Inclusion and Diversity

“Diversity and inclusion are never ‘done’. ICCA continues to focus on how we can do better with diversity and inclusion of all kinds, and to take steps to do so.” - Former ICCA President, Lucy Reed

ICCA's Harassment and Inclusion Policies

Effective as of 11 May 2020

 

ICCA has a strong commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion, and has been working actively to embed diversity policies within ICCA since its restructuring to become a membership-based organization in 2012. In 2020, ICCA formalized existing practices and expanded the scope of its approach to diversity, releasing its first formal ICCA Diversity and Inclusion Policy and ICCA Diversity and Inclusion Implementation Plan in May 2020. Both Policy and Plan were approved by ICCA Governing Board Members at its annual ICCA Governing Board meeting in May 2020, where an updated Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy was also approved.

 

The 2020 Policies and Plan are the result of close cooperation between past ICCA Presidents Prof. Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler and Lucy Reed, Executive Director Lise Bosman, and Chair of ICCA’s Inclusiveness Committee Vera van Houtte, with the support and guidance of members of the Committee, the Governing Board and the ICCA Bureau. ICCA worked closely with independent consultant Anna Spain Bradley (currently  Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of California, Los Angeles) during the process. The initiative was developed under Prof. Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler’s presidency, building on many of ICCA’s existing practices as implemented since 2012.

 

ICCA Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy

 

ICCA Diversity and Inclusion Policy 

 

ICCA Diversity and Inclusion Implementation Plan

Cross-Institutional Task Force on Gender Diversity in Arbitral Appointments and Proceedings

Gender Diversity in Arbitral Appointments and Proceedings

The Cross-Institutional Task Force on Gender Diversity in Arbitral Appointments and Proceedings, assembled in 2019, brings together representatives leading international arbitration institutions, law firms and gender diversity initiatives to publish and analyze recent statistics on the appointment of female arbitrators, as well as to identify opportunities and best practices to promote gender diversity in international arbitration.

 

The Report highlights potential barriers to diversity, as well as tools available to arbitration users to address gender diversity in arbitral tribunals, including databases of qualified female candidates for counsel to choose from and opportunities for qualified women to promote their credentials.

 

Find out more about the Task Force

 

Download the 2022 Update of the Report of the Cross-Institutional Task Force on Gender Diversity in Arbitral Appointments and Proceedings

 

The ICCA - IBA Arbitration Committee Conference Diversity Checklist

Recognising the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (‘DEI‘) in the field of international arbitration, the Arbitration Committee of the International Bar Association (‘AC-IBA’) and the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (‘ICCA’) have joined forces in drafting this checklist for promoting DEI in international arbitration conferences. 

 

Acknowledging that each conference is different and that the steps taken to promote DEI will accordingly vary, the goal in proposing this checklist is to ensure that panellists and delegates at international arbitration conferences come from diverse backgrounds and that participation is inclusive. 

 

We hope that this Checklist prompts useful reflection, and we look forward to witnessing its contribution to more diverse and inclusive conferences around the world.

 

Conference Diversity Checklist

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in International Arbitration