The African Ruby Community is dedicated to providing a harassment-free and inclusive event experience for everyone regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, neurodiversity, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, nationality, race, age, religion, or other protected category. We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form. The African Ruby Community takes violations of our policy seriously and will respond appropriately.
All participants of The African Ruby Community events must abide by the following policy:
1.0 Expected Behavior
Be excellent to each other. We want the event to be a wonderful experience for everyone regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, neurodiversity, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, nationality, race, age, religion, or other protected category. Treat everyone with respect. Participate while acknowledging that everyone deserves to be here and we have the right to enjoy our experience without fear of harassment, discrimination, or condescension, whether blatant or via micro-aggressions. Jokes shouldn’t demean others. Consider what you are saying and how it would feel if it were said to or about you.
Speak up if you see or hear something. Harassment is not tolerated, and you are empowered to politely engage when you or others are disrespected. The person making you feel uncomfortable may not be aware of what they are doing, and politely bringing their behavior to their attention is encouraged. If a participant engages in harassing or uncomfortable behavior, the event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the event with no refund. If you are being harassed or feel uncomfortable, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the event staff immediately.
2.0 Anti-Harassment Policy
2.1 Unacceptable Behavior
Harassment is strictly prohibited and includes, but is not limited to:
Offensive Verbal Comments: Language that reinforces social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, neurodiversity, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, nationality, age, religion, or other protected categories.
Sexual Imagery: Use of sexualized images in public spaces.
Intimidation and Stalking: Deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, or any form of harassing photography or recording.
Disruption: Sustained disruption of talks or other events.
Inappropriate Contact: Any form of inappropriate physical contact or unwelcome sexual attention.
Participants who are asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
2.2 Responsibilities of Sponsors and Participants
Sponsors are also subject to this anti-harassment policy. Specifically:
Content Guidelines: Sponsors should refrain from using sexualized images, activities, or other materials.
Staff Conduct: Booth staff (including volunteers) must not wear sexualized clothing/uniforms/costumes or create a sexualized environment.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, conference organizers may take appropriate action, including issuing warnings or expelling the offender from the conference without a refund.
2.3 Reporting and Support
If you are being harassed, notice someone else being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the conference staff immediately. Conference staff can be identified by their branded t-shirts. We are committed to ensuring your safety and comfort. Conference staff will assist participants in contacting venue security or local law enforcement if necessary and can provide escorts for those experiencing harassment.
2.4 Creating a Positive Environment
We encourage participants to practice saying “Yes” to each other as a way to build on one another’s ideas—a technique borrowed from theater improv. By fostering collaboration and mutual respect, we all benefit from a more inclusive and enjoyable experience. We value your attendance and expect all participants to adhere to these guidelines at conference venues and related social events. This merged document maintains the essential elements of both original texts while providing a clear structure for understanding the anti-harassment policy.
3.0 Scope
This policy extends to talks, forums, workshops, code labs, social media, parties, hallway conversations, all attendees, partners, sponsors, volunteers, event staff, etc. You catch our drift. The African Ruby Community reserves the right to refuse admittance to, or remove any person from, any African Ruby Community-hosted event (including future African Ruby Community events) at any time in its sole discretion. This includes but is not limited to, attendees behaving in a disorderly manner or failing to comply with this policy and the terms and conditions herein. If a participant engages in harassing or uncomfortable behavior, the event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the event with no refund.
Our event staff can usually be identified by special badges/attire. Our zero-tolerance policy means that we will look into and review every allegation of violation of our Event Community Guidelines and Anti-Harassment Policy and respond appropriately. Please note, that while we take all concerns raised seriously, we will use our discretion to determine when and how to follow up on reported incidents. We may decline to take any further action and/or may direct the participant to other resources for resolution.
Event staff will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or assist those experiencing discomfort or harassment to feel safe during the event. We value your attendance.
4.0 Exhibiting Partners and Sponsors
Exhibiting partners, sponsors, vendor booths, or similar activities are also subject to this policy. In particular, exhibitors should not use sexualized images, activities, or other material. Booth staff (including volunteers) should not use sexualized clothing/uniforms/costumes, or otherwise create a sexualized environment. Participants and exhibiting partners or sponsors disobeying this policy will be notified and are expected to stop any offending behavior immediately.
5.0 Why This Policy Is Important
Harassment at events and in online communities is unfortunately common. Creating an official policy aims to improve this by making it clear that harassment of anyone for any reason is not acceptable within our events and communities. This policy may prevent harassment by clearly defining expectations for behavior, aims to provide reassurance, and encourages people who have had bad experiences at other events to participate in this one.
6.0 License and Attribution
This policy is licensed under the Creative Commons Zero license.
This policy is based on and influenced by several other community policies including the Ohio LinuxFest Anti-Harassment policy, Con Anti-Harassment Project, Geek Feminism Wiki (created by the Ada Initiative), confcodeofconduct.com, JSconf, Rust, Diversity in Python, and Write/Speak/Code.
