Local Profile

Mediation in Slovenia (*)
In Slovenia the idea of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) came from judges and was soon spread by non-governmental organizations. Indeed mediation became more and more the preferred method for conflict resolution instead of using courts. The procedure of this mechanism of alternative dispute resolution is cheaper and shorter than those in court, and agreements seem more durable.
In Slovenia mediation has been developed in many different fields. It is mostly conducted in courts so as civil, family and commercial cases, and in social institutions (family and divorce mediations). This ADR mechanism has also been implemented for victim-offender, for school, and for area protecting consumers. It can occur that citizens ask for cross-cultural mediations.
Yet there is a lack of means for mediation. The legal framework for mediation remains poor, and there is no mediation workplace, too few school for mediation. 

Challenges to mediation (*)
Mediation could be more developed through the expansion of modern communication means.
But the main challenge to mediation in Slovenia is to make people more aware about the benefits of mediation as an ADR mechanism.

(*) Information taken from a presentation of judge Gordana Ristin