Code of conduct

All participants at C4E Forum events are required to agree with the following Code of Conduct, and participation at an event is taken to confirm the Participant’s acceptance of this Code of Conduct. The Organising Committee will enforce this Code at all C4E Forum events (in-person and online).

We expect willing cooperation from all participants to help ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for everybody.

Introduction

The Organising Committee (the “OC”) of C4E Forum events is committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for everybody. This Code of Conduct (the “Code”) applies to all attendees, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, staff, service providers, volunteers, and other guests (collectively referred to as the “Participants”). The OC expects that all Participants will abide by this Code during any sessions, seminars, presentations, webinars, tradeshows, or formal/informal social gatherings that occur during C4E Forum events.

Failure to abide by this Code is subject to corrective action and sanctions, including refused admission, expulsion, banishment, and other penalties consistent with this Code. Participants to whom corrective action and/or sanctions are applied will not be entitled to a refund of any fees or costs that may arise because of the applied actions and/or sanctions.

Expectations

The OC expects that all Participants at C4E Forum events shall:

• Behave in a courteous and professional manner towards all other Participants.
• Treat all Participants with respect, dignity, and consideration, in the spirit of valuing diversity, divergence of views and opinions.
• Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative in communications and actions.
• Discuss differences and critique ideas in a non-confrontational, non-demeaning manner with due regard for the viewpoints of others.
• Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behaviour, texting, and speech.
• Report suspected inappropriate or prohibited conduct.
• Respect the rules, policies, and property of the venue selected for the event.
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the country of the venue.

Inappropriate or Prohibited Conduct

The OC prohibits the following conduct for the full duration of C4E Forum events (including any pre-events) from the moment of joining other participants (be it online, at the venue or at a transport node on the way to or from the venue). Note that this is a non-exhaustive list:

• Harassment, which is defined for the purposes of this Code to include unwelcome or offensive verbal, visual, or physical contact, including conduct, comments, recordings, texting, or images that a person would reasonably find offensive, demeaning, or hostile.
• Sexual harassment, which is defined for the purposes of this Code to include unwelcome, unsolicited, and unreciprocated sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other verbal or physical conduct or gesture of a sexual nature that has or that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to offend, humiliate, or intimidate another person.
• Exhibiting behaviour that is unruly or disruptive, or that endangers health or safety, including any physical force whatsoever.
• Discriminatory conduct based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, nationality, disability, religion, political affinity, or any other characteristic protected by law.
• Deliberate intimidation, threatening, stalking, or following.
• Disruption of any portion of a C4E Event, exhibitor stand, sponsor spaces, or areas.
• Destruction, theft, dismantlement, defacement, abuse, or intentional misuse of the venue, its property, equipment, signage, or supplies.
• Failure to comply with directions of the OC staff regarding operations or emergency response procedures.
• Knowingly and falsely reporting violations of this Code in bad faith.
• Accessing restricted areas without a proper registration pass and/or credential; misusing registrations, passes and/or credentials; presenting false identification; permitting another person to falsely present the Participant’s identification as their own without specific authorisation in writing from the OC.

Reporting Suspected Inappropriate or Prohibited Conduct

If you believe you are being subjected to inappropriate or prohibited conduct, or you believe someone else is being subjected to inappropriate conduct, or you have any other concerns, contact a member of the OC staff immediately so that they can address the situation without delay. Always follow up a verbal report with a short, written report (ideally by e-mail) so that a record of the suspected conduct will be generated.

It is always best to address these matters as they are occurring but if this is not possible, then contact the OC by email with full details of the inappropriate or prohibited conduct and your contact information. A member of the OC staff will then contact you without delay to pursue the matter and take appropriate action.

Consequences of Participant Engagement in Inappropriate or Prohibited Conduct

Any Participant asked to stop engaging in prohibited or inappropriate conduct must comply immediately with the request.

At its sole discretion, the OC will determine the nature of the reported conduct and whether the conduct warrants corrective action or sanction. In addition to the corrective action or sanction to be taken, which may include immediate expulsion from the event without warning or refund, the OC reserves the right to prohibit attendance at future C4E Forum events.

Corrective action may take any, or all, of the following steps:

• Verbal warning.
• Expulsion from the Event with no refund or credit.
• A ban from attending future events organised under the C4E Forum brand.
• Notifying the participant’s employer of the incident and of the nature of the sanctioned conduct.
• Notifying the appropriate authorities in the country where the event is held.