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Background: As digital interactions and transactions grow, people are more inclined to participate if they feel secure and assured of fair procedures. However, online dispute resolution is still rarely used in Ukraine due to a lack of regulations. This research article provides a legal analysis of online dispute resolution (ODR) in Ukraine, concentrating on defining the ODR landscape, as well as on considering its potential in e-commerce and traditional court proceedings. Besides, the article presents a vision and proposals for the future adoption of European laws in Ukraine while discussing the current challenges in the online justice system that hinder its successful implementation. As a result, the article emphasises the need for an adequate legal instrument to regulate ODR in Ukraine, particularly in the context of e-commerce. It highlights the importance of implementing EU legislation, developing ODR platforms and ADR institutions, and ensuring their decisions are binding. It also addresses the challenges related to remote hearings in the judiciary during different circumstances and suggests adopting cloud-based case management to improve efficiency and reduce the risk of document destruction. Methods: The research methodology for this study on online dispute resolution in Ukraine included a comprehensive literature review, a comparative analysis of ODR systems in European countries, and a systems analysis to forecast the future trajectory of ODR in Ukraine. This approach aimed to assess the current state of ODR in Ukraine, identify areas for improvement, and explore potential achievements and challenges in its implementation. Results and conclusions: The article concludes that Ukraine is in the process of establishing a legal framework for online dispute resolution, which is expected to progress further after the war. The implementation of EU legislation and the development of ODR platforms and ADR institutions are crucial, along with ensuring accessibility for all, including vulnerable groups without internet access. Related to online courts, it is necessary to address challenges such as judges' absence during remote hearings. It is also recommended that the process be expedited and the risk of document loss internally in the case management system minimised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, restorative justice has emerged as a mechanism to enhance the involvement of victims in criminal proceedings. Its primary objective is to repair the damage caused by the offence, acknowledging it as a genuine injury in need of healing. While criminal proceedings might vary across jurisdictions based on fundamental principles of human rights, the broader aim is to offer a more comprehensive response to crime, aiming not only to punish but also to reform offenders and reduce future criminal behaviour. Methods: This qualitative study employed a descriptive, analytical method, utilising case studies and comparative analysis to explore restorative justice models in established judicial systems and their applicability to unestablished framework countries. By analysing and synchronising secondary materials, the research aimed to provide in-depth insights into successful practices and potential adaptations. Results and conclusions: The results reveal that several restorative justice models have been developed all over the world to align with the legal, socio-political, and cultural contexts of different regions and jurisdictions, such as Canada, New Zealand, and Norway. Despite the variety of restorative justice models, this exploratory study scrutinised four non-adversarial decision-making models: victim-offender mediation, community reparative boards, family group conferencing, and circle sentencing. These four models illustrate an alternative approach to community involvement in crime response, emphasising the diversity and shared themes of community engagement in sanctioning processes. The results offer resourceful guidelines for unestablished judicial systems like Vietnam to choose models best suited to specific needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In today's modern business and technological landscape, businesses are increasingly inclined to seek alternative methods for resolving disputes rather than rely solely on traditional court procedures. Businesses are also increasingly aware of the significance of resolving conflicts through alternative means and taking proactive measures to avoid litigation. In recent decades, investment arbitration has gained widespread acceptance and has emerged as a preferred mechanism for resolving disputes involving international investors in Western Balkan countries. Some countries demonstrate a favourable inclination towards employing arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism by enacting legislation that grants investors the right to initiate arbitration proceedings against the state in case of failure. This scientific research objective will be achieved through the reflection of the legislative framework in the matter of investment arbitration as well as the reflection of the flow of foreign investments, analysing and not limited to the treatment of concrete cases of arbitration disputes. Through this approach, we will answer the central question of how much arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism is a stimulating factor for attracting foreign direct investment or whether multinational companies only use the legislative and incentive favours offered by the Republic of Kosovo and North Macedonia. Methods: The article was conceived based on a modern methodological framework. Within the general methodological framework of scientific research, logical methods play a crucial role in the scientific processing of the research data, drawing conclusions and determining facts through which the truth of the thesis of the work is reached scientifically. In the context of this paper, the method of analysis through which the impact of arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism in relation to the flow of investments will be analysed is noteworthy. Additionally, methods of abstraction and concretisation will also be used. Abstraction is the basis of analysis, which sometimes represents the separation of parts from the whole subject. Moreover, the comparative method will highlight the diverse normative solutions in national legislation and international legal sources. Results and conclusions: In the article, the authors propose considering the effectiveness of existing provisions and determining whether adjustments or alternative approaches are needed to maximise the benefits of foreign investment while minimising potential risks and uncertainties associated with dispute resolution processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although mediation is considered one of the most popular ways of consensual dispute resolution, for many years, mediation in Ukraine had no legislative regulation. This was one of the obstacles that restrained alternative dispute resolution (ADR) development in Ukraine, even though the mediation community had been growing. Eventually, the Law of Ukraine ‘On mediation’ was adopted on 16 November 2021. The article is devoted to distinctive features of the new Ukrainian legislative mediation regulation that are decisive for the national mediation model, such as the definition and principle of mediation, its principles and scope, requirements for mediators, etc. Special attention is paid to the perspective and challenges for the mandatory mediation in terms of the provisions of Art. 124 of the Constitution of Ukraine and European standards for access to court (para. 1 Art. 6 of the ECHR). The article addresses organisational and procedural aspects of integrating mediation into judicial proceedings. Different models of integrating mediation into the Ukrainian court system piloted in Ukraine are analysed. The authors define current trends in the development of mediation in Ukraine. The authors conclude that the adoption of the Law ‘On mediation’ contributes to the ADR movement in Ukraine but needs some further steps, such as developing a national model of court mediation, the amendment of procedural legislation introducing a special procedure that would lead to the enforcement of agreements resulting from international mediation in commercial disputes, and the adoption of special regulation for integrating mediation into other jurisdictional activities (notariat, system of legal aid).