As a form of assisted voluntary negotiation, mediation provides an opportunity for the parties in dispute to state their views and desired outcomes and proceed with the adjudication more rapidly. As such, mediation may be very helpful in empowering local communities to develop solutions that work for them, while offering an alternative to judicial litigation. While mediation has been progressively used in the central region, the number of settlements reached in other regions of Montenegro, notably in the northern region, is behind the average, partially due to lower level of acquittance with alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms among local stakeholders.

With a view of expanding the use of mediation and other ADR mechanisms in smaller communities outside the central region, the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica and the Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution have organised a stakeholder meeting of judges, mediators, lawyers, social workers and representatives of local self- governments, civil society and the business sector from the northern region of Montenegro.

During the meeting, participants discussed ways to improve the implementation of the Law on Alternative Dispute Resolution, focusing on the current practices, challenges and the roles and responsibilities of local actors and their contribution to the ADR success. Thanks to such meetings, the awareness-raising of local stakeholders on the importance of mediation and its impact on local communities has been facilitated. 

The consultative meetings are being organised under the action "Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro" which is part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.