Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2023/DPP&FSP
SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPANTS
editPurpose
editThe overarching goal of the guideline is to establish a proactive approach to safety, health, and inclusivity, ensuring all participants' well-being from arrival to departure. We recognize the diverse backgrounds of our attendees, encompassing different cultures, languages, beliefs, and needs.
Moreover, with the digital era upon us, the way we connect and share information has transformed dramatically. As such, digital safety and privacy are given paramount importance in these guidelines, ensuring the security of our participants in every dimension, physical and digital.
Recommendations
edit- Local Norms and Customs: Familiarize yourself with local customs, religious practices, and etiquette to show respect and avoid misunderstandings.
- Transportation: Use trusted transportation methods recommended by the conference or well-reviewed ones.
- Update Software: Ensure all your devices are updated with the latest security patches.
- Password Protection: Use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. Consider a password manager.
- Back up all information regularly and store it in a secure offsite location.
- Immediately report all breaches/intrusions/denial of service/Ransomware attacks to the Trust and Safety Operations Centre of the CEE Meeting and law enforcement if considered a safe option.
- Your online identity needs to be protected. The following resources could help you to stay safe:
- Doxxing: Tips To Protect Yourself Online & How to Minimize Harm by EFF
- Learn about doxing for a more comprehensive self-doxing by the Tactical Tech Collective.
- Remove personal data from the internet by CPJ.
- Encrypted Messaging: Use encrypted messaging apps for communication.
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi: If you must use it, make sure to connect through a VPN.
- Be cautious of emails or messages asking for personal information or payments related to the conference. Always verify with known conference organizers.
Best Practices During the Conference
edit- Behaviour: Avoid public displays of excessive affection and respect personal boundaries.
- Cultural Awareness: Be aware of the local cultural nuances, religious practices, and etiquette.
- Be respectful and open in your interactions. Embrace diversity and different viewpoints.
- Don't interact with people if they don't want to.
- Consider the personal space of persons and respect it.
Conclusion
editThe Wikimedia CEE Meeting gathers diverse minds, experiences, and cultures. Ensuring safety isn't merely a procedural necessity; it embodies our commitment to providing every attendee with a nurturing, respectful, and secure environment to learn, interact, and collaborate.
The city of Tbilisi, with its rich history and cultural tapestry, serves as a backdrop to our discussions, but the responsibility of making the meeting truly successful lies with each of us. The guidelines presented aim to facilitate this endeavor, addressing every facet of safety and inclusion.
Data privacy policy
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If you send us an application for Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2023 in Tbilisi, we will generally process your data as described in our privacy policy, available under: https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/1561437?publication=23.
Additionally, we will transfer data to the Wikimedia Foundation ("WMF" Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 1 Montgomery Street Suite 1600, San Francisco, CA 94104), based in the USA, since specific employees and teams at the WMF needs to check you for compliance with the requirements of the Foundation.
If you are applying for a scholarship, we may need additional personal data (e.g., contact data, travel, and accommodation data, visa information, event and supply preferences, as well as billing information) from you. If your application is successful, we will transfer this data to WMF as well for the purpose of consultation, organizing your visit, and billing the event.
Any of the aforementioned disclosures are required to organize the "Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2023" and to ensure your participation in it. They are accordingly based in each case on CHAPTER I Article 4 and CHAPTER II Article 5 of the law of Georgia on PDP, except the transmission of personal data to the WMF, based in the USA, which will be based on your consent, CHAPTER VI Article 41 of the law of Georgia on PDP. Since it is necessary for us to involve the committee as a whole, we will unfortunately not be able to allow you to participate if you withhold your consent. However, you will still have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. For information on how to withdraw your consent, please refer to our general privacy policy mentioned above. Depending on when you withdraw your consent, we may have to exclude you from participating in the conference.
Friendly space policy for Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2023
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The Wikimedia UG Georgia (WMGE) 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.
We expect participants to follow these rules at WMGE venues and events - such as conferences, virtual events, and related social events - that this policy applies to.
Youth Safety
editThe Wikimedia UG Georgia 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 WMGE 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.
Universal Code of Conduct
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The Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2023 follows the movement's Universal Code of Conduct (UCoC), which covers all movement spaces both in-person and virtual. The UCoC, which we strongly recommend you read before the meeting begins, lays out expected and unacceptable behaviors in the movement. The most relevant of those for the Meeting's purposes are:
- Show mutual respect: Practice empathy, assume good faith, participate constructively, and respect the way that contributors name and describe themselves.
- Do not harass others: Harassment is strictly prohibited. An incomplete list of things that could qualify as harassment:
- Insulting others (including using slurs and stereotypes)
- Sexual harassment (including things like commenting on others' bodies and making unwanted - even if well-meaning - sexual advances)
- Making threats (individual or general)
- Encouraging harm to others (including encouraging someone to self-harm)
- Doxing
- Hounding
- Trolling
While these points present a summary of much of what the UCoC says, please keep in mind that the entire UCoC applies to this event, not just the parts mentioned here.
Trust and Safety officers
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Contact
editIf you have any questions or comments or need to report something to us, please contact us via trustandsafety
wikimedia.ge.