[bestbits] [GenderDC] CIS' Statement on Sexual Harassment at ICANN55

Jac sm Kee jac at apcwomen.org
Mon Apr 4 15:18:44 EDT 2016


Thanks for this Nadira.

Also, the MAG meeting is currently taking place. I raised the issue of
having a sexual harassment policy for IGF, and will continue to bring
this up the next couple of days. If there is anything else I can help to
raise to prioritise the integration of gender concerns for this process
and forum, please let me know.

Thanks and best,
jac


---------------------------------
Jac sm Kee
Manager, Women's Rights Programme
Association for Progressive Communications
www.apc.org | www.takebackthetech.net | erotics.apc.org
Jitsi: jacsmk | Skype: jacsmk | Twitter: @jhybe

On 28/03/2016 12:18, Nadira Alaraj wrote:
> Dear All,
> FYI
> 
> On its Weekly Digest, an ICANN blog, by Akram Atallah,
> dated March 25, about
> *Conduct at ICANN Meetings*
> 
> http:// <http://icann.org/news/blog/conduct-at-icann-meetings>icann.org
> <http://icann.org/news/blog/conduct-at-icann-meetings>/news/blog/conduct-at-icann-meetings
> <http://icann.org/news/blog/conduct-at-icann-meetings>
> 
> 
>     > On Mar 25, 2016, at 16:13, Bishakha Datta
>     <bishakha at pointofview.org <mailto:bishakha at pointofview.org>> wrote:
>     >
>     > Dear all,
>     >
>     > As one of the two coordinators of the Gender Dynamic Coalition, I
>     want to thank you for including us in this critical conversation. 
>     >
>     > We had proposed drafting a sexual harassment policy for the IGF at
>     the Gender Dynamic Coalition meeting at IGF 2015, a proposal that
>     was strongly endorsed at that meeting. We had also formed a small
>     volunteer committee for this purpose.
>     >
>     > We will now move quickly on this, using many of the excellent
>     points and resources that have been mentioned on this thread.
>     >
>     > Please let us know if any of you would like to join this committee.
>     >
>     > Many thanks
>     > Bishakha
>     >
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> I have been following the thread and commend Ms Baruah for making her
> experience public and the movement for a sexual harassment policy. I
> would also like to urge some form of education or communication for new
> participants who come into IG spaces such as ICANN and IGF. A lack of
> awareness of what can do when one experiences sexual harassment means
> some incidences go unreported. 
> 
> I would also like to volunteer join the small committee set up for this
> purpose.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Chenai
> 
> Chenai Chair
> Researcher
> Research ICT Africa
> Unit 409, Old Castle Brewery
> 6 Beach Road
> Woodstock, Cape Town, 7925
> South Africa
> T: +27 71 151 5602 <tel:%2B27%2071%20151%205602>
> f: www.facebook.com/researchICTafrica.ne
> <http://www.facebook.com/researchICTafrica.net>t
> t: @RIAnetwork
> 
> See www.researchICTafrica.net <http://www.researchICTafrica.net> for
> most recent policy research papers
> 
>> On Mar 25, 2016, at 16:13, Bishakha Datta <bishakha at pointofview.org
>> <mailto:bishakha at pointofview.org>> wrote:
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> As one of the two coordinators of the Gender Dynamic Coalition, I want
>> to thank you for including us in this critical conversation. 
>>
>> We had proposed drafting a sexual harassment policy for the IGF at the
>> Gender Dynamic Coalition meeting at IGF 2015, a proposal that was
>> strongly endorsed at that meeting. We had also formed a small
>> volunteer committee for this purpose.
>>
>> We will now move quickly on this, using many of the excellent points
>> and resources that have been mentioned on this thread.
>>
>> Please let us know if any of you would like to join this committee.
>>
>> Many thanks
>> Bishakha
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 24, 2016 at 7:39 PM, Erika Smith <erika at apcwomen.org
>> <mailto:erika at apcwomen.org>> wrote:
>>
>>     Hi all,
>>     I wrote to RIPE NCC per Lorena's comment to ask if they could
>>     share the
>>     policy or provide us with a contact person, although I've just noticed
>>     that Chris Buckridge is on this CC so perhaps s/he an provide us
>>     with more
>>     insight.
