International Accountability Project – Code Of Conduct

Our Principles

The International Accountability Project (IAP) is committed to creating and protecting safe and inclusive spaces for people, online and off. We strive to treat people with dignity, decency, and respect, and to build a community for everyone, free of intimidation, discrimination, bullying or hostility — regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, nationality, origin, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, or physical appearance. We do not tolerate or condone harassment of any form.

This updated policy is effective as of 01 January 2022. IAP reserves the right to update this policy, and will strive to notify all affected stakeholders of any changes. Translate this text with ‘Select Language’ above.

Scope

This Code of Conduct applies to the International Accountability Project Community, which includes all employees, interns, volunteers, consultants, contractors, allies, partners and participants with the International Accountability Project in all International Accountability Project hosted work settings, events and spaces, including websites, mailing lists, social media platforms, coalitions, telephone conferences, and convenings and any other fora, both online and off. The Code of Conduct is available on the International Accountability Project website. The International Accountability Project Code of Conduct will be distributed before major events hosted by the organization.

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 environment that is aligned with our organizational principles to confront and challenge structures of oppression and exploitation

The International Accountability Project Community is expected to understand and abide by this Code of Conduct. Anyone who is found to have violated this policy may be sanctioned or asked to leave the International Accountability Project Community as a result.

IAP believes that it takes courage to report cases of harassment, and we salute that courage. We also understand that those at risk, including victims of harassment, often are in a less privileged position than the person conducting the harassment, and therefore, face more barriers to speaking out, including social stigma. IAP commits to continually improving our support and efforts to prevent future harms.

IAP commits to:

• ensuring that this Code of Conduct, including how to report concerns or incidents, is disseminated and accessible to all members, allies and partners, including being sent to participants in advance and/or discussed at the outset of IAP events, as well as complemented by related and periodic capacity building for staff and Board;
• taking concerns or allegations of harassment, discrimination or abuse seriously, with at least two members of the Code of Conduct team reviewing any complaint;
• listening to, trusting and centering individuals subject to harassment or abuse;
• welcoming involvement of those subject to harassment, discrimination or abuse in shaping any proposed remedy;
• maintaining confidentiality and privacy to the extent possible;
•  avoiding invitations to IAP spaces or active partnerships with individuals who have previously violated this Code (and not undergone an agreed reintegration process), or who face related allegations in another context, posing a risk to the safety or wellbeing of individuals; and ensuring training for the Code of Conduct team.

Please reach out to us at conduct (@) accountabilityproject.org for any questions or feedback you may have about our Code of Conduct. If you would like to send an encrypted email for secure communication, download below the PGP public key of this email address. Your communications will be kept confidential.

What represents a violation of the Code of Conduct?

The International Accountability Project prohibits harassment, including sexual harassment, of any kind. Harassment is any verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct designed to threaten, intimidate, silence, or coerce. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

• Offensive or unwelcome comments, including slurs, negative stereotyping, and discriminatory remarks disguised as humor, based social status, on gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, national or regional origin, age, disability, or physical appearance;
• Distribution, display, or discussion of written or graphic material that ridicules, insults, or shows hostility or disrespect toward an individual or group because of social status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, national/regional origin, age, disability, or physical appearance;
• Deliberate disclosure or ‘outing’ of any aspect of a person’s identity without their consent;
• Deliberate refusal to respect gender identity, misgendering or use of rejected names;
• Intimidation or silencing, including sustained and deliberate disruption of discussion;
• Threats of violence, threatening language, menacing gestures, acts of aggression or incitement to violence or self harm;
• Stalking or following, including repeated one-on-one communication despite requests to cease, unwanted photography or recording, and tracking and logging online activity without consent;
• Failure to safeguard confidential or privately shared information, including publication of private communication without consent, unless otherwise required by law or legal proceedings;
• Unwelcome sexual attention, including innuendoes, suggestive comments, jokes of a sexual nature, sexual propositions, lewd remarks and obscene gestures, requests for sexual favors (including repeated and unwelcome requests for dates), and intrusive questions or statements about a person’s private life;
• Sexual coercion or bribery, including implicit or explicit requests for sexual activity or silence about harassment in exchange for rewards, or sexual coercion under threat of punishment (including defamation, firing, negative reviews, or blocking funding);
• Distribution, display, or discussion of any sexually suggestive written or graphic material, including emails, photos, text messages, and tweets, that is gratuitous, off-topic, or shows 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;
• Attempts at intimidation, retaliation or retribution to someone who has:
  1. Filed or responded to a report of discrimination or harassment;
  2. Appeared as a witness in the processing of a report; or
  3. Served as a coordinator of a report of discrimination or harassment.
• Encouraging or assisting in violations of this Code of Conduct.

How to contact us about a violation 

If you are being harassed by a member of the International Accountability Project Community, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have concerns about other conduct, please contact us. The International Accountability Project has designated people for receiving reports and an established procedure for handling incidents of harassment.

We understand that talking about an incident that you experience or witness 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.

Please contact us in any of the following ways: 

• In Person: You may reach out to anyone on our Code of Conduct team members (see below). We will work to ensure your safety, privacy, and the confidentiality of the report itself and the information that you are sharing.
• Online Form: You also have the option of sharing information by downloading the IAP Code of Conduct Report Form. What you share will be reviewed by a Code of Conduct team member.
• Email: Answer the questions on the IAP Conduct of Conduct Report Form and email them to conduct (at) accountabilityproject.org. If you’d like to send an encrypted email, download the PGP public key of this email address. What is PGP? What you share will be reviewed by a Code of Conduct team member.

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, in consultation with those reporting and affected, we will immediately take any steps necessary to ensure the safety of the reporting individual(s), and of the community, which may include: taking the individual(s) to a safe location; calling law enforcement, medical services, and other emergency services; and/or asking the object of the report to leave the premises.

We initiate the review and response process

• After stabilizing the situation, and as soon as possible, our Code of Conduct Officer will initiate the response process, and with the support of the Code of Conduct team, will review the information that we have received, including determining whether we need additional information.

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, we will determine a course of action, including deciding whether and which remedy is appropriate. Potential remedies include: warnings; restrictions in collaborations with the International Accountability Project Community; removal from an event or space; or banning from International Accountability Project Community spaces and events. Other remedies may be offered or suggested including related trainings and materials and mental health support and services. If a remedy or the timing of it puts the safety and confidentiality of the reporting individual(s) at risk, our team will take that into consideration and prioritize preventing further harm.

Who is our Code of Conduct team

Vaishnavi Varadarajan vaishnavi (at) accountabilityproject.org

Jocelyn Soto Medallo jocelyn (at) accountabilityproject.org

Ryan Schlief ryan (at) accountabilityproject.org        .

Our Code of Conduct team serves as the point-of-contact for communications and follow-up, working with the other members of the Code of Conduct team, to reach resolution of an incident. In addition, the Code of Conduct team may also consult with members of the International Accountability Project’s management team 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 Code of Conduct team member will be recused from handling the incident.

At times, the Code of Conduct team may consult with our trusted support network, including human resources, legal experts and other advisors 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(s), and the privacy of the individual(s) involved.

Confidentiality

For the purpose of protecting complainants, the International Accountability Project Code of Conduct team will not name complainants without their affirmative consent.

During and after the report handling process, the Code of Conduct Team 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 the applicable law.