Our Networks is dedicated to providing a harassment-free environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion or technical skill level.
In order to reduce obstacles to participation, we have adopted an explicitly-documented code to communicate our expectations for conduct at the event.
We expect event participants or organizers to remain mindful of, and take responsibility for, their speech and behavior. This includes:
- acting out of respect for others
- actively listening to others and not dominating discussions
- respecting physical and emotional boundaries
We do not tolerate harassment of event participants or organizers in any form. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, technical skill level
- deliberate intimidation, stalking, following
- harassing photography or recording
- sustained disruption of talks or other events
- inappropriate physical contact
- unwelcome sexual attention and sexual language
- advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or asked to leave, at the discretion of the organizers.
This Code of Conduct applies both at the event and in public spaces when an individual is representing Our Networks.
At events, Our Networks organizers will identify themselves and any incidents can be reported to them directly. Event organizers will be happy to help participants by providing escorts, contacting local law enforcement (only if appropriate and requested), or otherwise assisting those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of an event. We value your participation.
If a participant engages in harassing behaviour, the organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from events and online forums.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact an organizer immediately.
Those who wish to report a violation but don't feel comfortable talking to the organizers online or at an event can email coc@ournetworks.ca, which is currently monitored by Benedict Lau, and will be monitored during the event on an active basis.
Our internal guidelines for enforcing our Code of Conduct are viewable online.
These are adapted from the Toronto Mesh Code of Conduct, which in turn was based on the anti-harassment policy from the Geek Feminism Wiki and draws inspiration from No more rock stars: how to stop abuse in tech communities. The section about expected behaviour is adapted from the Gamma Space Code of Conduct.
- adopted the Toronto Mesh Code of Conduct for our January 14, 2017 event
- adopted by consensus a conference-specific Code of Conduct on March 31, 2018
- revised by consensus how we handle sexual imagery on August 24, 2019
The Code of Conduct language is in our 2019 organizing repository and on our website at ournetworks.ca/code-of-conduct/.
Enforcement guidelines are established in the Code of Conduct, with additional details provided below.
(The following is included from geekfeminism.wikia.com)
If someone reports harassment, ask for a written account of what happened. This should be kept confidential to as small a group as reasonably possible, and potentially anonymised by the receiving person before distribution to the closed group. If organizers receive a verbal report, they should themselves write down what they were told as soon as they can.
If the following information is not volunteered in a report, ask for it/include it, but do not pressure anyone:
- identifying information (name/badge number) of the participant doing the harassing
- the behavior that was in violation
- the approximate time of the behavior (if different than the time the report was made)
- the circumstances surrounding the incident
- other people involved in the incident
Our coc@ournetworks.ca is monitored by an individual on a rotating basis, new monitors will be determined at a planning meeting once per year.
The following will be in place at the event to handle reports:
- dedicated Code of Conduct lead at event who monitors the coc@ email and ensures we follow the reporting handling process in a timely fashion
- encrypted chat for organizers
- daily debrief for organizers to discuss Code of Conduct incidents
- orientation for volunteers about handling Code of Conduct
- resource with enforcement guidelines and local contact numbers
The process for handling reports is roughly:
- take initial response to harassment report
- communicate with the alleged harasser about the complaint
- have a meeting to discuss:
- what happened?
- are we doing anything about it?
- who is doing those things?
- when are they doing them?
- communicate with the harasser about the response
Resources to support each step are drawn from: