GÉANT is dedicated to providing a positive and collaborative experience for all members of the GÉANT Community. Our aim is for participants to feel safe, supported and valued for their contributions.
The GÉANT Community Code of Conduct applies to all online and in-person meetings and events e.g. GÉANT project meetings, TNC etc., as well as any exchanges that take place within the mailing lists of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Task Forces (TFs). All members of the community, including users of a GÉANT online space or a member of a SIG or TF mailing list, have a responsibility to adhere to the GÉANT Community Code of Conduct.
Harassment
Everyone in the GÉANT Community is entitled to work in an environment free from harassment. Within this Code, harassment is defined as any unwanted physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for another. We will not tolerate harassment of any form within the GÉANT Community.
Types of harassment may include verbal comments related to age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, and religion, as well as behaviours such as viewing sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, unwanted and inappropriate photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
Spamming of mailing lists or excessive ongoing use of email to convey opinion, preferred processes, or particular products, is considered a form of harassment. Additionally, any situations that could result in a conflict of interest, such as an excessive expression of political views or advertisement of commercial offerings unrelated to the community should be avoided.
Language and tone
Be careful in the words you choose when speaking or writing. Remember that jokes or comments on things like sex, race, gender, sexual orientation, religious or other beliefs, age, physical ability, physical appearance, or other personal attributes, may be offensive to those around you even if they seem harmless to you. Excessive swearing and deliberately offensive jokes are never appropriate.
Sponsors, exhibitors and booths
Sponsors or exhibitors are also subject to the GÉANT Code of Conduct. In particular, exhibitors should not use sexualised images/material, or in any way create a sexualised environment within their booth.
Enforcement
We encourage anyone who feels that they have been subject to any form of harassment, or who have witnessed harassment themselves, to raise the issue or their concerns at the earliest opportunity. We have a clear process for reporting behaviour that violates this Code of Conduct. Action will be taken against any participant who engages in harassment of others.
Playing your part
It is our collective responsibility to create and maintain a safe and respectful community environment. This includes speaking out and supporting others if you witness behaviour that does not adhere to this Code of Conduct.
Process for Reporting a Breach of Code
We take breaches of the GÉANT Community Code of Conduct very seriously. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, you should contact the relevant person as detailed below:
- For a virtual/online event, contact the person who is listed as the “Host” in the meeting invitation via the private chat function.
- For an in-person meeting or event, contact anyone listed as “Event Staff” in the meeting or event invitation directly at the soonest possible opportunity e.g. coffee/lunch break.
- Where you are unsure of the contact person, or if they are involved in the behaviour or issue you are reporting, please contact Partner Relations.
The contact person and any other relevant persons will undertake any necessary investigation and, depending on the outcome, may arrange for any or all of the following steps to be taken:
- Ask the individual or individuals to stop the harassing behaviour.
- Arrange for the individual or individuals to be ejected from the meeting or event or refused entry.
- Contact the event or hotel security, or the local police.
- Arrange for anyone who feels threatened by someone else’s behaviour to be accompanied during the course of the event or meeting.
- Other reasonable actions, as are deemed appropriate for the circumstances.
If any participants are asked to curtail behaviours deemed as harassing to others, they must comply immediately. Anyone expelled from a meeting or event at any point will not be entitled to a refund. If participants feel that they have been unfairly treated due to accusations of harassing behaviour, they should contact Partner Relations.
In some situations, the person experiencing harassment may prefer to use their own organisation’s process for reporting harassment. In any case, we encourage anyone who experiences harassment within the GÉANT Community to tell their own line manager (and/or Human Resources (HR) representative) what has occurred. The line manager and HR should then follow-up to ensure that the appropriate policy within their own organisation is followed, and to provide individual support, as needed.
The contact person will also report all incidents to the CEO of their own organisation and a decision will be made on whether further steps should be taken, considering the confidentiality wishes of the person who experienced the harassment.
It is acknowledged that each organisation within the GÉANT Community, providers to the GÉANT Community or participants working in projects with Community members should have their own policy with regards to harassment. These organisations should also take steps to ensure all their employees and workers understand what harassment is and what actions they should take if they experience such behaviour.
Meeting and event organisers should raise awareness of the GÉANT Community Code of Conduct by ensuring that a link to the Code is included in any meeting invites and that a reminder of the Code is given at the start of each meeting or event.