How can you get informed consent from conflict resolution participants?

1 Why informed consent matters

Informed consent is not only a legal requirement, but also a moral and professional obligation for conflict resolution practitioners. Informed consent respects the autonomy, dignity, and rights of the participants, and ensures that they are not manipulated, deceived, or harmed by the intervention. Informed consent also builds trust, rapport, and cooperation among the participants and the practitioner, and enhances the quality and legitimacy of the intervention. Without informed consent, the intervention may be challenged, rejected, or resisted by the participants, or cause negative consequences for them or others.

2 What informed consent involves

Informed consent is not a one-time event, but an ongoing communication and dialogue between the practitioner and the participants throughout the intervention. Informed consent involves four main elements: disclosure, comprehension, voluntariness, and documentation. Disclosure means that the practitioner provides clear, accurate, and relevant information about the intervention to the participants, such as the goals, methods, roles, expectations, confidentiality, and possible outcomes. Comprehension means that the practitioner checks that the participants understand the information, and clarifies any questions, doubts, or concerns they may have. Voluntariness means that the practitioner ensures that the participants are free to decide whether to participate or not, without any undue influence, pressure, or coercion from anyone. Documentation means that the practitioner records and confirms the consent of the participants, either verbally or in writing, depending on the context and preferences of the participants.

3 How to obtain informed consent

Obtaining informed consent may differ depending on the type, context, and scope of the intervention, as well as the characteristics, needs, and preferences of the participants. To help with this process, some general steps include establishing rapport and trust with the participants by explaining your role and qualifications. Additionally, you should explain the purpose, process, benefits, risks, and alternatives of the intervention. Invite questions from the participants to express their views and share their expectations or concerns. Assess their understanding, readiness, and willingness to participate in the intervention while addressing any potential barriers. Confirm consent either verbally or in writing while reviewing terms and conditions of the intervention. Lastly, maintain communication with the participants throughout the intervention and respect their right to withdraw or modify their consent at any time.

4 How to handle challenges and dilemmas

Getting informed consent from conflict resolution participants may not always be easy or straightforward. You may encounter some challenges, such as participants who are reluctant to participate, influenced by others, have limited capacity to consent, change their mind during the intervention, disclose sensitive information, or require special accommodations. To handle these dilemmas, you need to use your professional judgment and ethics, and follow some guidelines. Respect the participants' autonomy and dignity while communicating clearly and honestly with them. Provide support and guidance to help them explore their options. Seek consent for any changes or referrals that may affect the intervention or them. Additionally, consult with your supervisor or colleagues if you face any ethical issues or dilemmas that require further advice or assistance. Lastly, document and report any incidents, concerns, or complaints that may arise from the intervention or the consent process.

5 How to improve your informed consent skills

Getting informed consent from conflict resolution participants is a vital and valuable skill that you can improve and enhance with practice and learning. To do so, you should review and update your knowledge of the ethical and legal principles of informed consent in conflict resolution. You should also seek feedback from participants, supervisors, colleagues, and mentors on your informed consent practice. Additionally, you should reflect on your strengths and weaknesses in obtaining informed consent, as well as set goals for professional development. Furthermore, it is beneficial to participate in training, workshops, courses, or webinars on informed consent in conflict resolution to learn from the best practices of other practitioners. Finally, joining a network or community of conflict resolution practitioners can help you share insights, challenges, and solutions on informed consent with your peers.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?