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Our principles
Youth Observatory believes that the participation of youths in the internet governance space should be done in safe spaces, online and offline. We strive to treat people with dignity, decency, and respect, and to build a community for everyone, free of intimidation, discrimination, or hostility — regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, nationality, origin, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, or physical appearance. We do not tolerate harassment in any form.
This Code of Conduct embodies our commitment to uphold these principles and outlines our expectations and our response. We also hope that this policy will promote values of dignity, decency, and respect, and will enable each of us to contribute to a safe and inclusive shared space.
All members and prospective members of the Youth Observatory community are expected to read, understand and abide by this Code of Conduct. Anyone who is found to have violated this policy may be sanctioned or asked to leave Youth Observatory spaces as a result.
We believe that it takes courage to report cases of harassment, and we salute that courage. We also understand that members at risk, including victims of harassment, often are in a less privileged position than the person conducting the harassment, and face more barriers to speaking out, including social stigma. We commit to continually improving our support for survivors and efforts to prevent future harms.
Please reach out to us at our official communication channels for any questions or feedback you may have about our Code of Conduct.
This policy is effective as of April 26th, 2020. Youth Observatory reserves the right to update this policy, and any update will need to be approved by our Assembly to become valid.
What represents a violation of the Code of Conduct?
Youth Observatory prohibits harassment, including sexual harassment, of any kind. Harassment is any verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct designed to threaten, intimidate, silence, or coerce. Harassment includes but is not limited to:
*Offensive or unwelcome comments, including epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, and discriminatory remarks disguised as humour, based on gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, or physical appearance;
*Distribution, display, or discussion of written (digital) or graphic material that ridicules, insults, or shows hostility or disrespect toward an individual or group because of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, or physical appearance;
*Deliberate and malicious disclosure of personal and sensitive information of any aspect of a person’s identity, physical or mental health without their consent ;
*Deliberate misgendering or malicious use of wrong names;
*Intimidation or silencing, including sustained and deliberate disruption of discussion; mansplaining
*Threats of violence or incitement of violence, including encouraging a person to commit suicide or to engage in self-harm;
*Stalking or following, including repeated one-on-one communication despite requests to cease, unwanted photography or recordings(including audio or video of any kind), and tracking and logging online activity without consent;
*Failure to safeguard confidential or privately shared information, including publication of private communication without consent;
*Unwelcome sexual attention, including innuendoes, suggestive comments, jokes of a sexual nature, sexual propositions, lewd remarks and obscene gestures, and requests for sexual favours (including repeated and unwelcome requests for dates);
*Distribution, display, or discussion of any sexually suggestive written or graphic material, including emails, videos voice notes, photos, text messages, and tweets, that are gratuitous, off-topic, or show hostility or disrespect toward an individual or group;
*Unwelcome physical contact including inappropriate touching, tickling, pinching, petting, brushing up against, hugging, cornering, kissing, fondling, and forced sexual intercourse or assault, etc..
*Attempts at intimidation, retaliation or retribution to someone who has:
-Filed or responded to a report of discrimination or harassment.
-Appeared as a witness in the processing of a report.
-Served as a coordinator of a report.
*Encourage, support or assist violations of the values enshrined in this Code of Conduct.
When and where does the Code of Conduct apply?
This Code of Conduct applies to protect the self-development and dignity of our members in all Youth Observatory communication channels, commissions, websites, mailing lists, social media platforms, coalitions, online and on-site events, and any other forums that Youth Observatory hosts, both online and offline.
Youth Observatory’s Discipline Commission makes decisions on the basis of reported behaviour taking place at Youth Observatory spaces — or beyond — that violates the values enshrined in our Code of Conduct.
How to contact us about a violation
If you are being harassed by a participant or member of the Youth Observatory community, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have concerns about other conduct, please contact us as soon as possible. Youth Observatory has designated volunteers from the Discipline Commission who are in charge of receiving reports and has established procedure for handling incidents of any violation of the code of conduct.
- Contact us in person
You can reach out to anyone of the volunteers from the Discipline Commission. We will work to ensure your safety, privacy, and the confidentiality of the report itself and the information that you are sharing.
- Contact us using an online form
You also have the option of sharing information via an online form. What you share will be received by Youth Observatory’s Discipline Commission
- Contact us anonymously
You can do this by using the Tor Browser to submit to the online form.
In each of these cases, you have the option of providing your contact information if you would like to be available for further follow-up or to be kept informed of any actions that have been taken.
We understand that talking about an incident that you experienced or witnessed can be upsetting. We will make every effort to respond with sensitivity and respect, and we encourage you to share the information in any way that makes you feel comfortable, including bringing someone along to support you when you contact us. You will not be asked to confront others or engage in the response process for a violation of the Code of Conduct, unless you consent to.
How we respond to information about violations
We work to stabilize the situation
As soon as we get information about a possible violation of the Code of Conduct, we will immediately take any steps necessary to ensure the safety of the reporting individual/survivor(s), and of the community, which may include:
- Asking the object of the report to leave the event or session under the responsibility of the organization;
- Taking the survivor(s) to a safe location;
- Calling law enforcement, medical services, and other emergency services.
We initiate a response process
After stabilizing the situation, and as soon as possible, the Head of Discipline Commission will start a Response Process, which will be undertaken by a Temporary Disciplinary Commission, according to Art. 33 of our Statutes, made up of at least 3 (three) people:
- The Head of Discipline Commission
- A member of our Directing Council
- A member who is part of the Discipline Commission or a voluntary member summoned in an open call by the Head of Discipline Commission
According to each reported case and if deemed necessary by the Head of Discipline Commission, more than 3 (three) people may be summoned to take part in the Temporary Disciplinary Commission. However, it is mandatory that the Temporary Disciplinary Commission is made up of an odd number of members. In all cases, if the Head of Discipline Commission is, by a conflict of interest or any other reason, prevented from taking part in or calling the Temporary Commission, their responsibilities will be fulfilled by any member of our Directing Council. In all cases, if a member believes that there is a conflict of interest in a member of the Temporary Disciplinary Commission, they may report it directly to the President or Vice-President.
