Re: [guadec-list] anti-harassment policy

[Marina Zhurakhinskaya <marinazik gmail com>]

On Sat, Jul 5, 2014 at 11:43 AM, Christophe Fergeau <cfergeau gmail com> wrote:
> Hey Marina,
>
> Thanks for coming up with this detailed policy.
>
> On Sat, Jul 05, 2014 at 01:08:07AM -0400, Marina Zhurakhinskaya wrote:
> > Having a specific and actionable anti-harassment policy is important
> > for making the conference a safer space for everyone.
>
> Fwiw, I disagree with the wording, especially the "specific and
> actionable" and "safer for everyone".

Specific policy spells out behaviors of common concern and lets people
know these are not acceptable at the conference. Actionable means that
people enforcing the policy know what to do if a violation occurs.
These both have to be clear ahead of time to minimize the uncertainty
during the event. The policy makes the event a safer space for
everyone because it helps people understand what are unacceptable
behaviors, so that they avoid them, and also provides support
structures to the victims in terms of knowing who to talk to and
knowing that organizers will help ensure the harassment stops if it
does occur.

> > Below, I adapted the anti-harassment policy and enforcement guidelines
> > from
> > http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Conference_anti-harassment/Policy
> > for GUADEC. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for further
> > modifications.
> >
> > Alexandre, could you please provide any available local numbers for
> > law enforcement, sexual assault hot line, emergency and non-emergency
> > medical, and a taxi company.
>
> I'm not sure these local hot lines (if they exist) will be able to deal
> with English speakers (to be checked).

We can say that this resource (if one exists) is only available in French.

> > I can be a female contact for reporting
> > harassment, however, I won't have a phone working locally and do not
> > speak French, so someone local would be better.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Marina
> >
> > ------------------------
> >
> > Short version for the registration form:
> >
> > GUADEC is dedicated to a harassment-free conference experience for
> > everyone. Please familiarize yourself with our anti-harassment policy
> > and confirm that you agree to abide by it.
> >
> > ------------------------
> >
> > Short version for the front page:
> >
> > GUADEC is dedicated to a harassment-free conference experience for
> > everyone. Please familiarize yourself with our anti-harassment policy.
>
> I still prefer FOSDEM's version when we want something short (though I
> don't like 'jerk'). Something longer and more official sounding can have
> a chilling effect on well-meaning people, especially new contributors.

New contributors come from a variety of backgrounds, and it's both
good to set the expectations about what is the acceptable behavior and
let people know who they can talk to if they encounter any behavior
that makes them uncomfortable. We could possibly have an introduction
paragraph like this:

"GUADEC is a welcoming and friendly event, during which GNOME
contributors often become friends and make resolves to come to the
next one. The behaviors outlined in this policy do not commonly
happen, but are spelled out to help ensure all attendees have the same
expectation of a safe and friendly environment."

> > ------------------------
> >
> > Anti-harassment policy:
> >
> > GUADEC is dedicated to a harassment-free conference experience for
> > everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual
> > orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or
> > religion. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in
> > any form.
>
> > Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any
> > conference venue, including talks.
>
> I understand we don't want sexual imagery in talks, however this
> sentence is not really related to harassment imo.

Sexual language and imagery create a sexualized environment, which is
uncomfortable to some people and can make other harassing behavior
seem permissible. The word harassment in the name of the policy is
used here in a broad sense to include the actions that can make
someone uncomfortable, but are not directed towards anyone in
particular.

> > Conference participants violating
> > these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference without
> > a refund at the discretion of the conference organizers.
> >
> > Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender,
> > gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability,
> > physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, sexual images in
> > public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing
> > photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other
> > events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual
> > attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are
> > expected to comply immediately.
> >
> > Exhibitors in the sponsor exhibit space are also subject to the
> > anti-harassment policy.
>
> > In particular, exhibitors should not use
> > sexualized images, activities, or other material.
>
> Same feeling/comment about this sentence.
>
> The rest of the text seems good to me, longer though still very
> official, and potentially scary ("may I get in trouble if I make this
> not politically correct joke to this person I've started to know a bit
> better since the beginning of GUADEC? let's be safe and boring, just in
> case").

Making jokes that are funny at the expense of other people and seeing
whether your new friends find them funny or offensive is in fact not a
good idea.

We can make the sentence about consequences more clear in the policy,
as following:

"If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference
organizers may issue a warning for an unintentional or minor offence
or expel the participant from the conference with no refund for repeat
or serious offence."

I realized that we should also make it more clear who are the
conference organizers who can handle situations that violate the
anti-harassment policy. Should it be all the people on the GUADEC team
listed at https://wiki.gnome.org/GUADEC/2014/Team ?

The updated policy with all the above changes and some parts condensed
can then read:

----------------------------

Anti-harassment policy:

GUADEC is a welcoming and friendly event, during which GNOME
contributors often become friends and make resolves to come to the
next one. The behaviors outlined in this policy do not commonly
happen, but are spelled out to help ensure all attendees have the same
expectation of a safe and friendly environment.

GUADEC is dedicated to a harassment-free conference experience for
everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual
orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or
religion. Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to any
of these qualities, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate
intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording,
sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical
contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. We do not tolerate harassment
of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is
not appropriate for any conference venue, including talks.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to
comply immediately.

Exhibitors in the sponsor exhibit space are also subject to the
anti-harassment policy. In particular, exhibitors should not use
sexualized images, activities, or other material.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference
organizers may issue a warning for an unintentional or minor offence
or expel the participant from the conference with no refund for repeat
or serious offence. If you are being harassed, notice that someone
else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please immediately
contact Alexandre Franke, Marina Zhurakhinskaya, anyone on the GUADEC
organizing team, or anyone on the GNOME board of directors. These
people will be introduced at the opening for the conference and
conference volunteers will be able to help you identify one of them.

Conference organizers and the GNOME Foundation directors will be able
to address the harassing behavior with the offender, provide escorts,
contact local law enforcement, or otherwise assist those experiencing
harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value
your attendance.

We expect participants to follow these rules at all conference venues
and conference-related social events.

Countact information:
    Alexandre Franke phone, e-mail
    Marina Zhurakhinskaya e-mail
    [Local law enforcement]
    [Local sexual assault hot line]
    [Local emergency and non-emergency medical (e.g., urgent care, day clinic)]
    [Local taxi company]

----------------------------

> Christophe

Thanks,
Marina