WomenTech Network is dedicated to a safe, inclusive, welcoming, and harassment-free conference experience for everyone. All attendees, speakers, trainers, sponsors, volunteers, vendors, and event staff are required to abide by the WomenTech Code of conduct at our conferences, in our Slack channels, at social or other events hosted or sponsored by WomenTech Network sponsors.
 

Need help?

If you have a harassment concern, notify the event staff or contact us at [email protected]

If you need help resolving a conflict, contact our Community Working Group: [email protected]
 

Code of conduct

The Women in Tech Global Conference is an event that brings together a community of professionals from around the world. Our community is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, welcoming, professional, harassment-free conference experience for everyone regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion and any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held. The WomenTech Code of conduct ensures we collectively create this kind of experience. This document expresses the behaviors we expect at WomenTech events, what is unacceptable behavior, how we address unacceptable behavior, and how to ask for help if needed. All participants, including attendees, organizers, speakers, trainers, sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, volunteers, and event staff at WomenTech Network are required to abide by the WomenTech Network Code of conduct. Event staff and their designated representatives will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everyone.
 

Expected behavior

All event participants are expected to behave in accordance with professional standards, the WomenTech Network Code of conduct, applicable laws, and to the extent not contrary to the above, their respective employer's policies governing appropriate workplace behavior.
 

We are considerate

WomenTech Network is an international community that attracts diverse people from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. We acknowledge that cross-cultural communication can often be complicated and encourage everyone to consider the impact of their words and actions on those with different backgrounds and experiences.
 

We are welcoming

One of the greatest strengths of the WomenTech Network community is our inclusiveness. Making all participants feel welcome and included at WomenTech Network is everyone’s job.
 

We are respectful

All participants should strive to treat each other with dignity and respect, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion and any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held.
 

We are collaborative

If and when misunderstandings occur, we encourage people to work things out between themselves where this is practical. Where support is beneficial to achieve this, participants agree to ask for help. People are encouraged to take responsibility for their words and actions and listen to constructively-presented criticism with an open mind, courtesy, and respect. If people do not feel feel able to work out an issue between themselves, they are encouraged to seek advice of a third party to help mediate.

To get help mediating you may contact the WomenTech Network Community Working Group at [email protected] or with an online incident report.
 

We lead by example

Anyone who represents the project, officially, informally, or otherwise, is a leader in our community. At WomenTech Network, leadership roles include, but are not limited to Program team / Track Chairs, Speakers, Summit Leads, Trainers, local organizers, Selection Committees, Social Media Leads, Q&A moderator, Photography Team Leads, Sprint leads, and Mentors. Leadership is not an award, right or title; it is a privilege, a responsibility, and a mandate. As leaders, they must act responsible and set a good example towards other attendees while representing the WomenTech Network community.
 

Unacceptable behavior

We do not tolerate unacceptable behavior or any form of harassment and keep our conference a harassment-free zone for our attendees. Harassment will not be tolerated in any form, including but not limited to harassment based on gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion or any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held. Any report of harassment at WomenTech Network will be addressed immediately. Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to:

  • Verbal comments or imagery that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion and any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held.
  • Unwelcome comments regarding a person’s lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, parenting, drugs, and employment.
  • Abusive, offensive, or degrading language or imagery.
  • Language or imagery that encourages, glorifies, incites, or calls for violence, emotional, or physical harm against an individual or a group of people.
  • Intimidation, stalking, or following.
  • Harassing photography or recording.
  • Sexual imagery. At a minimum, no images containing nudity or expressions of sexual relationships that might be deemed inappropriate for a business environment should be used. In addition, participants should consider local societal customs of the hosting country when deciding what is deemed appropriate for a business environment.
  • Sustained disruption of talks or other events.
  • Unwelcome sexual attention or advances or physical contact.
  • Abuse of our communication tools. This can be annoying others with too many messages or connection requests or as serious as deliberately trying to spam others for personal or commercial gain.
  • Intentionally hurtful or disruptive behavior or language.
  • Buying, Selling, Sharing  accounts, or giving away or receiving an account.
  • Staff or member impersonation.
  • Phishing other members' accounts.
  • Refund abuse.
  • Knowingly exploiting a bug.
  • Exploiting our competitions, rewards, awards or incentive programs using automated tools or applying manual spamming methodologies (eg. opening the same or similar content many times with the purpose of gaining points, an advantage or a benefit.
  • Encouraging others to break the rules.
  • Asking for or providing personal contact information.
  • Misuse of in-event chat for Advertising, Spamming & Scamming.
  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

No weapons of any kind or illegal drugs are permitted at WomenTech Network venues.

Sponsors and Exhibitors should not use sexualized images, activities, or other material. Booth staff, including volunteers, should not wear sexualized clothing/uniform/costume, or otherwise create a sexualized environment. Speakers should not use sexual language, images, or anything that would constitute harassment as defined above in their presentations. Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Speakers must abide by the terms in their agreements with WomenTech Network.
 

Consequences of unacceptable behavior

Unacceptable behavior from any WomenTech Network participant or member will not be tolerated. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, WomenTech Network staff and designated representatives may take any of the following actions they deem appropriate, up to and including a temporary ban or permanent expulsion from the community or event without warning and without refund. These actions may include, but are not limited to:

  • A warning to cease their behavior and that any further reports will result in further actions.
  • Removal from the WomenTech Network community and/or event, with no refund.
  • Not being allowed to attend future WomenTech Network events, including local events, for a period of time or indefinitely.
  • Disqualification from any contests, awards or other incentive programs.
  • Reporting behavior to the applicable authorities.
     

What to do if you witness or are subject to unacceptable behavior

If you feel threatened or violated as a result of intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory or demeaning conduct, please immediately notify an event staff member or contact us at [email protected]. Likewise, please immediately notify an event staff member if you notice that someone else is being subjected to such behavior.

Emails to the [email protected] address will be received and processed by our team.
 

We’re all in this together

We have an amazing community and this document is designed to continue and strengthen our ability to safeguard and foster our members wellness and encourage the community’s growth in a safe, productive and welcoming place by providing clarity and expectations around our members' behavior and responsibilities. Parts of this Code of conduct are derived from best practices used in other open source projects’ Codes of conduct, including:

  • Linux Foundation
  • Ubuntu OS Feels
  • Ada Initiative
  • Geek Feminism
  • DrupalCon & Drupal Europe
  • WomenTech Network

This code of conduct is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) and is available for others to use and adapt for their own events. (Please add a link to our website for reference)