Alternative Dispute Resolution (a) Mediation • Facilitated Negotiation: A neutral third-party mediator assists disputants in communicating and negotiating to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. • Court-Annexed Mediation: Referrals from courts to resolve commercial or civil disputes before a trial proceeds, helping to reduce case backlog. • Family and Matrimonial Mediation: Assisting parties in resolving divorce, child custody, or inheritance disputes in a less confrontational manner. (b) Arbitration • Binding Arbitration: A neutral arbitrator (or panel) hears evidence from both sides and issues a binding decision (award), often used in commercial contracts. • Specialized Arbitration: Using experts in specific fields (e.g., construction, maritime, or intellectual property) to act as arbitrators to resolve technical disputes. • International Commercial Arbitration: Resolving disputes between companies located in different countries. (c) Conciliation • Structured Settlement Assistance: A conciliator takes a more active role than a mediator, suggesting potential settlement proposals to the parties, though the decision remains voluntary. • Pre-litigation Conciliation: Encouraging parties to sit together to resolve conflicts before initiating formal legal action. (d) Restorative Justice: • Community-based meetings focused on repairing harm and restoring relationships, rather than just punishment, often involving victims, offenders, and community members. • Restorative Justice Workshops: Conducting education on Alternative Justice Systems to local stakeholders.