ICC pledges support for equal representation of women in Arbitration

Officially launched at the conclusion of Global Arbitration Review’s annual live event taking place in London today, the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge establishes concrete and actionable steps that the arbitration community can take towards rapidly increasing, on an equal opportunity basis, the number of women appointed as arbitrators. The initiative is the result of a collaborative effort between global representatives of corporate entities, states, arbitral institutions, arbitration practitioners, both counsel and arbitrators, and academics, drawn together by a Steering Committee which includes ICC Special Counsel Mireze Philippe.

Taking place just weeks after the ICC Court disclosed statistics on the gender balance of ICC tribunals the first time, ICC’s pledge is the latest of a number of efforts undertaken by the ICC Court to enhance both the transparency and diversity of international arbitration. President of the ICC Court of Arbitration Alexis Mourre said:

Supporting this initiative is consistent with the Court’s on-going strategy to see more women appointed to arbitral tribunals, as illustrated by the fact that the Court’s Bureau has perfect gender parity. Women are still underrepresented in ICC tribunals and promoting the many outstanding female arbitrators that are available around the globe will result in greatly enhancing the arbitration process in the long term. We will also make every effort to increase the number of women appointed to the Court”

To view the full text of the pledge visit: www.arbitrationpledge.com.