What is the Difference Between Advocacy and Conciliation?

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The key difference between advocacy and conciliation lies in their approaches to resolving conflicts or disputes. Here are the main differences between the two:

  • Advocacy focuses on promoting causes and influencing opinions, often taking a position and advocating for it. It can be adversarial, defending one side's interests. Advocates provide support to parties, help them understand and articulate their view of the law applicable to a complaint, and advise on the best course of action.
  • Conciliation, on the other hand, involves finding common ground and working towards a mutually beneficial solution. It is a collaborative process that seeks mutual agreement. Conciliators are expected to genuinely participate in the process with the aim of resolving the complaint, cooperate with the conciliator, encourage their client to directly participate in the conciliation process, communicate in a conciliatory manner (including listening to the other party's views), and respect the difference between conciliation and an adversarial court process.

In summary, advocacy focuses on representing and promoting the interests of one side in a conflict, while conciliation aims to find a mutually beneficial solution that satisfies all parties involved.

Comparative Table: Advocacy vs Conciliation

The difference between advocacy and conciliation lies in their approaches to resolving conflicts or promoting causes. Here is a table summarizing the key differences between the two:

Advocacy Conciliation
Focuses on promoting causes and influencing opinions Aims to reconcile opposing parties and resolve conflicts through dialogue and negotiation
Can be more confrontational, as it involves persuading others to adopt a particular perspective or stance Focuses on finding common ground and fostering mutual understanding and cooperation
May involve championing an individual's or group's interests, rights, or needs Works towards a mutually acceptable result, regardless of the claims of the parties
Advocates may use various techniques, such as presenting evidence, making arguments, and mobilizing public opinion Conciliators utilize skills like active listening, empathy, and persuasion to encourage parties to reach a resolution

In summary, advocacy primarily focuses on promoting a cause or influencing opinions, while conciliation emphasizes reconciliation and resolution of conflicts through dialogue, negotiation, and finding common ground.