>>
>>     On the geek feminism wiki there are two sources that may be of use in
>>     drafting - one is for online spaces and community management, and the
>>     other for in-person conferences.
>>     http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Community_anti-harassment/Policy
>>     http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Conference_anti-harassment/Policy
>>
>>
>>     Geek Feminism also has evaluations of Codes of Conduct that could be
>>     useful for making sure the policy learns from other policies'
>>     weaknesses:
>>     http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Code_of_conduct_evaluations
>>
>>
>>     Erika
>>
>>
>>     > Dear Padmini and Sunil,
>>     >
>>     > Supporting you completely. Please let me know how can we help
>>     other than
>>     > joining your call for positive measures. We all must insist on
>>     > professional, friendly, safe environment for all but especially
>>     towards
>>     > women.
>>     >
>>     > I would suggest looking at a community-maintained list of
>>     conferences
>>     > with policies on the Geek Feminism Wiki.
>>     >
>>     >
>>     > On 03/22/2016 03:17 PM, Lorena Jaume-Palasi wrote:
>>     >> Dear all,
>>     >> I think RIPE NCC drafted last year an anti-harassment policy. They
>>     >> certainly could contribute with best practices.
>>     >> Cheers
>>     >> Lorena
>>     >>
>>     >> 2016-03-22 18:43 GMT+01:00 Jac sm Kee <jac at apcwomen.org
>>     <mailto:jac at apcwomen.org>
>>     >> <mailto:jac at apcwomen.org <mailto:jac at apcwomen.org>>>:
>>     >>
>>     >>     Dear all,
>>     >>
>>     >>     Copying the Gender DC mailing list and also the 2
>>     coordinators into
>>     >> this
>>     >>     conversation. Like in Ms Padmini's statement, when this was
>>     raised
>>     >> at
>>     >>     the last IGF during the Gender DC workshop, other participants
>>     >> shared
>>     >>     their experience of sexual harassment. So discussing and
>>     tackling
>>     >> this
>>     >>     issue seriously at esp a space on IG process and policy
>>     >> conversations is
>>     >>     critical. Contributes significantly to creating an inclusive,
>>     >>     respectful, non-discriminatory and diverse participatory
>>     >> environment.
>>     >>
>>     >>     I think the DC is in the process of drafting a proposed
>>     policy to be
>>     >>     taken up at the upcoming IGF. Would be great to see initiatives
>>     >> build
>>     >>     and inform each other, and to also share best practices.
>>     There has
>>     >> been
>>     >>     many initiatives and models in different contexts that can
>>     be drawn
>>     >> from
>>     >>     - events, organisational, country specific, space/platform etc.
>>     >> Fully
>>     >>     support the idea of a WG in ICANN.
>>     >>
>>     >>     Best regards,
>>     >>     jac
>>     >>
>>     >>
>>     >>     ---------------------------------
>>     >>     Jac sm Kee
>>     >>     Manager, Women's Rights Programme
>>     >>     Association for Progressive Communications
>>     >>     www.apc.org <http://www.apc.org/> <http://www.apc.org
>>     <http://www.apc.org/>> | www.takebackthetech.net
>>     <http://www.takebackthetech.net/>
>>     >>     <http://www.takebackthetech.net
>>     <http://www.takebackthetech.net/>> | erotics.apc.org
>>     <http://erotics.apc.org/>
>>     >>     <http://erotics.apc.org <http://erotics.apc.org/>>
>>     >>     Jitsi: jacsmk | Skype: jacsmk | Twitter: @jhybe
>>     >>
>>     >>     On 22/03/2016 00:15, Nadira Alaraj wrote:
>>     >>     > Dear all
>>     >>     > I commend Ms. Padmini Baruah courage for bringing this
>>     issue to
>>     >> ICANN
>>     >>     > and to the civil society public forums.
>>     >>     > The discussion here raises a questions and I would like
>>     to direct
>>     >> this
>>     >>     > to those senior with ICANN.
>>     >>     > How we can create a working group to discuss this issue under
>>     >> ICANN
>>     >>     > umbrella? It is important the recommendations of this
>>     group to be
>>     >>     > instituted into ICANN.
