**Summary: BRICS Senior Officials’ Meeting on Strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)**
**Overview**
Under India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship, the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, hosted a Senior Officials’ Meeting from May 19 to 20, 2026, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The meeting focused on deepening international cooperation regarding Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) through capacity building in mediation and arbitration.
**Participants and Mode**
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format and included senior officials from the following member and invited countries:
* Brazil
* China
* India
* Egypt
* Ethiopia
* Iran
* Indonesia
* Russia
* South Africa
* United Arab Emirates
**Key Discussions and Objectives**
Delegates engaged in comprehensive dialogues concerning:
* Institutional mediation and arbitration reforms.
* The application of ADR in both commercial and public-sector disputes.
* The sharing of jurisdictional experiences, challenges, and emerging trends.
* The professionalization and mainstreaming of mediation and arbitration to ensure they remain accessible and effective.
**Major Outcome**
The meeting resulted in a shared consensus and the finalization of the text for a Joint Declaration titled **“Declaration of the Ministers of Justice of the BRICS Countries on Strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution through Capacity Building in Mediation and Arbitration.”** This declaration outlines a collective commitment to building resilient and cooperative legal ecosystems.
**Next Steps**
The finalized Declaration will be presented for formal adoption during the Ministers of Justice Meeting, scheduled to take place from May 21 to 22, 2026, in Gandhinagar.
**Administrative Details**
* **Release ID:** 2263346
* **Posted On:** 20 May 2026, 6:12 PM by PIB Delhi
* **Visitor Counter:** 251
Key Entities Referenced
Declaration of the Ministers of Justice of the BRICS Countries on Strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution through Capacity Building in Mediation and Arbitration: A joint declaration finalized by senior officials to expand, professionalize, and mainstream mediation and arbitration as accessible and effective legal means across member nations.
Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice: The primary Indian government department that organized the Senior Officials’ Meeting to deepen international cooperation on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
BRICS: The intergovernmental organization (comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Russia, and UAE) under whose chairship the legal cooperation meeting was held.
Gandhinagar, Gujarat: The central location in India hosting the BRICS Senior Officials’ Meeting and the subsequent Ministers of Justice Meeting in 2026.
Ministry of Law and Justice
BRICS SENIOR OFFICIALS’ MEETING ON
STRENGTHENING ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE
RESOLUTION THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING
IN MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION
Posted On: 20 MAY 2026 6:12PM by PIB Delhi
Under India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship, the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice,
Government of India, concluded a Senior Officials’ Meeting on 19 to 20 May 2026 in Gandhinagar,
Gujarat, to deepen cooperation on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The meeting was held in hybrid
mode, with senior officers from Brazil, China, India, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Russia, South
Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. It concluded with a shared consensus on a Joint Declaration titled
“Declaration of the Ministers of Justice of the BRICS Countries on Strengthening Alternative Dispute
Resolution through Capacity Building in Mediation and Arbitration,” which will be presented for formal
adoption at the Hon’ble Ministers of Justice Meeting to be held on 21 to 22 May 2026 in Gandhinagar.
The meeting brought together senior justice officials from BRICS countries for comprehensive discussions
on ADR-related issues. Delegates deliberated on institutional mediation, arbitration reforms, and the role
of ADR in commercial and public-sector disputes, highlighting experiences, challenges, and emerging
trends in their respective jurisdictions. After extensive and constructive dialogue, the Senior Officials
finalized the text of the Declaration, which captures the collective commitment of BRICS countries to
expand, professionalize, and mainstream mediation and arbitration as accessible and effective means. The
outcome reflects BRICS members’ shared vision of building resilient, innovative, and cooperative legal
ecosystems.*******
SAMRAT
(Release ID: 2263346) Visitor Counter : 251
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Gujarati , Tamil , Kannada