GBIF is dedicated to providing a safe, hospitable, and productive environment for GBIF staff, partners, collaborators and event participants. Interactions relating to GBIF activities, whether in writing or in person, must be professional, respectful and harassment-free for all participating, regardless of, inter alia, gender, gender identity and expressions, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, ethnicity, race, national origin, age, or religion.
Harassment of GBIF staff, partners, collaborators and participants in any form, written or spoken, including sexual harassment, will not be tolerated and it is expected that all conduct themselves in a professional, respectful and responsible manner at all times. Harassment includes offensive gestures or verbal and written comments related to gender, gender identity and expressions, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, ethnicity, race, national origin, age, or religion; deliberate intimidation verbally or in written form, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome attention.
This policy applies to speakers, staff, volunteers, attendees, visitors and other business collaborators. Anyone violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from GBIF events, or blocked from GBIF forums at the discretion of the GBIF Management. The GBIF Management may take any action they deem appropriate, ranging from a simple warning to expulsion from events to blocking from interacting with GBIF or notifying employer.
Anyone taking part in GBIF activities, be it in person at events or in written form, who feels harassed or observes others being harassed should contact the GBIF Management who will assist with resolving the situation with any action they deem appropriate as described in the paragraph above.
Threats or other intimidation against a person who has made a complaint, or contacted the GBIF Management regarding harassment, or who has provided information in support of complaint, will not be tolerated.
Consequences for such retaliation include revoking registration and expulsion from or refusal to register for future events, blocking from interacting in GBIF collaborative forums or notifying employer.
Following the reporting of an incident and the response by the GBIF Management, either party may appeal to the Chair of the GBIF Governing Board for review.
— Endorsed by the GBIF Executive Committee – October 2018 Last revised November 2019