The World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) is a not-for-profit organization for scientists actively involved in advancement of veterinary protozoology, helminthology, and ectoparasitology all over the world.  In line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5, 10 and 16  (https://sdgs.un.org/goals) and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, WAAVP embraces Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) as core values that are integral to its proper function. Therefore, the organization acknowledges that achieving its mandate requires a gender-balanced, diverse, and inclusive membership and workforce in which the dignity of each member is respected to the utmost and where members are free from any form of discrimination or abuse. The WAAVP is committed to ensuring EDI among its membership and in all its activities, as well as eliminating all forms of discrimination, exclusion, disrespect, and unfair treatment in all its operations and undertakings. Our membership and workforce are diverse and inclusive and embrace scientists from all sections of society irrespective of their race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, cultural, sex and sexual orientation/gender identification, or disabilities.

The purpose of the WAAVP policy on EDI is to:

• Provide, promote, and ensure equity, inclusivity, fairness, and respect for all its membership and workforce and in all its undertakings, directly contributing to achievement of SDGs 5, 10 and 16.
• Protect and uphold the International Bill of Human Rights, discouraging and eliminating and unlawful discrimination or unfair treatment due to characteristics such as age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation/gender identification.
• Afford equal opportunities to all members and fair hearing to all accused persons when dealing with grievances, discipline, suspension, or dismissal from membership due to contravention of the association’s policies.

Expectation of the organization itself

The WAAVP is in its essence an organization devoted to the practice and application of science. It is open to members from any country or region who embrace and agree to uphold its principles and policies as a science-centered organization. WAAVP shall therefore ensure that no barrier will be imposed to membership of an individual, including full participation in its various activities and in its leadership positions, on the basis ofnational origin, cultural or religious identity, race, sex, gender identity, or physical ability (including mobility and sensory challenges). Furthermore, all individuals who are members of WAAVP or are affiliated with the organization are entitled to the full respect of other members without exception with regard to any of these characteristics. Individuals who cannot abide by this policy are asked not to join the organization, and will be asked to resign from it if they are unwilling to respect the full rights and benefits granted by the organization to all members. Finally, recognizing that financial resources are not distributed equally on a global or regional scale to all members, the WAAVP will, whenever financially possible, endeavor to support costs of membership for individuals for whom this is an undue burden, will explore sponsorship opportunities, and engage in efforts to provide or supplement funding to offset costs of attending the conference in person to promote equity, diversity and inclusion.

Therefore, WAAVP commits to:

• Promote and encourage EDI in its membership and in all its activities and undertakings.
• Uphold and provide an interactive engagement environment free of bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination, promoting dignity and respect for all, and where individual differences and the contributions of all members and staff are recognised and valued. This commitment includes sharing with its membership and training its employees about their rights and responsibilities under the EDI policy. WAAVP leadership will lead and help the organisation observe these core values.
• Regularly communicate to its leadership and membership the EDI policy to make it clear that acts of bullying, harassment, victimisation, and unlawful discrimination are unacceptable in the course of their engagement with the association during its work activities or undertakings.
• Treat seriously complaints of bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination by members, workers, suppliers, partners, and any others during the organisation’s work activities.
• Treat seriously allegations of sexual harassment, which may amount to both an employment rights matter and a criminal offence. WAAVP will not be held liable for such offences committed by individuals, and all members accused of such will take sole responsibility, including legal representation, for such offences.
• Monitor information related to equity, diversity and inclusion, including age, sex, ethnic background, sexual orientation/gender identity, religion or belief, and disability, for membership, conference organizers and workers, and partners to help meet the commitments set out in the EDI policy. Monitoring will include assessment of how the EDI policy and any supporting action plans are working in practice, review them annually, and propose actions to address shortcomings and problems.

Review the organization’s membership practices, procedures, rules and regulations when necessary to ensure adherence to the EDI policy, and update the policy according to international trends and changes as they occur.

WAAVP Conferences

Expectations of members in attendance at the cconference

While the WAAVP has no intention of regulating personal beliefs, members who choose to attend a WAAVP-sponsored conference must refrain from engaging in actions, speech or writing that harass, demean, degrade or discriminate against another member, conference worker or guest on the basis of national origin, cultural or religious identity, race, sex, sexual orientiation/gender identity, or physical ability (including mobility and sensory challenges). Individuals who do not accord full respect to all other members may be denied future membership in the organization, and may be barred from registering for or attending future conferences, as determined by the WAAVP.

Expectations of the conference organization

Organizing committees proposing bids to host the biennial WAAVP conference agree to uphold the EDI principles and policies of the WAAVP and to ensure respect for all members who wish to attend the conference. The conference site and any affiliated sites must provide full barrier-free access for all members, regardless of mobility or sensory challenges, to all conference rooms, food and refreshment areas, and bathrooms. Transportation options from hotels in the area to the conference site must include accessibility for all members. Childcare facilities in the immediate area of the conference facility must be available in adequate number to enable attendance by members who travel with children. The organizing committee must ensure that no member in attendance will be harassed, demeaned, degraded or discriminated against on the basis of national origin, cultural or religious identity, race, sex, sexual orientation/gender identity, or physical ability (including mobility and sensory challenges) in the community in which the conference is held. Failure to provide and maintain an environment in which all members are respected and accommodated may result in denial of future bids to host a WAAVP conference from the local organizing committee.

Sponsors wishing to support a WAAVP conference must adhere to the WAAVP EDI policy. Potential sponsors who cannot agree to this policy are asked not to support the organization. Exhibitors who wish to participate in a WAAVP conference must agree to adhere to the EDI policy, and may be asked to remove their materials should they be found in non-compliance.

Expectations of the host country

Countries that wish to host a WAAVP conference must be these where no member will be denied attendance without due cause, that visa requirements for attendees will be reasonable and transparent, and that no member will be persecuted on the basis of national origin, cultural or religious identity, race, sex, sexual orientation/gender identity, or physical ability (including mobility and sensory challenges) while attending or in transit to the conference. Inability to adhere to this policy will disqualify a bid to host the conference. If violations become apparent after award of the bid or during the conference, the host country will be disqualified from submitting future bids until and unless adequate guarantees of adherence can be validated.