THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IN COLLECTIVE ARBITRATIONS IN CONSUMER RELATIONS

Abstract

This article analyzes the viability of collective arbitration as a dispute resolution tool in consumer relations, focusing on the role of the Public Defender's Office. Based on the constitutional principle of access to justice, the article examines the Public Defender's Office's institutional role in protecting vulnerable groups, especially consumers, who often find themselves in situations of underprivileged or even hypervulnerable situations. The research, based on bibliographical research and the hypothetical-deductive method, demonstrates that, like mediation and conciliation, the Public Defender's Office can—and should—use collective arbitration as an appropriate and expeditious option for resolving disputes, when compatible with the nature of the law involved, such as for the redress of homogeneous individual rights. The conclusion is that the Public Defender's Office's use of collective arbitration not only finds regulatory support but also represents an essential instrument for the effectiveness of fundamental rights, ensuring balance in consumer relations and promoting citizenship.