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Anti-Harassment and Appropriate Conduct Policy

 

General Principles

The Children’s Literature Association (ChLA) is committed to providing a friendly, welcoming environment in which all participants feel safe and are treated with respect. In order to create such an environment at our conferences, ancillary events, or official and unofficial social gatherings, on ChLA social media pages, other ChLA-sponsored online fora, or in connection with Association business, including the operation of the Association journals (hereafter referred to as “ChLA event”), participants are expected to maintain appropriate standards of behavior by refraining from conduct that may be harmful to themselves, other members and participants (including panelists, vendors, publishers, speakers, and volunteers), ChLA staff, and/or third parties. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.

Expected Behavior

ChLA expects participants in all our events, whether face-to-face or virtual, to:

  • Exercise consideration and respect in speech and actions
  • Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, and/or harassing behavior and speech
  • Report violations of this Anti-Harassment policy to a member of the ChLA Ethics Committee

 Unacceptable Behavior

Conduct that ChLA considers inappropriate includes, but is not limited to:

  • Offensive verbal or written comments related to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, or religion
  • Inappropriate physical contact (including unwelcome touching or groping)
  • Unwelcome sexual attention
  • Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
  • Unauthorized or unwanted photographing, recording or representation of likeness in any medium
  • Sustained disruption of talks or other events
  • Public sharing of others’ private or sensitive information without explicit consent
  • Real or implied threats of physical harm or professional or financial damage or harm

Harassment does not include respectful disagreement or reasonable and respectful critique made in good faith. ChLA firmly believes in the value of civil discourse and the free exploration of competing ideas and concepts, and that such civil discourse can coexist with a fundamental respect for the rights, dignity, and value of all persons.

ChLA encourages members and attendees to hold one another accountable to this policy, and to take the perspectives of others seriously when a disagreement arises.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior

This policy applies to both a single instance and patterns of harassment. Violation of this policy may result in appropriate action, such as immediate removal from the ChLA event in which harassment has occurred and exclusion from future ChLA events. Violation of this policy may result in police involvement, if deemed necessary. Reports of inappropriate conduct will be referred to ChLA’s Ethics Committee (please see P&P manual, pp. 120-122).

Participants asked to stop engaging in inappropriate behavior by a ChLA officer or ME staff member are expected to comply immediately. If a participant continues to engage in unacceptable behavior, ChLA may take appropriate action, including immediate removal from the presentation/conference by a designated member of our Ethics Committee; expulsion from the conference with no refund of conference fees; exclusion from future ChLA events; and/or revoking membership.

If you are Subject to or Witness Unacceptable Behavior:

If you are being harassed, notice someone else is being harassed, or have other questions or concerns about standards of behavior at ChLA events, please contact a member of the Ethics Committee immediately.

If possible, provide the following information:

  • Identifying information (e.g. name, affiliation, appearance) of the participant violating this policy.
  • The behavior that is in violation
  • The approximate time of the behavior (if different than the time the report is made)
  • The circumstances surrounding the incident
  • Other people involved or witnessing the incident

All reports will be held in strictest confidence within the guidelines established by the Ethics and Ombuds committee’s charges as established in the Policies & Procedures Manual, pp. 118-122.

Anyone can report harassment.

Required Contact Information

This Anti-Harassment Policy should be available on the association website, printed in the conference program, and prominently displayed at the conference registration desk.

All disseminated versions of the policy must include the following contact information:

  • Phone and email address for ChLA: Phone: (630) 571-4520 | E-mail: [email protected]
  • Phone number for hotel/venue security: Banquet house phones will connect guests to security.
  • In guestrooms, there is an emergency button on the phone.
  • Local law enforcement: 911 (emergency)
  • Local sexual assault hotline:
  • Local emergency and non-emergency medical clinic:
  • Local taxi company:

Addressing Grievances

If you feel you have been falsely or unfairly accused of violating this Anti-Harassment and Appropriate Conduct Policy, you should notify the Ombuds Committee with a concise written description of your grievance.