====== Mediation (Informal and Formal) ====== //Part of [[wikipedia_dispute_resolution|Wikipedia Dispute Resolution]]// ===== Overview ===== Wikipedia offers both informal and formal mediation. Informal mediation involves any experienced editor helping to resolve a dispute. Formal mediation is conducted by the Mediation Committee (MedCom), which assigns trained mediators to facilitate resolution of complex content disputes. Mediation is voluntary and non-binding. ===== BPMN Model ===== flow1 flow1 flow2 flow2 flow3 flow3 flow4 flow5 flow5 flow4 flow6 flow6 flow7 flow8 flow8 flow7 flow9 flow9 flow10 flow10 flow16 flow11 flow11 flow12 flow12 flow13 flow14 flow13 flow15 flow15 flow14 flow16 flow17 flow17 flow18 flow18 ===== Key Principles ===== * **Voluntary**: All parties must agree to participate; any party can withdraw at any time * **Non-binding**: The mediator cannot impose a solution * **Confidential**: Mediation discussions should not be used against parties elsewhere * **Good faith**: All participants are expected to engage constructively ===== When Mediation is Appropriate ===== * Complex content disputes involving multiple issues or policies * Disputes where informal methods and DRN have been tried * Situations where parties are willing to work toward compromise * Cases that do not involve serious conduct issues (those go to ArbCom) ===== Related ===== * [[wikipedia_dr_noticeboard|Dispute Resolution Noticeboard]] - Previous step * [[wikipedia_dr_arbitration|Arbitration (ArbCom)]] - Next escalation level * [[wikipedia_dispute_resolution|Wikipedia Dispute Resolution Overview]]