Code of Conduct for the Prevention of (Sexual) Harassment
Purpose
SGMUN is committed to enable a safe environment at its conference, highly valuing respectfulness and inclusivity.
Every participant at the SGMUN Conference (“Conference”) is expected to behave in a respectful manner and with integrity towards any other person attending or involved in the Conference.
SGMUN fully commits to implementing the Code of Conduct.
Applicability
This Code of Conduct applies to any Conference event, which includes opening and closing ceremonies, committee sessions, social events or any other event or gathering organized, hosted or sponsored in whole or in part by SGMUN.
This Code of Conduct applies to all persons participating in Conference events, including all persons attending or involved in any form in an SGMUN event.
This Code of Conduct is neither legal nor prescriptive in nature. It complements, and has no effect on the application of other relevant regulations, rules and laws regulating the premises in which the SGMUN conference events take place and any law applicable in Switzerland.
Prohibited Conduct
“Harassment is any improper or unwelcome conduct that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation to another person. Harassment in any form because of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical ability, physical appearance, ethnicity, race, national origin, political affiliation, age, religion or any other reason is prohibited at [events of the Conference]. Sexual harassment is a specific type of prohibited conduct” (UN Code of Conduct).
“Sexual harassment is any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation. Sexual harassment may involve any conduct of a verbal, nonverbal or physical nature, including written and electronic communications, and may occur between persons of the same or different genders” (UN Code of Conduct).
“Examples of Sexual Harassment include, but are not limited to the following:
Making derogatory or demeaning comments about someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity
Name-calling or using slurs with a gender/sexual connotation
Making sexual comments about appearance, clothing or body parts
Rating a person’s sexuality
Repeatedly asking a person for dates or asking for sex
Staring in a sexually suggestive manner
Unwelcome touching, including pinching, patting, rubbing or purposefully brushing up against a person
Making inappropriate sexual gestures, such as pelvic thrusts
Sharing sexual or lewd anecdotes or jokes
Sending sexually suggestive communications in any format
Sharing or displaying sexually inappropriate images or videos in any format
Attempted or actual sexual assault, including rape” (UN Code of Conduct)
Complaint Process
A participant who feels that they have been harassed at a Conference event or a participant who witnesses such harassment may report the matter to the SGMUN Conference Secretariat.
Such reporting shall have no effect on any applicable rules and procedures that may apply to the Conference. The SGMUN Conference Secretariat will be expected to take appropriate action in accordance with its Terms of Service.
“Examples of appropriate action may include, but are not limited to:
undertaking a fact-finding exercise
requesting the perpetrator to immediately stop the offending behavior
suspending or terminating the perpetrator’s access to [the Conference] or refusing registration at future [SGMUN conferences], or both
conveying the complaint to any investigative or disciplinary authority with jurisdiction over the person accused of harassment
The victim of alleged harassment may also seek help from other relevant authorities, such as the police, bearing in mind the applicable legal framework.
A participant should never knowingly make a false or misleading claim about prohibited conduct.” (UN Code of Conduct)
Prohibition of Retaliation
“Threats, intimidation or any other form of retaliation against a participant who has made a complaint or provided information in support of a complaint are prohibited. The [SGMUN conference organizers] will take any reasonable appropriate action needed to prevent and respond to retaliation, in accordance with its applicable policy, regulations and rules.” (UN Code of Conduct)
