Second
Annual Forum on Online Dispute Resolution
(ODR)
(Geneva, 30 June-1 July 2003)
Geneva, 3 July
2003 - The Second Annual Forum
on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)
was held on 30 June-1 July 2003 at
the Palais des Nations, Geneva with
the participation of WIPO, ITU, UNCTAD,
ICC and 50 international jurists and
technical experts.
In the opening address,
Mr Garonna, Deputy Executive Secretary
of the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE), emphasized the
potential contribution of ODR to international
conflict prevention and resolution.
Mr Kowalski, Director of the UNECE
Industrial Restructuring and Enterprise
Development Division, pointed out
the novel role of ODR for accelerating
structural and judiciary reform in
developing and transition economies
with advancement of information society
and knowledge economy.
Six expert panels
have assessed linkages between Alternative
Dispute Resolution and ICT by taking
stock of ongoing international activities
on ODR. It also examined new instruments
and ways of cooperation among public
and private sectors in view of increasing
interface between technology and law.
The two-day forum
recommended that the member States
recognize the need for and value of
the use of ICT to facilitate dispute
resolution; encourage the use of technological
applications in a range of public
and governmental disputes; the issues
of digital and justice divide be further
considered at the UN forum on online
dispute resolution; the UN consult
with and inform the member States
about the progress made in the development
of legal and technical instruments
of online dispute resolution.
For further information
please contact:
Mr. Daewon Choi
Head of Knowledge Economy
Industrial Restructuring, Energy
& Enterprise Development Division
United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Telephone: +41(0)22
917 24 74
Telefax: +41(0)22 917 01 78
E-mail: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/IREEDD/03/P11