Mediation as a legal (and just) way of protecting human rights with an emphasis on combating discrimination

Tema ovog rada je mirenje kao prav(ed)ni način zaštite ljudskih prava. U tom kontekstu, poslije povijesnog pregleda i definiranja termina „mirenje“, analizirana je praksa po pojedinim državama članicama Europske unije (EU). Uz najčešće modele koji se koriste u EU, poseban naglasak je stavljen na Italiju jer se istaknula s najvećim brojem mirenja u Europi. Nadalje, slijedi prikaz zakonske regulative u Hrvatskoj, što podrazumijeva detaljniji osvrt na Zakon o mirenju te posebne zakone kojima su propisana obvezna mirenja (kao što su: Zakon o parničnom postupku, Obiteljski zakon te Zakon o radu). Rad sadrži statističke podatke o broju predmeta takvih mirenja, rezultatima te stopi uspješnosti kroz petogodišnje razdoblje u trajanju od 2014. do 2018. godine. Otkrit će se prednosti mirenja za sudionike. Uz ulogu izmiritelja u zaštiti temeljnih prava, važna je i uloga nacionalnih institucija za ljudska prava (pravobranitelji, kvazisudska tijela i tijela za jednakost), kao i institucija za mirenje. U Hrvatskoj je Zakonom o suzbijanju diskriminacije dopušteno pravobranitelju da provodi mirenja. Navedeni su mnogobrojni primjeri uspješnih i efikasnih procesa, a najviše njih tiče se diskriminacije na područja rada. U Europi je diskriminirana radnica postigla svoju pravdu isprikom od poslodavca, a u Hrvatskoj je mirenjem od strane pravobranitelja uspješno riješena pritužba radnice o kršenju prava na radnom mjestu. Ovaj je rad pisan u nadi da će doprinijeti popularizaciji mirenja i humanizaciji pravosuđa.The topic of this paper is mediation as a legal (and just) way of protecting human rights. In this context, after a historical review and definition of the term “mediation”, the practice by individual Member States of the European Union was analyzed. In addition to the most common models used in the European Union, special emphasis is placed on Italy because it has stood out with the largest number of mediations in Europe. Furthermore, the following is an overview of legal regulations in Croatia, which implies a more detailed review of the Mediation Act and special laws which are prescribing mandatory mediation (such as the Civil Procedure Act, the Family Act and the Labor Act). The paper contains statistical data on the number of cases of such conciliations, results and success rates over a five-year period from 2014. to 2018. The benefits of mediation for participants will be revealed. In addition to the role of mediators in the protection of fundamental rights, the role of national human rights institutions (ombudsman, quasi-judicial and equality bodies) as well as mediation institutions are also important. In Croatia, the Anti-Discrimination Act allows the ombudsman to conduct mediations. Numerous examples of successful and efficient processes are given, and most of them concern discrimination in the areas of work. In Europe, a discriminated worker achieved her justice with an apology from her employer, and in Croatia, mediation by the ombudswoman successfully resolved a worker's complaint about a violation of rights at the workplace. This paper was written in the hope that it would contribute to the popularization of mediation and the humanization of justice