International Development Law Organization

Mongolia

English

Since 2012, IDLO has partnered with Mongolia to strengthen the rule of law, expand access to justice and promote transparency and accountability. Working closely with government institutions, the judiciary and civil society, IDLO supports reforms to combat corruption, enhance judicial transparency, strengthen alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and improve protection systems for women, children and vulnerable communities. Mongolia became an IDLO Member Party in 2015 and currently serves as Vice President of the Assembly of Parties for the 2024–2027 term.

Our impact in Mongolia includes:

Strengthening anti-corruption frameworks, transparency and public trust. IDLO has enhanced the capacity of key institutions, including the Independent Authority Against Corruption, to prevent, detect and investigate corruption, including through improved systems for asset declaration review and mutual legal assistance. In parallel, support to civil society and media actors has promoted greater public engagement in justice sector reform efforts, contributing to the implementation of Mongolia’s National Anti-Corruption Programme (2023–2030) and reinforcing transparency, accountability and public confidence in justice institutions.

Expanding access to justice through alternative dispute resolution and legal innovation. IDLO has supported the reform of Mongolia’s Mediation Law and the development of a more robust and regulated ADR system, including the introduction of enforceable mediation agreements and strengthened accreditation mechanisms. A pilot court-based paralegal programme has also been introduced and expanded, improving access to justice for court users, while broader efforts promote the use of mediation as an efficient and accessible alternative to litigation.

Strengthening protection systems for women, children and vulnerable groups. Through support to child protection frameworks and the national response to gender-based violence, IDLO has contributed to improved coordination, service delivery and reintegration mechanisms for vulnerable populations. This includes support for the rollout of Mongolia’s new Family and Youth Court and partnerships with civil society to deliver community-based and culturally responsive services across both urban and remote areas.

Expanding Membership for IDLO

Honduras, Mongolia and Pakistan have formally joined IDLO, taking the number of Member Parties to 30. The three countries were unanimously welcomed as IDLO Members at the organization's Assembly of Parties, currently underway at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome. At the event, Irene Khan was confirmed as IDLO's Director-General for a second four-year term.

Pre-Trial: Alternatives to Commercial Litigation

Many national and foreign businesses seeking dispute resolution are still unaware that Mongolia offers faster, more cost-effective options than the courts. To promote these options, IDLO has helped establish Mongolia's first private mediation center and assisted in creating the first Mongolian corps of world-class commercial mediators. Established at the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with main premises in Ulaanbaatar and a branch office in the second largest city of Darkhan, the center benefits from close proximity to Mongolia's business community.

In Court: The Challenge of Commercial Law

Unless it boosts capacity in commercial law, Mongolia risks discouraging inward investment, not least in the vital mining sector. To avoid this happening, IDLO has been working with Mongolia's Supreme Court and Judicial General Council to improve the courts' ability to apply commercial law.  In particular, we have ensured that 24 Mongolian judges are equipped to train their peers in areas such as mining disputes, intellectual property and competition law.

Post-Trial: Making Court Decisions Stick

Mongolia’s investment climate is chronically undermined by poor enforcement of rulings. In an effort to improve the enforcement rate, IDLO has been helping strengthen the Mongolian General Executive Agency of Court Decisions by  building the capacity of more than 200 bailiffs (12 of them bailiffs-trainers) in areas including sale and seizure of property, mediation and international arbitration, and conflict management.

Judicial Independence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The Bishkek Forum, held in the Kyrgyz capital in March 2013, was an international conference organized by IDLO to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and improve the administration of justice across much of the former Soviet space. The Forum drew chief justices from host nation Kyrgyzstan, neighbors Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, as well as regional superpower Russia, Georgia and Ukraine to discuss the effective and transparent management of courts.

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Key Initiatives

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