Accountability to Affected People (AAP) Policy

The AAP Framework articulates how to use power responsibly by taking account of, and being held accountable to, those who are affected by the use of such power. Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS) recognises the importance of obtaining affected people’s views on their own needs to find and design their own solutions, while acknowledging the diversity of the people who form a community and the range of their needs and abilities. As such, WOLAS seeks to ensure that affected people have the power to co-design humanitarian activities (e.g., legal aid), in particular by making sure to:

• Inform affected people about our activities, including the purpose, design, implementation, and evaluation of our programs. This includes publishing information about WOLAS’ funding, activities, and results in a way that is accessible to affected people.
• Understand the range of affected people’s vulnerabilities and abilities to participate in humanitarian activities (e.g., legal aid). This includes taking into account factors such as culture, language, and disability.
• Enable the participation of different groups of affected people in all aspects of humanitarian activities (e.g., legal aid), including decision-making, planning, implementation, and evaluation. This includes providing opportunities for affected people to serve on advisory boards, participate in trainings, and give feedback on programs.
• Adapt our activities to affected people’s priorities, vulnerabilities, and abilities. This includes taking into account the specific needs of different groups of affected people, such as women, children, and people with disabilities.

In addition to the above, WOLAS is committed to the following:

• Personalised assistance: People and communities affected by crises/violations receive personalized assistance that is specifically tailored to their unique needs and aligned with the specific challenges they are facing in their current situation.
• Prompt access to assistance: People and communities impacted by crises/violations receive prompt access to essential legal and humanitarian assistance, ensuring that their needs are promptly met and addressed in a timely manner.
• Safeguarding: People and communities affected by crises/violations are safeguarded from adverse impacts and are equipped with the necessary tools to effectively withstand and recover from emergencies through the implementation of effective humanitarian actions.
• Empowerment: People and communities impacted by crises/violations are equipped with information regarding their rights and actively engage in decision-making processes that have a direct impact on them, fostering empowerment and ensuring their meaningful participation.
• Responsiveness: People and communities impacted by crises/violations have available and responsive avenues to express their concerns and seek resolution for any grievances or complaints, ensuring their voices are heard and addressed effectively.
• Harmonisation and complementarity: People and communities impacted by crises/violations receive assistance that is harmonized and complementary, demonstrating WOLAS’ commitment to continuous improvement and learning from past experiences to enhance the quality of support provided.
• Skilled and proficient staff and volunteers: People and communities impacted by crises/violations receive assistance and support from our skilled and proficient staff and volunteers who are effectively managed, ensuring the delivery of exceptional support and assistance.
• Responsible, effective and conscientious use of resources: People and communities impacted by crises/violations can have confidence in the fact that WOLAS supporting them utilize resources in a responsible and conscientious manner, ensuring optimal efficiency and effectiveness while upholding high standards of integrity.
  
  

By upholding these commitments, WOLAS is committed to ensuring that humanitarian action is effective, inclusive, and accountable to those it serves.