This week, from May 23rd-27th, 2011, the Working Group III is holding its second session on online dispute resolution (ODR) at the UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law).  A panel of leading private and public experts are meeting to report on work, initiatives, and exchange of information related to ODR.  Annotated provisional agenda (A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.106 ) is available here.

The working group is composed of all States members of the Commission. States that are not members of the Commission and international governmental organizations are attending the session as observes and are allowed to participate in the deliberations.  Additionally, invited non-governmental organizations are also attending the session as observers and representing the views of their organizations related to ODR.  The Institute of International Commercial Law at Pace Law School is an approved observer at UNCITRAL and actively participates in the work of Working Group III.  In fact, the International Commercial Law Institute submitted a paper to be available as a background document for consideration and discussion about ODR by the Working Group III.  The paper, titled Possible Future Work on Online Dispute Resolution in Cross-Border Electronic Commerce Transactions – Note Supporting the Possible Future Work on Online Dispute Resolution by UNCITRAL (A/CN.9/710), can be accessed here.

The Working Group III is considering a note by the Secreteriat regarding the preparation of legal standards on online dispute resolution for cross-border electronic transactions.  The Secretariat, based on the Group’s past sessions, provided a draft of procedural rules governing online dispute resolution for cross-border electronic commerce transactions (A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.107) that the Working Group is reviewing and discussing at this 23rd session.