With the aim of contributing to the promotion of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, particularly mediation, this publication presents a comprehensive report on the implementation of mediation in Serbia, as well as recommendations for future development and implementation of mediation in Serbia. This publication also includes examples of good practice in the use of ADR in Serbia, one in the field of anti-discrimination, within the institution of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, and the other in the field of commercial disputes, particularly the procedure of consensual financial restructuring of companies, within the CCIS.

There is growing recognition internationally of the need for effective debt restructuring tools to improve the opportunities for business recovery. These tools also are one of the means of tackling the systemic issue of non-performing loans. The purpose of this Guide is to make the CFR procedure accessible to all potential users and to highlight the principal features and benefits of CFR. We hope that you find the Guide to be a useful source of information on CFR and debt restructuring generally.

This Practicum was developed under the “Partnership for Tolerance and Anti-Discrimination Protection in Serbia” (PTAPS) project, aimed at improving the system of protection against discrimination in Serbia and contributing to building social cohesion. It seeks to do so by increasing citizens’ awareness on issues of discrimination and the available protection mechanisms, as well as building the capacity of civil society organizations, legal aid providers and other representatives of marginalized groups to respond adequately and establish conditions for the use of mediation in discrimination cases.

Taking into account that corruption occurs only if the system is vulnerable to such phenomenon, it is crucial to determine mechanisms within the institutions that enable corrupt behavior. We attempted to improve transparency, accessibility and accountability of public administration through implementation of a comprehensive methodology for fighting corruption at the local level, which includes active civil society and implementation of innovative strategies. Bearing in mind the results of the implemented anti-corruption interventions, interest and participation of citizens, organizations and institutions at the round tables, promotional campaign, as well as visits and reviews at the anti-corruption internet platform, it can be concluded that the project has improved understanding of the problem of corruption, as well as citizens’ awareness on the role and responsibilities of the institutions responsible for the fight against corruption.

To determine the existing obstacles, Partners Serbia conducted a base-line assessment of the mediation program in Kraljevo. The aim of this assessment report is to inform and shape an implementation strategy to overcome those obstacles, resulting in a well-functioning, high-quality mediation program. Partners Serbia’s is now implementing a strategy that responds to the results of the assessment to improve the effectiveness of the Kraljevo Mediation Center.