The role of participatory conciliation procedures in civil litigation

This study examines the essence, legal nature, and practical application of participatory conciliation procedures in civil litigation in Kazakhstan. The relevance of the topic stems from the increasing caseload, the need to relieve courts, and the growing demand for alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The aim of the research is to determine the structure, effectiveness, and procedural role of participatory conciliation within civil proceedings. Its core idea is to promote a cooperative mechanism enabling parties, assisted by their lawyers, to reach mutually acceptable agreements. The scientific and practical significance lies in demonstrating that participatory conciliation promotes faster, more cost-effective, and humane settlement of disputes. The methodology involves comparative-legal, systemstructural, historical, and analytical approaches. Foreign models from France, Germany, and Canada are assessed and compared to national practices. Key findings suggest that despite significant potential, implementation is hindered by insufficient regulation, inconsistent professional training, and low legal awareness. The procedure helps reduce court workloads and preserve social balance between parties. The study’s value is in identifying participatory conciliation as a tool for humanizing civil justice. Its practical relevance lies in recommendations for legislative refinement, professional training enhancement, and public legal education.

1. Toqaev Q-J.K. (2023) «Ädılettı Qazaqstan – bärımız üşın!» Qazaqstan halqyna Joldauy. Astana, 64 p. (In Kazakh).

2. Kommentarij k Grazhdanskomu processual’nomu kodeksu Respubliki Kazahstan. Biblioteka Verhovnogo Suda Respubliki Kazahstan. 2016. URL: https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=32469410&pos=2;106#pos=2;-106 (data obrashhenija: 25.10.2025). (In Russian).

3. Qazaqstan Respublikasynyñ Azamattyq prosestık kodeksı. URL: https://adilet.zan.kz (ötınış berılgen kün: 25.10.2025). (In Kazakh).

4. Şaiahmetov A. (2022) Azamattyq prosestegı tatulastyru räsımderı. Almaty: Jetı Jarğy. 214 p. (In Kazakh).

5. Qazaqstan Respublikasy Joğarğy Sotynyñ 2023 jylğy taldamalyq esebı. Astana, 2024. 152 p. (In Kazakh).

6. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Access to Justice and ADR Mechanisms in Civil Disputes. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2023, 112 p. (In English).

7. Waters B. (2022) Alternative Dispute Resolution and Civil Justice: A Relationship Resolved? // The International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management. Vol. 88, no. 1, pp. 3–33. (In English).

8. Ancel P. (2020) La procédure participative: un mode amiable de résolution des différends. Paris: Dalloz, 245 p. (In English).

9. Cortés P. (2023) Embedding Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Civil Justice System: A Taxonomy for ADR Referrals and a Digital Pathway to Increase the Uptake of ADR // Legal Studies, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 211–230. (In English).

10. Albert R. (2023) Global Values in National Constitutions. Oxford University Press, 312 p. (In English).

11. Mazaraki N., Tsuvina T. (2024) Creating an Effective Mediation Scheme for Business-Related Human Rights Abuses: The Case of Ukraine // Business and Human Rights Journal. Vol. 9, special Issue 1, pp. 129–149. (In English).