Harassment and abuse protocols
PART OF THE QUORUM SENSE COMMUNITY HANDBOOK
(adapted from the Enspiral Handbook)
Last updated: 2 Feb 2023
We value the safety, well-being and personal rights of all those who engage with Quorum Sense. Specifically, everyone using the Quorum Sense Community Forum or attending Quorum Sense events is expected to support the personal rights of all individuals, including:
freedom of expression
freedom from discrimination
consent-based interactions
See also the Quorum Sense Conflict resolution guidelines and related resources.
Our stand against "victim-blaming"
In all shared communications and activities, and especially in cases of unwanted personal attention, Quorum Sense stands for relationships based upon the active ongoing consent of all participants.
Feeling unsafe or in immediate danger
If you currently feel unsafe in the Quorum Sense Community Forum or at a Quorum Sense event please immediately e-mail contact@quorumsense.org.nz
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, contact local law enforcement.
In serious cases, individuals who are found to act in ways that do not support the personal rights of all individuals or are contrary to the Quorum Sense Community Agreement can have their access to the Quorum Sense Community Forum revoked and be excluded from Quorum Sense events.
Warning signs of harassment or abuse
Experiences and behaviours that are considered warning signs of harassment and abuse include (but are not limited to):
Threatening or inciting violence towards any persons or groups
Deliberate intimidation
Unwelcome personal attention
Unwelcome sharing of private information
Unwelcome sharing of private communications, except to report complaints
Jokes related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, mental illness, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion
Jokes regarding a person's lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, parenting, drugs, and employment.
Gratuitous or off-topic sexual images or behaviour
Reporting concerns and complaints
The Quorum Sense Conflict resolution guidelines can be used to help address specific concerns and complaints. If these are not appropriate to the situation you find yourself in, or you have pursued all the options outlined in the guidelines and your concern is still unresolved, please email contact@quorumsense.org.nz immediately.
A request for an individual to have their access to the Quorum Sense Community Forum revoked and be excluded from Quorum Sense events is strongly recommended in any well-evidenced claims of harassment or abuse.
Individuals subject to a complaint
If you have a complaint made against you, note that you will have access to the same Quorum Sense resources as the accuser. Please use the Quorum Sense Conflict resolution guidelines and related resources as a starting point. For any concerns beyond this, please email contact@quorumsense.org.nz