Ar privaloma mediacija neprieštarauja savanoriškumo principui
Virkutis, Gytis |
Populiarinant mediacijos institutą, valstybės vis dažniau įsiveda privalomąją mediaciją kaip alternatyvių neteisminių sprendimų būdą. Pasaulis, ypač Jungtinės Amerikos Valstijos, turi ilgametę patirtį, susijusią su mediacijos institutu, tačiau Lietuvoje ši praktika užima nedidelę teisės rinką. Norint suprasti mediacijos teikiamą naudą reikia tinkamai išanalizuoti mediacijos principus bei privalomosios mediacijos modelius, įsigilinti į jos ištakas bei istoriją. Mediacijos pagrindinis principas teigia, jog ji yra savanoriškai pasirenkama proceso šalių. Tačiau egzistuojant privalomajai mediacijai kylą klausimas ar ji nepažeidžia būtent, anksčiau minėto, savanoriškumo principo, kadangi viena iš fundamentalių žmogaus teisių yra tiesiogiai susieta su Konstituciniu lygmeniu reglamentuotu laisvo žmogaus apsisprendimo kreiptis į teismą ir dalyvauti jo procese. Baigiamasis darbas yra sudarytas iš trijų pagrindinių dalių bei įvado, išvadų ir rekomendacijų. Pirmojoje magistrinio darbo dalyje yra analizuojami pagrindiniai mediacijos principai bei mediacijos modeliai. Taip pat yra gilinamasi į mediacijos teisinį reglamentavimą, didelis dėmesys skiriamas mediacijos reglamentavimui Lietuvoje bei yra aptariamos mediacijos tendencijos Lietuvoje. Antrojoje darbo dalyje yra gilinamasi į privalomos mediacijos ištakas ir reglamentavimą JAV ir ES šalyse bei analizuojami privalomosios mediacijos teisiniai aspektai, t. y. gilinamasi į užsienio valstybių praktiką. Trečiojoje, paskutinėje darbo dalyje yra aptariamas privalomosios mediacijos santykis su savanoriškumo principu, t. y. analizuojama, ar privalomoji mediacija yra suderinama su laisvu bei savarankišku žmogaus apsisprendimu pasirinkti ginčo sprendimo procesą bei galimybę kreiptis į teismą.
Developing mediations institution, states are involving mandatory mediation in their alternative dispute resolution mechanisms more frequently. The world, especially United States of America, has a long-standing experience relating to mediations institution; however this practice takes a very small place in the legal market of Lithuania. In order to understand the concept and the benefits of mediation, a proper analysis of mediation principles and mediation models, also an insight into its origins and history is needed. Mediation basic principle states, that it is voluntarily chosen by the parties. However, the existence of mandatory mediation raises a question, whether the earlier mentioned voluntary principle isn’t being violated, because one of fundamental human rights is directly linked to the level of constitutional right to self-determination to apply to a court and to participate in the process. Conflicts in many cases are simply inevitable and legal intervention is necessary for some disputes. However, disputes, such as family, work or business, disputes between healthcare providers and patients or their relatives, disputes with consumers, as well as many others can be solved with the help of mediation. Mediation is one of the alternative dispute resolution methods, its purpose is to help the parties in civil cases to solve their dispute and to maintain good relations mediated by one or more intermediaries mediators. This process is based on some principles and one of them is voluntaryism. Validating mandatory mediation, which is also called as compulsory, parties automatically lose their chance to voluntarily choose the way their dispute is going to be solved. In order to reduce stress of the courts and to save costs, many foreign countries are validating and also many have already validated mandatory mediation. Mandatory mediation ideas are also being developed in the mediation system development concept of Republic of Lithuania . Application of mandatory mediation in Lithuania is foreseen in the Law on Conciliatory Mediation in Civil Disputes Amendment Law Project. So a problematic issue arises automatically, whether mandatory mediation does not contradict with its own essence of the process, which is derived from voluntariness and self-determination. The relevance of the problem is not only important in the legal environment, but is also in the restraint of individuals self-determination, when/ if mandatory mediation contradicts voluntaryism. Also, the relevance of the work is due to the fact that the project about compulsory mediation in Lithuania is prepared. Topic about mandatory mediation in Lithuania is not widely examined scientifically but, in contrast, foreign countries have quite long experience. Mediation subject in foreign scientific literature is widely described, but there is not enough scientific sources about the process of mandatory mediation process and voluntary relationship. In Lithuania, N. Kaminskienė, T. Šimašius S. Zaksaitė Z. Garalevičius and others broadly examined it. However one of the most competent authors in Lithuania is N. Kaminskienė. This master thesis is composed of three main parts and the introduction, conclusions and recommendations. The first part of master thesis analyses the main principles of mediation and mediation models. It also describes the legal framework of mediation, focus on the regulation of mediation in Lithuania and finally mediation trends in Lithuania are presented. The second part provides the origins of mandatory mediation and regulation of the US and EU countries. What is more, the legal aspects of compulsory mediation are analysed, for example, mandatory mediation practice of foreign countries are described. Third, and the last part of this work is the analysis of the relation between the relation between mandatory mediation and the voluntary principle is analysed. It examines whether mandatory mediation is compatible with human freedom and self-determination to choose the dispute resolution process and access to justice.