Unlike litigation or arbitration, conciliation is a voluntary, confidential, and flexible method aimed at resolving conflicts without the need for formal legal proceedings.
The conciliator usually has no authority to seek evidence or call witnesses, usually writes no decision, and makes no award.
The conciliation process begins when both parties agree to engage in it as a method of resolving a dispute.
[1] There are multiple uses for this form of alternative dispute resolution including transnational intellectual property,[2] legislative assemblies,[3] peace efforts,[4] and other areas of community concern.
[8][9] Conciliation is a preferred method of dispute resolution compared to litigation or binding arbitration.