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APC principles of participation

The following principles and practices of participation are intended as concrete steps and good practices towards co-creation of safe spaces and welcoming and caring experiences.

Principles and practices of participation

Nurturing an environment where all people feel seen, heard and have their experiences acknowledged contributes to a work dynamic that welcomes shared learning, intersectional conversations, mutual support and creative collaboration. Here are our principles and practices of participation that we value and apply in our events:

  • Create a welcoming, safer and more accessible space for all participants.
  • Acknowledge and value different histories, diverse identities, lived experiences and the knowledge that everyone offers and brings into the shared space.
  • Ensure that consent, privacy and confidentiality are non-negotiable and unconditional as a baseline of trust.
  • Handle disagreement constructively and non-violently.
  • Practice zero tolerance on disrespect, harassment and violence in any form.
  • Embed politics and practice of self and collective care.
  • Take a collaborative, open and participatory approach.
  • Be mindful of language, access layers and context diversity, and be supportive of self-expression to the extent of the autonomy and pace of each person.
  • Self-reflect and recognise the spectrum of power and different participation privileges (including lack thereof) in terms of situational capacities and structural inequality, including context, access, language, gender, different accessibility needs, public speaking/participation skills, etc.
  • Be willing to de-centre perspectives and always listen to each other with an open mind and heart.
  • Extend compassion and kindness to everyone in shared spaces.
  • Attribute and give credit to previous projects, sources, contributions and also the investment from everyone in the shared space.
  • Adjust participation pace to individual needs, and reach out if support is needed at any point.

We invite you to also consult the APC Code of Conduct and Sexual Harassment Policy.