We are pleased to announce a significant milestone for the DIS: In the period from January to June, we reached a record high of 61.54% female arbitrators appointed by the institution! This marks a substantial increase from 44.44% in 2024 and surpasses the previous record of 53.85% set in 2023.
This achievement reflects the continued commitment of our team to advancing gender diversity in arbitration and raising awareness about the importance of balanced representation.
One concrete step in this direction has been the launch of the DIS Arbitrator Database, a new online form allowing arbitrators to register and express their interest in future appointments. While not intended to be exhaustive, the database serves to expand the pool of qualified candidates and assist in identifying suitable profiles for DIS proceedings.
In February 2025, counsel Mariana Candido de Oliveira also contributed to the discussion on gender diversity at the DIS 40/Arbitral Women event Diversity Retreat. In a fireside chat with Annett Rombach and moderator Antonia Füller, Mariana shared the institutional perspective and engaged in a fruitful exchange with the participants. Among other topics, the panel highlighted the lack of female representation especially in male-dominated areas, for example in sports arbitration.
Another key topic of discussion was the significant gender gap in party appointments and the potential factors contributing to this disparity. While institutional appointments at the DIS show encouraging progress, party appointments continue to lag behind: as of June 2025, only 16% of arbitrators appointed by parties were women.
We therefore warmly encourage counsel and in-house counsel to actively consider gender diversity when selecting arbitrators. Broader representation strengthens the quality of arbitral proceedings and benefits the arbitration community as a whole. Let’s work together toward more inclusive practices!
Mariana Candido de Oliveira Monteiro