Arbitration Agreements and Protection of the Right to a Fair Trial

Abstract Arbitration is a dispute settlement mechanism based on an agreement of the parties. Party autonomy to conclude an arbitration agreement is well established and recognized by the UNCITRAL Model Law on Arbitration and various national laws. However, party autonomy to conclude an arbitration agreement raises certain challenges for protection of human rights. One of them is how an arbitration agreement is compatible with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which establishes the right to a fair trial before the state court. Conclusion of an arbitration agreement means that the parties waive their right to submit the dispute to the state court and instead create biding jurisdiction of arbitration court. This waiver of the right to a fair trial before the state court raises questions as to what extent the procedural guarantees of the right to a fair trial are applicable in arbitration court. What are the requirements for such a waiver of the right to a fair trial before the state courts?