Singapore Convention on Mediation

Abstract

The forthcoming Singapore Convention on Mediation will be the first UN Treaty named after Singapore. At the 51st Session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) on 26 June 2018, the final drafts of the Convention on the Enforcement of International Settlement Agreements and corresponding Model Law were approved. A resolution to name the Convention the “Singapore Mediation Convention” was also approved. This concludes three years of vigorous debate with participation by 85 member states and 35 international governmental and non-governmental organisations. Once finalised and adopted by UNCITRAL, the next step is for the UN General Assembly to adopt the Convention and Model Law before member states may sign on to the Singapore Convention on Mediation. The Convention will come into force once it is ratified by at least three member states. A signing ceremony for the Singapore Convention on Mediation is expected in Singapore in 2019.