Beyond Intractability: A Free Knowledge Base on More Constructive Approaches to Destructive Conflict

Introduction: What is a mediator to do if one party needs a written document and the other party will not sign anything? There may be many solutions depending on the circumstances, but Silke Hansen talks about what she did in one case.

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Signed Agreements
Silke Hansen
Senior Conciliation Specialist, Community Relations Service

Interviewed by
Julian Portilla
2003

I can think of one example, where we faced the dilemma of one-party needing a written document, and the other party simply would not sign an agreement. It wasn't going to happen. The way we got around it in that case is I ended up writing a letter to both parties, saying based on the mediation session was held at such and such dates and explaining what my recollection was about what was agreed to in the end. I included that if they disagree, please let me know and I'll revise it. It was slightly tweaked after that, and corrected. The one-party didn't have to sign anything but the other party had a document they could present, so that they could proceed with what their need was.

Let all bear in mind that a society is judged not so much by the standards attained by its more affluent and privileged members as by the quality of life which it is able to assure for its weakest members. -- H.E. Javier Perez de Cuellar

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