The International Organization for Mediation set to establish on 30 May 2025, headquartered in Hong Kong

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Senior representatives from nearly 60 countries and about 20 international organisations will attend the signing ceremony for the Convention held in Hong Kong.

The signing ceremony for the Convention on the Establishment of The International Organization for Mediation will be held in Hong Kong on 30 May 2025. Following the ceremony, the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) will be officially founded, with its headquarters in Hong Kong.

Nearly 60 countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, and about 20 international organisations, including the United Nations, will send senior representatives to attend the signing ceremony for the Convention. In the afternoon, a global forum on international mediation will be held to discuss topics such as mediation of disputes among countries and mediation of international investment and commercial disputes.

The IOMed will be the world's first intergovernmental international legal organisation dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation. It will serve as an important mechanism for upholding the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. 

The unit is expected to provide friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services, thereby building Hong Kong as a capital for international mediation.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice Paul Lam told the media that the headquarters of the IOMed will be situated at the old Wan Chai Police Station, which is currently undergoing conversion. The renovation work is expected to be completed in one to two months, and the IOMed is anticipated to start operations by the end of this year or early next year.

Lam further noted that the IOMed will have the capacity to handle three types of disputes:

• Disputes between different countries,
• Disputes between a country and the citizens of another country, as well as
• International commercial disputes between private entities from different countries.

Details will be confirmed once the content of the convention is announced.

Earlier, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee said at a media briefing that the establishment of the IOMed is expected to yield significant economic benefits. The demand for mediation services will create numerous jobs, including positions for mediators, translators, researchers, and more.

This will also attract international organisations, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, high-quality conferences and exhibitions to Hong Kong, and further boost the development of industries such as hospitality, logistics and transportation, and conference-related sectors.