The Temporary Disciplinary Commission will start a documented Response Process by:
- Summarizing in detail the reported case
- Calling the people involved in the situation to testify about it. Questions may be made to clarify the situation. All testimonials will be documented, preferably by email messages which will be registered in digital files.
- Listening with equal attention and responsibility to every person involved in the situation, including the object of the report and possible witnesses. No prior judgment should be made since the work of the commission is to gather testimony on the case so that then take a decision on it.
We determine what action is needed, including remedy
After carefully considering factors such as the content, nature, and threat level of the incident, and evaluating the available information, the Temporary Disciplinary Commission will determine a course of action, including deciding whether and which remedy(ies) is(are) appropriate.
Remedies may be applied independently or cumulatively, and are divided according to the seriousness of the incident (Art. 59):
*Minor infringement
**Members:
- Formal warning
- Banning from specific projects (particularly if the situation happened while a project was undertaking)
- Temporary suspension (6 months) of membership and/or personal funding, such as fellowships granted to members
- After 5 (five) minor infringements: actions on serious infringement are applicable
- After 5 (five) minor infringements (Art. 45): if the member holds a position on the Board of Directors, permanent loss of mandate and permanent denying of future applications
**Non members:
- Formal warning
- Temporary banning (6 months) from attending events or taking part in projects under the responsibility of the organization
- Temporary denying (6 months) of future membership requests
*Serious infringement
**Members:
- Temporary suspension (1 year) of membership and/or personal funding, such as fellowships granted to members
- After 2 (two) serious infringements (Art. 45): actions on very serious infringement are applicable.
**Non members:
- Temporary banning (1 or 2 years) from attending events or taking part in projects under the responsibility of the organization
- Temporary denying (1 or 2 years) of future membership requests
*Very serious infringement
**Members:
- Permanent suspension of personal funding, such as fellowships granted to members
- If the member holds a position on the Board of Directors: permanent loss of mandate and permanent denying of future applications.
- Permanent expulsion from the organization
- Permanent banning from attending events or taking part in projects under the responsibility of the organization
**Non members:
- Permanent banning from attending events or taking part in projects under the responsibility of the organization
- Permanent denying of future membership requests
In any case, if the incident reported is subject to law enforcement, the Temporary Disciplinary Commission will take all possible actions to support the victim(s) (what measure is put in place to discourage false report when anonymousity is promised as some can use this loophole to report a person who is innocent of the offence and claim anonymousity to prevent meeting such individual in person)in reporting it to local or international authorities. If a remedy or the timing of it puts the safety and confidentiality of the reporting individual(s)/survivor(s) at risk, our team will take that into consideration and prioritize preventing further harm.
According to Art. 57 and 59 of our Statutes, the Temporary Disciplinary Commission is the first and last instance of disciplinary proceedings and holds the power to interpret reports and apply sanctions.
Who are the volunteers from the Discipline Commision?
Members from the Discipline commission volunteer to be part of this group. Our Head of Discipline Commission serves as the point-of-contact for communications and follow-up, working with the other members of the commission to reach resolution of an incident. In addition, the Head may also consult with members of Youth Observatory’s Directing Council if that is necessary for resolution. If anyone responding to an incident is involved in the incident of abuse or harassment — or we identify any other conflict of interest — that team member will be recused from handling the incident.
At times, the Discipline Commission may consult with our trusted support network of survivors and experts on how best to handle and resolve difficult cases. In such an instance, we will only share information that is necessary for appropriate guidance, and strictly uphold the confidentiality of the reporting individual and survivor(s), and the privacy of the individuals involved.
Confidentiality
For the purpose of protecting survivors of harassment, Youth Observatory will not name survivors without their affirmative consent.
During and after the report handling process, Youth Observatory and those involved will protect the confidentiality of the information we receive, the privacy of the individuals involved, and the wishes of the reporting individual insofar as is legally possible, and as is compatible with the safe implementation of the chosen remedy and protection of the community.
In addition, any notes or documents written by or received by the person(s) conducting the report handling process will be kept confidential to the extent possible and according to any applicable existing state or federal law.
In case the confidentiality of the survivors is broken without their consent and by intentional action of one of the members of the Directive Council, Discipline Commission or anyone who has been involved in the process of handling a report of code of conduct violation, the responsible(s) will be subject to the sanctions due in cases of serious infringement.
Following our Statutes (Art. 58), reported cases may be reviewed publicly by our Assembly if the reporting individual/survivor(s) involved in the situation asks for that. If not, cases will be treated confidentially. Response Processes will be archived digitally and will be available only to the Directing Council and the Discipline Commission.
Exceptions
The exceptions of the Code of Conduct violation are: Presentation or discussion of graphic content related to sexuality or sexual activity, including pornography, is permissible if it meets all of the following criteria:
- it is necessary to the topic of discussion and no alternative exists and
- it is presented in a respectful manner, especially towards minorities and at-risk communities.
Specifically for the display of pornography, the following additional criteria must be met:
- Youth Observatory’s Directing Council has specifically granted permission in writing and
- attendees are respectfully given ample warning and opportunity at the beginning of the session to leave beforehand.
- The content displayed is exclusively used for the purposes previously designed and allowed by the Directive Council.
This policy is effective as of April 26th, 2020. Youth Observatory reserves the right to update this policy, and any update will need to be approved by our Assembly to become valid.