Embracing Diversity and Inclusion as Core Values in International Arbitration

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 December 2021. Its primary objective was to relieve persons 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 and ADR. Led by persons 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.

This ICC Guide on Disability Inclusion in Arbitration and ADR (the ‘Guide’) is intended to provide practical guidance on how disability inclusion can become a standard feature of arbitration and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). At the time of drafting the Guide, disability inclusion had received little attention within the arbitration and ADR community. This Guide is intended to place disability on the same plane as other characteristics protected by law, each of which is equally deserving of inclusion.