However, that very diversity may lead to conflict, disagreements, or miscommunication. Respect for differences and willingness to learn from other people are values encouraged by the Community Boards process. The traditional justice system lacks the capacity for building respect or tolerance. Yet without these underlying values, all the laws in the world won't make a better neighborhood. The principle which acknowledges the parties' right to enter freely into any agreements reached in the conciliation process.
Any party has the right to withdraw from conciliation at any time.
The principle which affirms the parties' right to information about the conciliation process and, as appropriate, other options and relevant resources before consenting to conciliation or consenting to the terms of any agreement reached in conciliation. The principle which recognizes that parties to a dispute have the ability and the right to define their issues, needs, and solutions and to determine the outcome of the conciliation process. It is the responsibility of the parties to decide mutually the terms of any agreement reached in conciliation. The principle which affirms the parties' right to a conciliation process that serves all the parties fairly and to conciliators who refrain from perceived or actual bias or favoritism. The principle which affirms that all information received from the parties will be kept within Community Boards.