MCIS’ EVENTS CODE OF CONDUCT

 

MCIS Language Solutions (MCIS) is dedicated to ensure empowering collaborative learning experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community. We are committed to creation of inclusive environment that will ensure the safety and security of our members, and we will not tolerate harassment of members and participants in any form. This Code of Conduct specified the details of a harassment-free experience, and procedures for addressing issues, should they arise.

 

As a non-profit organization dedicated to help people to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers, we strive to provide a harassment-free experience of any kind for everyone regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, or socioeconomic status.  Event participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled permanently, at the discretion of the members of the MCIS’ leadership team.

 

Forms of Harassment and Discrimination

Forms of harassment include:

• Sexual language and imagery, sexist, racist, and exclusionary jokes:

• All acts that insult or belittle other event attendees in any way;

• Offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status; sexual images in public spaces; deliberate intimidation; stalking; following,

• Unwarranted photography or recording;

• Sustained disruption of event programming;

• Inappropriate physical contact and unwelcome sexual attention.

 

Event participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately and may be removed from the event without warning by any member of MCIS’ leadership team. Participants are expected to comply with the MCIS’ Code of Conduct at all event venues.

 

Consequences for Harassment and Discrimination

If a participant engages in behavior which is defined as harassing or discriminatory in any way, the event organizers will take any action they deem appropriate, inclusive but not limited to, issuing a warning or expulsion from the present and all future events. If a warning or expulsion is issued, MCIS may choose to share this information with directors from any event that the participant joins in the future.

 

How to Report Harassment and Discrimination

We encourage you to report any incident of harassment, discrimination, or unacceptable behavior as soon as possible. MCIS leadership will take all appropriate actions to mitigate risk factors moving forward and continue to provide a safe and secure environment for all MCIS event participants. MCIS leadership is happy to assist attendees in contacting venue security, local law enforcement, or otherwise aid those experiencing harassment so that they feel safe for the duration of the event. The MCIS leadership team will take great care to ensure that the assistance provided meets the needs of attendees who were affected.

 

If you experience or notice harassment, discrimination, or any of the unacceptable behaviors outlined herein at a MCIS’ event, or have any other concerns, please report the incident as soon as possible. To report an incident, take one of the following actions:  

• Inform the event organizer on site;

• Inform co-organizer in your network;

• Report the incident to MCIS directly by completing our incident report form (here).

If you choose to share your name on the form, it will only be seen by MCIS leadership involved with resolving the issue.

 

Periodic Review

MCIS strives to create a positive and inclusive environment. As such, the MCIS is committed to an annual review of the Events Code of Conduct to ensure that it continues to align with this goal and address the needs of our community. MCIS welcomes feedback from its members. All feedback should be submitted to MCIS by emailing: eliana at mcis.on.ca.

 

​Acknowledgments

We would like to thank you Women Who Code CODE OF CONDUCT for their  document that guided our own. We also extend thanks and gratitude to the MCIS' advisors, and allies, such as Mozilla, who prompted us to create this code and help our continuous improvement.

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Please find the complete document here.