Office in Georgia we deal with this challenge.”

Neil Weinstein, Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID Rule of Law Program, emphasized USAID's comprehensive support for MAG, including institutional development, improvements in mediation legislation, awareness-raising, and mediator development. “Over the last decade, USAID has maintained a steadfast commitment to promoting mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in Georgia. Through the strengthening of mediation and other ADR methods, the USAID Rule of Law Program seeks to enhance access to justice, a goal we consider paramount.”- said Neil Weinstein.

Levan Asatiani, Rule of Law Program Manager at UNDP Georgia, said, "UNDP has supported the development of the mediation institution in Georgia for many years, as equal access to justice is part of its sustainable development goals and mediation forms an important part of it. Our organization will support the Mediators Association of Georgia in its institutional development and work actively to raise awareness of mediation in the regions. "

Tamar Zubashvili, CoE Representative, added, "We conducted a needs assessment on court-annexed and private mediation in civil cases in Georgia, which showed that a problem is the low level of awareness of mediation and a lack of information about the advantages of mediation. In cooperation with MAG, we have developed a strategy and an action plan on awareness raising and soon we will start the implementation process."

Event participants (over 40) included mediators, judges, lawyers, notaries, journalists, MPs, along with Anri Okhanashvili, Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliament; Buba Lomuashvili, Deputy Minister of Justice; Davit Asatiani, Chairman of the Georgian Bar Association; Aleksandre Tsuladze, Supreme Court Judge; Mikheil Khurtsidze, Deputy Director of the Legal Aid Service; and Rusudan Chkuaseli, Chair of the Association of Arbitrators. They provided insights into the importance of raising public awareness and trust in mediation.