Accountability

Being accountable to the people we seek to help means having strong safeguarding mechanisms in place, as well as recognising and addressing biases and power dynamics. Our safeguarding policies aim to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and to protect vulnerable adults and children from such harm. Additionally, our team adheres to the strict deontological principles that govern the legal profession. These principles are set out in the European and national codes of conduct for lawyers, to which we adhere.

Katsikas refugee camp, 2025 © Second Tree

As an organisation, it is essential that we understand the needs and circumstances of the people we support, in all their diversity, and that the programme we deliver is responsive. Our Accountability to the Affected Population framework is focused on four pillars:

Participation

Our program is demand-driven and tailored to the needs expressed by participants and partners. These needs are assessed on an ongoing basis by analyzing enquiries received on our hotline, during legal clinics and in referrals. We also try to implement activities that are inclusive and accessible, using a variety of formats. Community volunteers and local partners play an important role in this process.

Communication

Our team consistently and intentionally shares contextually accurate information on rights and obligations, available services, with in mind to encourage informed decision making. This is a core ethical principle and our goal as lawyers: to ensure that asylum seekers comprehend and actively participate in the procedure so that they may also advocate for their rights.

Feedback*

We proactively invite people to provide feedback on our services and activities, through context-appropriate and accessible channels. Such feedback informs corrective action. The feedback can be anonymous.

Adaptability

We monitor how we are implementing our programme, including the feedback given by participants and partners. We use this information to evaluate our impact, plan and adapt.

*Feedback received in 2024 and 2025: The overall satisfaction rate was 7,7/8. Participants were asked to rate the quality of the initial contact, the clarity of the information provided, its usefulness in relation to their individual situation and, finally, the quality of the assistance received as a whole. Positive feedback mentioned the expertise and commitment of ELA's lawyer and the comprehensive nature of the legal services provided.

Transparency

Throughout the implementation of the project, data on field activities, participants and the services provided, are regularly collected in a dedicated database. The data collected helps to demonstrate the impact of our work and is accessible in our annual report and other publications. We also publish a bimonthly newsletter to reflect on the latest events impacting our work and share updates on the implementation of our programme.

Our financial independence and sustainability is paramount to our freedom of speech and action. It makes our organisation resilient and allows our team to implement the programme we believe is most effective in meeting the needs we identify.

The financial management of the organisation follows a rigorous set of policies and controls. The Association's accounts are prepared by a firm of chartered accountants and audited annually by a chartered financial auditor.