>>     >>     > Which body of ICANN will grant the official existence of this
>>     >> group and
>>     >>     > what constituency it will work?
>>     >>     > Hoping these answers will bring the existence of this working
>>     >> group and
>>     >>     > follow the pattern of button up approach in decision
>>     making of
>>     >> ICANN and
>>     >>     > to follow with the recommendations of Padmini to make
>>     them happen.
>>     >>     > Best wishes,
>>     >>     > Nadira Alaraj
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     > On Mar 21, 2016 6:32 PM, <nigidaad at gmail.com
>>     <mailto:nigidaad at gmail.com>
>>     >> <mailto:nigidaad at gmail.com <mailto:nigidaad at gmail.com>>
>>     >>     > <mailto:nigidaad at gmail.com <mailto:nigidaad at gmail.com>
>>     <mailto:nigidaad at gmail.com <mailto:nigidaad at gmail.com>>>> wrote:
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >     First of all, I would like to say I think that Ms
>>     Baruah is an
>>     >>     >     incredibly brave woman for not only making her story
>>     public,
>>     >> but
>>     >>     >     also for not giving up despite being discouraged to
>>     report the
>>     >>     >     incident and CIS for issuing a statement on rather
>>     ignored
>>     >> issue
>>     >>     >     within our own circles. I personally know many women
>>     who don’t
>>     >>     >     report harassment because there is a lack of support and
>>     >>     significant
>>     >>     >     discouragement. Unfortunately, this leads to
>>     silencing and
>>     >>     harassers
>>     >>     >     are thus granted impunity.
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >     Ms Baruah’s statement betrays another reality that
>>     women in
>>     >> this
>>     >>     >     field have to live with if they wish to continue
>>     working: her
>>     >>     >     harasser was granted access to her space where he was
>>     allowed
>>     >> to
>>     >>     >     make her uncomfortable by staring. I have lost count
>>     of the
>>     >> number
>>     >>     >     of women who have spoken about this. Unless a strong
>>     >>     accountability
>>     >>     >     mechanism is enforced, the rate of reporting
>>     harassment will
>>     >>     remain
>>     >>     >     low. Women will not come forward unless they are
>>     guaranteed
>>     >> that
>>     >>     >     they will not have to face their harasser until they
>>     are ready
>>     >> to.
>>     >>     >     Furthermore, having to face a harasser is triggering and
>>     >> emotional
>>     >>     >     exhaustion leads to giving up.
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >     This incident should lead to reflection regarding
>>     harassment
>>     >>     in our
>>     >>     >     own tech community and development in general.
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >     Strong policies should not only be enforced, but
>>     should be
>>     >>     >     culturally sensitive. For example, if women from a very
>>     >>     patriarchal
>>     >>     >     country report harassment to someone, they should not
>>     be asked
>>     >> to
>>     >>     >     first officially report it legally. Some are unable
>>     to do so
>>     >> and
>>     >>     >     will hesitate to do so due to lack of support.
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >     More than anything else, as a community, we need to
>>     reflect on
>>     >> how
>>     >>     >     we got here and why. Perhaps some accountability on
>>     our own
>>     >>     roles is
>>     >>     >     necessary because men would not able to harass women
>>     so easily
>>     >>     >     unless they knew they had impunity on some level.
>>     While it is
>>     >>     >     heartening to see conversations taking place, I don’t
>>     believe
>>     >>     we can
>>     >>     >     have meaningful change unless we all collectively
>>     discuss how
>>     >>     we got
>>     >>     >     here in the first place. Why does the tech development
>>     >>     industry have
>>     >>     >     such a bad reputation when it comes to harassment?
>>     Surely it
>>     >> isn’t
>>     >>     >     the result of a conspiracy against us.
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >     Jac it would be great if we make this discussion
>>     happen at
>>     >> Gender
>>     >>     >     Dynamic Coalition in next IGF and discuss how to
>>     address the
>>     >> issue
>>     >>     >     of sexual harassment not only restricted to spaces
>>     like ICANN
>>     >> and
>>     >>     >     IGF but within our own community.
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >     My two cents..
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >     Best,
>>     >>     >     Nighat Dad
>>     >>     >     Digital Rights Foundation, Pakistan.
