ERDEM-NEWSLETTER-2018-metin

124 NEWSLETTER 2018 Diversity in International Arbitration * Ezgi Babur von Schwander Diversity in international arbitration is one of the key areas of de- velopment in the past few years. While arbitral institutions are willing to contribute to diversity through promoting underrepresented groups in arbitrator appointments and publication of data related to arbitra- tors in the past few years, academic institutions and law firms conduct surveys with respect to conceptions on this issue, as well as the paths to be followed to enhance diversity. The current status on diversity across arbitral tribunals shall be analyzed in this article. In General The notion of diversity may be defined as the fact of many dif - ferent types of things or people being included in something; a range of different things or people 1 . In terms of diversity in arbitration, diversity can be reviewed under different groups, such as gender and age diversity, or geographic, cultural, and ethnic diversity. As arbitral tribunals are decision-making authorities, the impor- tance of diversity across arbitral tribunals cannot be underestimated. International arbitrations involve parties having different nationalities, cultures and backgrounds. This diversity in backgrounds of the parties should be supported and enhanced by different perspectives presented by the members of the arbitral tribunal, as well. If diversity in arbi- tral tribunals can be assured, each member would bring a different perspective to the table, which in turn would be beneficial towards resolution of the dispute. Diversity in the composition of arbitral tribunals would be ensured in the phase of appointment of arbitrators; therefore, any party having * Article of July 2018 1 Definition of diversity, Cambridge Dictionary, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ dictionary/english/diversity (Access date: July 2018).