For information only – not an official document
UNIS/L/382
22 July 2025
VIENNA, 22 July (UN Information Service) – The Toolkit on Prevention and Mitigation of International Investment Disputes has been adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). This represents a further step in the reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS), as mandated by the Commission in 2017 and developed by UNCITRAL Working Group III.
The Toolkit is intended to assist States in identifying and implementing effective measures to prevent and mitigate investment disputes. Rather than prescribing specific solutions or promoting best practices, the Toolkit presents a range of approaches currently employed by States. It acknowledges that each State must develop its own approach based on its legal and institutional framework. As such, the Toolkit serves as an informational resource, offering practical insights and sharing experiences to support a stable and predictable investment environment. Focusing on the pre-dispute phase, the Toolkit is aimed at helping States address grievances before they escalate into formal legal disputes and, where appropriate, explore amicable solutions, including through mediation.
The Commission expressed its appreciation to all those who contributed to the development of the Toolkit and requested the Secretariat to ensure its wide dissemination in all six official languages of the United Nations.
More information on ISDS reform elements adopted by UNCITRAL is available at https://uncitral.un.org/en/texts/isds. The Toolkit will be made available on that webpage as soon as it is published.
***
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. Its mandate is to remove legal obstacles to international trade by progressively modernizing and harmonizing trade law. It prepares legal texts in a number of key areas such as international commercial dispute settlement, electronic commerce, insolvency, international payments, sale of goods, transport law, procurement and infrastructure development.
UNCITRAL also provides technical assistance to law reform activities, including assisting Member States to review and assess their law reform needs and to draft the legislation required to implement UNCITRAL texts. The UNCITRAL secretariat is located in Vienna, Austria. For more information, visit: uncitral.un.org.
* *** *
For information, please contact:
Neale Bergman
Senior Legal Officer
UNCITRAL secretariat
Email: neale.bergman[at]un.org
Spain has ratified the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships, also known as the “Beijing Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships”.
"Let us stand together to build a world where diversity is celebrated and everyone can live in safety and dignity." — António Guterres
"On this solemn day, we honour the victims and survivors of terrorism everywhere – saluting their courage, acknowledging their pain, and reaffirming our enduring commitment to peace, justice, and human rights." — António Guterres
"Humanitarian workers are the last lifeline for over 300 million people caught in conflict or disaster." — António Guterres
