The International Baccalaureate Organization (IB) is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for all individuals attending its events, including Global Conferences, professional development workshops and similar events, whether held in person or virtually (hereinafter referred to as “IB events”). The IB seeks to provide an environment in which a diverse group of attendees may learn, network and enjoy the company of colleagues in a professional and safe atmosphere. The IB does not tolerate harassment in any form. If, in the judgment of the IB event leadership or staff, an attendee is violating this Policy, the attendee may be ejected from the event and, upon further review, may be banned from attending any future IB events. The decision of IB event leadership is final.
The IB is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability, physical appearance, age, race, colour or nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership or other personal attributes. Harassment is unwanted physical verbal or non-verbal conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. The IB does not tolerate harassment, bullying or attempted bullying of IB event participants, delegates, guests, speakers, exhibitors, or staff in any form.
All IB event attendees are expected to show respect and courtesy to other attendees, IB staff and those involved with hosting the IB event. All delegates, guests, attendees, speakers, exhibitors, staff and volunteers at any IB event are required to conform to this Policy. The IB will enforce this Policy in relation to matters that are reported during or after the event, as appropriate.
All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience, including people of many different cultures, backgrounds, opinions and personal attributes. Attendees may not insult nor disparage other attendees, and consideration should be given to topics that might be offensive to others. Attendees are expected to behave professionally and to remember that discriminatory, sexual or exclusionary jokes are not appropriate. In addition, sexual language, imagery or behaviour are not appropriate, and any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature will constitute harassment. Attendees violating this Policy may be asked, at the discretion of the IB event leadership, to leave the IB event, without a refund, and further action may be taken in accordance with this Policy. If an attendee sees or suspects any behaviour that may violate this Policy, they should not be afraid to report it.
Scope of Policy
This Policy applies to all attendees (including participants, speakers, leaders, guests, staff, contractors, and exhibitors) at IB events, including Global Conferences, professional development workshops and similar events, whether held in person or virtually.
Definition of Harassment
Harassment is unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating another person’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for another person.
Depending on the severity of the actions, a single incident of any of the former mentioned conduct can amount to harassment.
The following are examples of conduct deemed to constitute harassment (the below list is non-exhaustive):
- physical conduct of a sexual nature: unwanted physical contact, even if not obviously sexual, including unnecessary touching or brushing against another person’s body;
- display or circulation of sexually suggestive material or material with racial overtones;
- unwanted sexual advances, propositions or pressure of a sexual nature, suggestions that sexual favors may further a career (or refusal may hinder it), or continued suggestion of social activity or continued contact after it has been made clear that such suggestions are unwelcome;
- insults, ridicule, teasing, or use of slang names of a sexual, religious, gender, racial, disability or age-related nature, or comments or jokes of a harassing nature which a person present has indicated he or she dislikes;
- unnecessary, unwanted, or offensive comments about appearance or dress;
- belittling of a person including, but not limited to, swearing at or insulting an individual;
- offensive, humiliating, intimidating or degrading verbal comments or behaviour related to gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, race, colour or nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership;
- bullying or attempted bullying;
- stalking, filming, photography or recording a person, or sustained disruption of talks or other events.
IB staff and venue staff should be treated with the same respect and under the same principles as an attendee would adhere to in the treatment of the members, staff, and clients of the school, district, company or organisation that the attendee represents. Participants, exhibitors and all other attendees asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately. If an attendee engages in behaviour that violates this Policy, the IB may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning the offender, expulsion from the IB event with no refund and/or banning the individual(s) from future IB events.
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