Friendly Space Policy for Wikimedia Foundation Events
 | This policy or procedure is maintained by the Wikimedia Foundation. This policy applies to Foundation activities, including events it hosts and events it funds or supports with other resources. It makes transparent the Foundation's approach to providing safe spaces at all its venues and events – such as conferences, virtual events, and related social events – in upholding the Universal Code of Conduct (UCoC). Please note that in the event of any differences in meaning or interpretation between the original English version of this content and a translation, the original English version takes precedence. |
The Wikimedia Foundation is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone at all venues and events – such as conferences, virtual events, and related social events – that this policy applies to regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, physical appearance, age, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, national origin, or religion—and not limited to these aspects. We do not tolerate any form of harassment of conference participants. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue or talks. Any participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the conference organizers.
Harassment includes but is not limited to offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, physical appearance, age, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, national origin, or religion. Harassment also includes sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, unwelcome following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of conference staff immediately. Conference staff can be identified by special badges.
Staff will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value your attendance.
- Organizers: Contact information will be publicized to event participants on a per-event basis.
- Local phone numbers for hotel/venue security, local law enforcement, local sexual assault hotline, local emergency and non-emergency medical, and local taxi company to be publicized to event participants as appropriate on a per-event basis.
We expect participants to follow these rules at Wikimedia Foundation venues and events - such as conferences, virtual events, and related social events - that this policy applies to.
Youth Safety
The Wikimedia Foundation is committed to ensuring a safe and positive experience for young attendees at venues and events that this policy applies to. For this purpose, organizers and participants must follow these requirements:
- People of age 14 or younger will not register (or be allowed to register) for or attend Wikimedia Foundation events unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- People between the age of 15 to the age of majority in the location of an event will only be able to attend as part of a group with at least one responsible adult. Conference organizers will inform the responsible adult that youth should not be left unattended during an event. If conference organizers are uncertain about the local age of majority, we suggest following the United Nations definition of youth as between ages 15–24.
- Mature content such as violent or sexually explicit imagery will not be displayed in public areas of a venue. Spaces where such content is displayed will identify this type of content and require separate registration or sign-up to attend. If the event is designed for young people, this type of content will be avoided altogether. Conference organizers should use their discretion in determining whether content is appropriate for young attendees.
- Events or venues designed for young people aged 15–24 will have a safety plan for young attendees including, at minimum:
- a contact method displayed at the venue to reach qualified event staff if an attendee is concerned about their own or another young attendee's safety and
- a method for ensuring the event or venue is not attended by uninvited guests.
- If the event or venue is overnight, it will also have a method for age-adequately and safely housing young attendees.
- Conference organizers will have copies of the youth safety plan available for event attendees.
In addition, conference organizers are responsible for ensuring that their events comply with all local laws and regulations that apply to young attendees.
If you are attending a Wikimedia event or venue and encounter any concerns related to young attendees, please contact a member of the event staff immediately.
War and Inclusive Events
The Wikimedia Foundation is committed to ensuring a safe and positive experience for attendees from countries or regions at war with each other (de facto or de jure) at venues and events that this policy applies to. For this purpose, organizers and participants must follow these requirements:
- Organizers whose events are expected to include participants from warring jurisdictions or regions are expected to include an event safety concept addressing the issue in their event's Friendly Space plan. Minimal components of such a plan section include:
- Clear expectations whether it is tolerated to discuss the conflict in the context of the event.
- An inclusive participation plan that supports all attendees in safely participating at events and event-sponsored social gatherings without relying upon self-isolation for those who feel unsafe (to the extent possible).
- Clear guidance about how to contact the Friendly Spaces team about a breach of the expectations set out in the plan.
- Clear guidance about the range of measures the event safety team can take in response to breach of the expectations, up to removal.
- Organizers of such events are expected to make affected participants aware of the section in their Friendly Space plan addressing the issue at the point of registration.
In addition, conference organizers are responsible for ensuring that their events comply with all local laws and regulations that apply to issues like visa restrictions, economic sanctions and other measures related to warfare in the jurisdiction the event takes place in.
If you are attending a Wikimedia event or venue and encounter any concerns related to attendees from countries at war with each other (de facto or de jure), please contact a member of the event staff immediately.