Community Standards

Principles of community

The Society of Family Planning (the Society) has a fundamental commitment to all persons being treated with dignity and respect, and to upholding the principles of the broadest forms of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our governance and programming. This policy outlines the Society’s response to potential violations of community norms.

This policy applies in the settings of Society programs and governance, including events and ancillary gatherings where it can reasonably be assumed the Society has primary responsibility and authority.

This policy prohibits the following conduct, as well as attempts to commit and aide or incite others to commit these acts. Please note that these definitions are behavioral definitions, not legal or criminal definitions.

1. Inappropriate conduct: The term "inappropriate conduct" is broader than the definitions of harassment and sexual harassment listed below to include any comments or conduct that disparages or demonstrates hostility or aversion towards any person that could reasonably be perceived as disruptive, offensive, or inappropriate in the Society’s activities.

2. Harassment: Unwelcome, deliberate, or repeated unsolicited verbal, written, or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual.

3. Sexual harassment: A form of harassment that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or that occurs outside of employment but involves similar conduct. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature are examples of sexual harassment.

4. Gender-based harassment: Gender-based harassment refers to acts of aggression, intimidation, stalking, or hostility based on gender, gender identity, or gender-stereotyping.

5. Sexual intimidation: Sexual intimidation refers to threatening behavior of sexual nature directed at another person or group that reasonably leads the individual(s) to fear for their physical well-being or to engage in sexual conduct for self protection, such as threatening to sexually assault another person or engaging in indecent exposure.

6. Sexual exploitation: Sexual exploitation refers to non-consensual abuse or exploitation of another person’s sexuality for the purpose of sexual gratification, financial gain, personal benefit or advantage, or any other non-legitimate purpose.

7. Sexual assault or non-consensual sexual contact: Sexual assault and non-consensual sexual contact refer to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent.

8. Stalking: Stalking refers to a pattern of behavior or conduct directed at a specific person that involves unwanted pursuit, such as repeated visual or physical proximity, nonconsensual communication, verbal, written, or implied threats, vandalizing property, or a combination of any of these,  that would cause a reasonable person to be fearful of serious harm or danger to themselves or to individuals close to them.

9. Retaliation: Retaliation refers to any act of intimidation against individuals who in good faith assert their rights to bring a complaint under this Policy, including individuals who file a third-person report, or participate in an investigation, or protest the alleged conduct or retaliation. Retaliation can take many forms, including sustained abuse or violence, threats, and intimidation. Any individual or group of individuals, not just a complainant or the accused, can be responsible for retaliation. Retaliation is considered a separate offense from the original complaint and will be considered independently from the merits of the underlying complaint.

Acknowledgement 

By participating in any Society programs, you acknowledge that you have read our community standards and will strive to uphold the specified expectations. You also acknowledge that the Society may impose sanctions and take remedial action, as a result of a finding of a policy violation. These standards extend to Society Board members, committee members, members, grantees, and anyone who attends our events and ancillary events where it can reasonably be assumed the Society has primary responsibility and authority.

Reporting process