Complaints Mechanism

The EDRi network should be equipped to deal with possible, conflicts or situations surrounding for instance abuse of power, discrimination, bullying and more.

The process to deal with possible issues should be clear and provide an independent review, allowing EDRi members in making decisions. EDRi members have adopted a Complaint mechanism in 2021. The mechanism is now operational.

The Complaints Mechanism enables EDRi to be aware of concerns regarding “transgressive behaviour” happening within the sphere of its operations, whether of the Brussels office, the volunteers, the Board or the members of the network. The Complaints Mechanism strives to remove as many barriers as possible for people to speak up about their concerns. It enables EDRi to effectively and transparently deal with complaints made to foster a safe and healthy working environment for all.

The Complaint Mechanism consists of two independent bodies: the Confidential Advisor and the Complaints Committee. Appointing two independent, qualified bodies ensures the quality of the handling of concerns and Complaints, and creates the opportunity for Complainants to submit a complaint anonymously through a Confidential Advisor. Appointing two separate bodies also creates the possibility to provide support to the Complainant and to the person against whom the Complaint is lodged.

Here you can find a template you can use in order to provide all the necessary information needed to lodge a complaint.

The Complaints Committee

The Complaints Committee strives to support EDRi Board, Staff and Members to build a healthy, inclusive and constructive organisational culture and to value diversity, difference and disagreement. As an independent body, the Complaints Committee works in the interests of the EDRi Association and not in the interests of one group or part of it.

The members of the Complaints Committee are qualified professionals in the field of dispute resolution and human resources and they are not affiliated with any EDRi member organisation or the Board. You can find more details about who is part of the Complaints Committee further down below.

The Complaints Committee can be contacted by sending an email to: complaintscommittee [at] edri [dot] org

The Confidential Advisors

The role of the Confidential Advisors is to be the first point of contact for the Complaints Procedure informing the parties involved about the process. You can find more details about who are the Confidential Advisors further down below.

The Confidential Advisors can be contacted by sending an email to: confidentialadvisors [at] edri [dot] org

Scope and Procedure

Everyone has the right to lodge a Complaint about:

• EDRi’s external or internal communication;
• the behaviour, activities or conduct of Employees, Members and Volunteers of EDRi, when representing or interacting with EDRi (e.g. because the Complainant feels that they were treated unfairly, or that undesirable behaviour was suffered by them).

No complaints may be lodged against broad principles, policy objectives and directives as decided on by the General Assembly, or against strategy and work plans as approved by the Board, within the limits of EDRi’s statutory objective.

If you want more details about how the Complaints Procedure work, please reach out to the Confidential Advisors. 

Further details and composition

Complaints committee

Confidential Advisors