On September 9 through September 13, 2024, Tashkent hosted the fourth Uzbek Arbitration Week organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Tashkent International Arbitration Centre (TIAC). The event brought together local and international arbitration experts, providing a platform for sharing experience and discussing trends in international arbitration.

Veronika Grubenko, Associate at Dispute Resolution Practice of Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin & Partners (RGD), spoke at the panel discussion titled Implementing Diversity Initiatives in International Arbitration: Bridging Concepts and Institutional Practices. Veronika presented statistics and initiatives from three arbitration institutions (ICC, VIAC, and SCC), highlighting how effective current measures are and what steps can be taken to diversify the pool of arbitrators.

As part of an open discussion, panel participants discussed successful practices of arbitration institutions in achieving diversity and inclusivity and the progress made in this area. Despite the successes, much depends on more than just the arbitration institutions, which often act as the driving force behind changes. A great deal also rests on the lawyers involved in the process (both external consultants and in-house counsel): breaking away from established stereotypes and approaching diversity issues comprehensively is important.

"Promoting and implementing diversity is a complex and evolving process that requires time, effort, and thoughtful solutions. At all levels, various stakeholders must understand different facets of diversity, raise awareness, develop best practices to combat bias, promote inclusivity, and consistently adhere to these principles in their daily actions", Veronika Grubenko said, summarizing the event.