Code of Conduct
Team CommUNITY are committed to providing an inclusive, safe, and collaborative environment for all participants where individuals are treated with dignity and respect, and can be themselves.
We encourage all participants to approach any of our virtual or in-person events with open and positive attitudes, and to engage constructively with others at all times. In addition, please make an effort to speak clearly, avoid jargons and acronyms, and ask clarifying questions when needed.
The following code of conduct is a set of guidelines that ensures that behaviors that may harm participants are avoided.
It also helps us co-exist in a more positive way, and provides individuals who are victims of negative behaviors be supported by the organizers, who respect and stand behind the code of conduct.
We do not tolerate any kind of harassment, and will take action in response to harassment related to national origin, gender, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical characteristics, disability, religion, and age.
Unacceptable Behaviors
Examples of unacceptable behaviors include:
1. Verbal comments or actions that reinforce oppression related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, caste, or religion (or lack thereof);
2. Imitating or making fun of accents or grammatical errors, or giving unsolicited grammar corrections (but clarifying questions are fine); In addition, please do not assume experiences or beliefs.
3. Verbal threats or demands;
4. Sexualized images in public spaces;
5. Intimidation;
6. Stalking;
7. Harassing photography or recording;
8. Sustained disruption of sessions or events, or interruptions to conversation in a way that negatively impacts collaboration.;
9. Unwelcome sexual attention or harassment, which includes insinuation of a sexual nature, as well as displaying images, drawings or visual representations of any kind that objectify members of any gender or reinforce oppression. The only exception is if this is part of a session, workshop and/or educational experience where showing these images is educational in nature.
10. Violating the event’s policies or engaging in toxic behavior in order to attract negative attention to an attendee;
11. Enlisting the help of others, whether in person or online, in order to target or bully an attendee;
12. Intentional dismissal of an attendee’s gender identity, expression or sexual orientation in any form;
13. Advocating for or encouraging any of the above behavior.
Let someone leave a conversation that makes them uncomfortable, and do not bother people who asked to be left alone.
If you discuss difficult topics that may be traumatic for participants, provide warnings so people may leave a conversation or plan coping strategies.
Participants who are asked to stop harassing behaviors are expected to cease immediately. Depending on severity of harassment or repeat offenses, staff will respond appropriately, including but not limited to giving warnings or expulsion from the event.
We count on everyone - from partner organizations to individuals - to do their part to ensure positive experiences for all participants.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the organizing team immediately.
Safeguarding the Privacy of Meeting Participants
Unless otherwise noted, sessions are conducted under the Chatham House Rule: participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.
Participants have the freedom to use any names or alias they choose.
Participants are not required to have their webcams or microphones turned on during sessions.
Do not record or screen capture conversations: photography, video, audio or any other kind of recording is not allowed in any meeting spaces. Recording features are not enabled on our meeting platforms, unless explicitly noted. If recording is to take place, participants will be given advance notice so that they may opt out of meetings or sessions.
Practicing Responsible Data
For all-virtual events, we use a variety of services and tools to run our programming. The organizers use responsible data principles when considering the privacy, security and ethical implications of working with data. We take great consideration into the ways we are collecting, managing, using and deleting data. These additional guidelines govern how we work with data. For private or customized events, these guidelines may be adapted to the platform we are using.
We set high operational security standards for our team and organizing partners, providing support to all participants to meet these standards.
We practice data minimization by only collecting the data we need, and deleting it afterwards.
Registration data created on BigBlueButton or Zoom will be deleted in accordance with our data disposal schedule.
Upon discretion of the organizers and with partner organizations, some materials may be retained and shared: content that include brainstorming or ideation may be save and distributed.
When we collect data about people or organizations through any public mediums, we communicate clearly about that collection to allow for informed consent and an opt-in process.
Reporting Violations
Reports can be made confidentially through the following methods:
Email: ops@digitalrights.community
Wire: @teamcommunity
Signal: +1 331 213 2089
PGP: 647E 2FB9 B5CD 4B93 5873 9D32 A53F EA6B FDF2 B8EC
All reports are confidential. You will not be asked to take actions that make you feel unsafe.
The organizing staff will be happy to provide any support needed, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment.
This Code of Conduct may be shared and used in your own spaces or gatherings, with attribution.