BRICS SENIOR OFFICIALS’ MEETING AND JUSTICE MINISTERS’ MEETING ON STRENGTHENING ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING IN MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION

**Executive Summary** India is hosting the BRICS Senior Officials’ Meeting (19–20 May 2026) and the Justice Ministers’ Meeting (21–22 May 2026) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, to strengthen Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) frameworks. The meetings aim to facilitate capacity building in mediation and arbitration while promoting institutional cooperation among member states. A key outcome will be the adoption of a Joint Statement and Declaration focused on enhancing accessible, cost-effective, and timely justice. **Key Points / Main Content** **Event Overview and Purpose** * The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, will host the meetings under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship. * The Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) involves representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to deliberate on arbitration reforms and ADR-centric model interventions. * The Justice Ministers’ Meeting (JMM) serves as a ministerial platform to commit to shared best practices and collaborative ADR initiatives. **Capacity Building and Professional Development** * Focus on strengthening professional capacity through joint workshops, training programs, and professional exchanges. * Establishment of knowledge-sharing platforms for mediators, arbitrators, judges, and government legal officers. * Promotion of specialized training for government legal officers to manage commercial and public-sector disputes. **Institutional and Technological Advancement** * Fostering cooperation between arbitration centers, mediation institutions, and legal training bodies. * Leveraging digital dispute-resolution platforms and technologies to improve the efficiency and accessibility of legal systems. * Encouraging court-referred and pre-litigation mediation to reduce case backlogs. **Legal Research and Harmonization** * Advancing legal research and comparative studies of BRICS jurisprudence. * Harmonizing laws related to trade and the environment across member states. * Supporting cooperation on cross-border commercial disputes through the development of model rules. **Impact Analysis** **BRICS Member States (Government Officials and Ministers)** **Impact** Enhanced multilateral cooperation on legal reforms and the adoption of a unified declaration to strengthen ADR frameworks. **Action Required** Attend the scheduled meetings in Gandhinagar and adopt the "Joint Statement on ADR-led Cooperation in the BRICS Framework." **Legal Professionals (Judges, Arbitrators, Mediators, and Legal Officers)** **Impact** Access to improved institutional ecosystems, professional exchange opportunities, and standardized training. **Action Required** Participate in training programs, workshops, and knowledge-sharing platforms to implement ADR reforms. **Arbitration and Mediation Institutions** **Impact** Strengthened institutional linkages and the potential for new model rules and digital platforms for dispute resolution. **Action Required** Collaborate on the development of digital dispute-resolution platforms and align institutional practices with the new BRICS ADR commitments. **Citizens and Commercial Entities** **Impact** Improved access to speedy, affordable, and cost-effective justice for domestic and cross-border commercial disputes. **Action Required** Utilize enhanced ADR mechanisms, such as mediation and arbitration, as alternatives to traditional litigation to resolve disputes.

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