Authors: ElChaar, S., Oliver, E., Brown, F. L., & Roberts, B.
A recent study in Lebanon sought to move beyond abstract principles and demonstrate what continuous, culturally relevant consent can look like in practice. Working with Palestinian, Syrian, and Lebanese participants in the Beqaa and North Lebanon regions, researchers combined Design Thinking and Participatory Action Research to co-develop context-specific consent guidelines. This collaborative process generated a set of practical tools. Participants emphasized the need for simple and accessible language, the use of audio-visual formats, clarity about time commitments, and opportunities to withdraw without stigma. Importantly, these solutions were not externally imposed but co-designed, embodying the spirit of decolonial consent by centering participant agency and cultural realities.
