ACCORD
PROFILE
INTRODUCTION
Why?
The advent of the millennium has given rise to a major
challenge to business worldwide - coping with the inability of potentially numerous IT
systems properly to recognise the year 2000 date change. This is commonly known as the
"millennium problem".
Whilst the problem is technically simple, its scope and
impact (particularly in the telecoms, banking and IT sectors) cannot be underestimated.
The Millennium Accord ("the Accord"), building on
current commercial mediation practice, is designed to:
- reduce the potential for confrontation and dispute between
businesses and/or public sector organisations arising from the millennium problem;
- encourage and facilitate the exchange of information on any
millennium problem on a without prejudice basis; and
- promote a cost-effective approach to resolving millennium
problem differences and disputes, whether domestic or international.
How?
The Accord consists of:
Accord Principles which are short,
specific principles on dealing with any millennium problem difference or dispute -
including the use of the Accord Procedure to attempt to resolve any difference (such as a
deadlocked negotiation about providing information or a "millennium" warranty)
or an actual dispute, before resorting to litigation or arbitration. The reference to
differences, and not just disputes, is intended to catch potential disputes at an early
stage with the aim of preventing them escalating into actual disputes.
Any company or other organisation which is willing publicly
to support the Principles can sign the Declaration of Support and become an Accord
Signatory. The Declaration is not a legally binding commitment but is intended to be:
- a public statement of commitment to problem-solving rather
than problem-escalation
- a recognition that many technology systems are not
stand-alone but linked to networks stretching well beyond the company or organisation
itself - and in many cases, well beyond national borders.
Accord Procedure, a flexible
fast-track negotiation and mediation procedure.
The first stage of the procedure provides for negotiations
at management level, so that the problem is passed to individuals who are not directly
involved in the matters giving rise to the dispute or the dispute itself and have not been
involved in any previous negotiations. They should also have the authority in their own
right to settle the case.
If the management negotiations do not result in a
settlement, the second stage is mediation, using a trained and experienced neutral third
party to facilitate settlement. It is intended that the Accord mediation body (see below
"the Accord body") in the country or region where the mediation is to
take place administers the mediation and that the parties use the model mediation
procedure (or rules) of that body (although they may agree to use another model
procedure).
Accord Contract Clause for
inclusion in a commercial agreement which may give rise to a millennium problem. The use
of a contract clause ought to pre-empt the concern a party might otherwise have about
making the opening move in settlement discussions.
International scope
A number of leading mediation bodies around the world have
agreed to co-operate in connection with the Accord. This will:
- assist in widespread dissemination of the Accord Principles
- enable efficient use of the Accord Procedure wherever it is
being used, particularly for multi-national disputes, regardless of their complexity and
scale.
The Millennium Accord is the initiative of CEDR, which has
brought together the following bodies (each an "Accord body") in this
collaborative effort:
- CEDR (Europe)
- JAMSEndispute (USA)
- LEADR (Australia & NZ)
- Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
(Asia)
- Singapore Mediation Centre (Asia)
- The Canadian Foundation for Dispute Resolution
(Canada)
CEDR will act as the co-ordinating Accord body.
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