Event Guidelines

This is a set of proposed event guidelines that people running Women-friendly events could adapt and use.

How to use these guidelines

A code of conduct will help your attendees, exhibitors, and speakers understand what behaviour is appropriate or inappropriate, and help send a message that your event wishes to be inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

You can include this sample Code of Conduct, or a prominent link to it:

• on your website
• in the Call for Papers
• in the sponsor prospectus
• in the acceptance email to speakers,
• in the confirmation email to sponsors/exhibitors
• in the attendee brochure.

Sample Code of Conduct

[Event] is an all-ages event from people from many different backgrounds. We expect presenters, exhibitors, and attendees to help make [event] enjoyable for everyone.

This means not targeting people specifically because of age, religion, gender, race, sexuality, or ability.

All attendees

Please show respect for all attendees. In particular:

• Offensive behaviour such as harrassment will not be tolerated.
• Remember that all our attendees are here for similar reasons, and do not make assumptions about anyone's interests, skill level, or profession based on their appearance or background.
• Remember that "no means no". If someone asks you to stop speaking about a particular subject, or to leave them alone, please do so.
• There are many parties associated with $EVENT, and these guidelines apply equally there. Please consume alcohol responsibly.
• Support your friends and colleagues. If you see someone behaving badly, please let them know that you're not OK with it.

Speakers

Please ensure that your presentation does not stigmatise, alienate, or marginalise any individual or group. In particular:

• Keep your slide deck G-rated
• Anything beyond the occasional mild cuss word is not appropriate
• While criticism of software, programming practices, etc, is OK, please try to offer constructive improvements or alternatives as part of your talk
• Personal criticism is not OK.

Exhibitors

[Event] is an all-ages, mixed-gender event. Please make sure your booth is welcoming and appealing to people of all ages, genders, etc. In particular, overtly sexualised booths, including "booth babes" in provocative/sexy attire, are not welcome at this event.

Please contact us

If you're unsure whether your presentation, booth, or party will be enjoyed by all, please check with the organisers: (email contact details)

Short form

You may wish to abbreviate the above when including it in email and the like. For example:

[Event] aims to be inclusive and welcoming to everyone. Attendees, speakers, and exhibitors should read our Code of Conduct [provide link] before attending. In particular, we ask everyone to be respectful of all attendees regardless of their age, gender, race or ethnicity, and so forth. Speakers are advised to keep their presentations suitable for a mixed audience, and exhibitors may not have sexually-oriented booths or sales materials. Please see [link] or contact us at [email] for more information.