They lived together for 12 years. Then they chose mediation instead of court.

She is an accountant from Kharkiv. He is an entrepreneur from Odesa. After 12 years together, they realized their paths were diverging. They could have gone to court, dragging out the divorce for months, wasting nerves and money. But they chose another way — mediation.

In just two weeks, they agreed on everything — from property division to child custody. And they left the mediator’s office without resentment, with mutual respect preserved.

Mediation is a voluntary, confidential procedure for resolving conflict with the help of a neutral facilitator — a mediator. It is a way to settle disputes faster, cheaper, and without destroying relationships.

In Ukraine, the legal framework for mediation is defined by the Law of Ukraine “On Mediation,” which came into force in December 2021. The law sets out key principles, requirements for mediators, the procedure itself, and guarantees for the parties. Like any framework law, it provides general guidelines while leaving room for interpretation and practical application.

But the text of the law does not always answer the question: how does it work in practice?

That is why the Scientific and Practical Commentary on the Law of Ukraine “On Mediation” was created — a detailed analysis of every article of the law with explanations, examples, and practical advice from mediators and lawyers who work with conflicts daily.

In the Commentary, you will find answers to questions that may arise when trying to better understand the provisions of the law.

The Commentary was developed with the support of the European Union as a joint effort of the EU Project Pravo-Justice and the EU Project CONSENT, implemented by the Ukrainian Academy of Mediation.

Experts involved in drafting the Law of Ukraine “On Mediation” also contributed to the Commentary.

The Commentary is available free of charge so that everyone interested can use it to better understand the mediation procedure.

You can read the electronic version of the Commentary HERE.

It is also possible to receive a printed version of the Commentary. It is provided as a token of gratitude to everyone who supports the activities of the Ukrainian Academy of Mediation.

The printed version can be obtained through the Shelf of Gratitude.