The Justice Studies Center of the Americas (CEJA), in collaboration with Colombia’s Ministry of Justice and Law and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, organized a workshop to present key recommendations to strengthen Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods (ADR) in Latin America, with a focus on Colombia.
The event brought together more than 30 officials from the ADR Directorate and the Vice Ministry of Justice.
Dr. Helen Ortiz, Vice Minister for Justice Promotion, opened the workshop and emphasized the importance of CEJA’s recommendations to revitalize ADR in the country. She highlighted the essential role these methods play in ensuring access to justice, especially for women and vulnerable populations.
“The strengthening of ADR in Colombia is crucial to promoting peace and ensuring access to justice. It is essential to have strategies that consolidate these methods, integrating both public vision and the needs of ADR operators and citizens,” stated Mateo Vásquez, CEJA researcher in Colombia, who led the participatory process of the workshop.
During the event, CEJA presented recommendations focused on improving data collection, developing new management tools, replicating best practices in public and private conciliation centers, and increasing the effectiveness of conciliation agreements.
Nataly Ponce Chauca, Executive Director of CEJA, stressed the importance of ensuring the effective enforcement of conciliation agreements. She emphasized that public and private conciliation centers must adhere to performance standards that include information on effective conflict resolution.
Dr. Adriana Ferrer, Director of ADR Methods at Colombia’s Ministry of Justice and Law, closed the event by thanking CEJA for its contributions and committing to incorporating the recommendations into ongoing efforts.