Riyadh: Professor Marike Paulsson, Secretary-General of the International Dispute Resolution Council of the Kingdom of Bahrain, participated in the Riyadh International Dispute Resolution Week (RIDW25), held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from February 23-27. The event, themed "Managing International Commercial Relations: Legal Reforms, Business Strategies, Expertise, Ethics, and Conflicts of Interest in Dispute Resolution," gathered international experts and specialists in dispute resolution.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the International Dispute Resolution Council of the Kingdom of Bahrain hosted its inaugural roundtable during RIDW25. The session featured a panel of global experts in dispute resolution and was moderated by Professor Paulsson. The dialogue included Martina Polasek, Secretary-General of the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), Tom Sikora of ExxonMobil, and Ken Hyatt of the Harvard Negotiation Project.
The Council announced reform proposals amid ongoing deliberations by states at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. These proposals aim to launch dispute prevention and mediation in the region and beyond. The Council has received support from stakeholders in India and Saudi Arabia and will establish a task force with thought leaders to develop these reforms. This initiative reflects the Council's commitment to supporting global efforts to enhance dispute resolution mechanisms and the international investment environment.
In conclusion to the event, the Secretary-General of ICSID contributed to a commemorative artwork by renowned Bahraini artist Abbas Almosawi, celebrating the establishment of the International Dispute Resolution Council.