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >     Sent from my iPhone
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >     On 21-Mar-2016, at 8:00 pm, Sunil Abraham
>>     <sunil at cis-india.org <mailto:sunil at cis-india.org>
>>     >>     <mailto:sunil at cis-india.org <mailto:sunil at cis-india.org>>
>>     >>     >     <mailto:sunil at cis-india.org
>>     <mailto:sunil at cis-india.org> <mailto:sunil at cis-india.org
>>     <mailto:sunil at cis-india.org>>>>
>>     >> wrote:
>>     >>     >
>>     >>     >>     The Centre for Internet and Society
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>     Statement on Sexual Harassment at ICANN55
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>     The Centre for Internet and Society (“CIS”) strongly
>>     condemns
>>     >> the
>>     >>     >>     acts of sexual harassment that took place against
>>     one of our
>>     >>     >>     representatives, Ms. Padmini Baruah, during ICANN 55 in
>>     >> Marrakech.
>>     >>     >>     It is completely unacceptable that an event the
>>     scale of an
>>     >> ICANN
>>     >>     >>     meeting does not have in place a formal redressal
>>     system, a
>>     >>     >>     neutral point of contact or even a policy for
>>     complainants
>>     >> who
>>     >>     >>     have been put through the ordeal of sexual
>>     harassment. ICANN
>>     >>     >>     cannot claim to be inclusive or diverse if it does not
>>     >> formally
>>     >>     >>     recognise a specific procedure or recourse under such
>>     >> instances.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>     Ms. Baruah is by no means the first young woman to
>>     be subject
>>     >> to
>>     >>     >>     such treatment at an ICANN event, but she isthe first to
>>     >> raise a
>>     >>     >>     formalcomplaint. Following the incident, she was
>>     given no
>>     >>     >>     immediate remedy or formal recourse, and that has
>>     left her
>>     >> with no
>>     >>     >>     option but to make the incident publicly known in the
>>     >> interim. The
>>     >>     >>     ombudsman’s office has been in touch with her, but this
>>     >>     >>     administrative process is simply inadequate for
>>     >> rights-violations.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>     Ms. Baruah has received support from various community,
>>     >> staff, and
>>     >>     >>     board members. While we are thankful for their
>>     support, we
>>     >> believe
>>     >>     >>     that this situation can be better dealt with through
>>     some
>>     >> positive
>>     >>     >>     measures. We ask that ICANN carry out the following
>>     steps in
>>     >> order
>>     >>     >>     to make its meetings a truly safe and inclusive space:
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>     1.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>         Institute a formal redressal system and policy with
>>     >> regard to
>>     >>     >>         sexual harassment within ICANN. The policy must be
>>     >> displayed
>>     >>     >>         on the ICANN website, at the venue of meetings
>>     and made
>>     >>     >>         available in delegate kits.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>     2.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>         Institute an Anti Sexual Harassment Committee
>>     that is
>>     >> neutral
>>     >>     >>         and approachable. Merely having an ombudsman who
>>     is a
>>     >> white
>>     >>     >>         male, however well intentioned, is inadequate and
>>     >> completely
>>     >>     >>         unhelpful to the complainant. The present
>>     situation is
>>     >> one
>>     >>     >>         where the ombudsman has no effective power and only
>>     >> advises
>>     >>     >>         the board.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>     3.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>         Conduct periodic gender and sexual harassment
>>     training of
>>     >> the
>>     >>     >>         ICANN board to help them better understand these
>>     issues.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>     4.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>         Conduct periodic gender and sexual harassment
>>     training
>>     >> for the
>>     >>     >>         ombudsman even if he/she will not be the
>>     exclusive point
>>     >> of
>>     >>     >>         contact for complainants as the ombudsman forms an
>>     >> important
>>     >>     >>         part of community and participant engagement.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>     5.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>         Conduct periodic gender sensitisation for the ICANN
>>     >> community.
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>
>>     >>     >>   
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>>     > --
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>>     > Mishi Choudhary, Esq.
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>>
>>     Erika Smith
>>     Association for Progressive Communications
>>     Women's Rights Programme
>>
>>     Take Back the Tech! Reclaim ICTs to end violence against women:
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>>     Map tech-related violence https://www.apc.org/ushahidi
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