Anti-Harassment Policy

The open exchange of ideas is central to the mission of the Association for Constraint Programming (ACP). This requires an environment that embraces diversity and provides a safe, welcoming environment for all.

As a result, in 2018 the ACP adopted the following anti-harassment policy (based on the one adopted by the ACM also in 2018) to be observed during all ACP activities, including:

  • Conferences, symposia, workshops, and events sponsored, co-sponsored, or in cooperation with the ACP;
  • ACP member meetings;
  • Exchanges among committees or other bodies associated with ACP activities publications and communications sent through communication channels associated with ACP, including social media.

Expected Behaviour

We expect all participants in ACP activities to abide by this policy in all venues, including ancillary events and unofficial social gatherings:

  • Exercise ‬consideration ‬and ‬respect ‬in ‬your ‬speech ‬and ‬actions;‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
  • Refrain ‬from ‬demeaning, ‬discriminatory, ‬or ‬harassing ‬behaviour ‬and ‬speech;‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
  • Be ‬mindful ‬of ‬your ‬surroundings ‬and ‬of ‬your ‬fellow ‬participants‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬;‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
  • Alert ‬community ‬leaders ‬if ‬you ‬notice ‬a ‬dangerous ‬situation, ‬someone ‬in distress, or violations of this policy, even if they seem inconsequential.

We in particular request compliance with above expectations from individuals who have authority over others.

Unacceptable Behaviour

Unacceptable at any ACP activity is:

  • Abuse: Any action directed at an individual that (a) interferes substantially with that person’s participation; or (b) causes that person to fear for his/her personal safety.
  • Discriminatory Harassment: Any conduct that discriminates or denigrates an individual on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, nationality, age, sexual or gender identity, disability, and any other characteristic protected by law in the location where the ACP activity takes place.‬
  • Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, or other verbal/physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Unacceptable ‬behaviours ‬include‬‬, but are not limited to:

  • Intimidating, ‬harassing, ‬abusive, ‬discriminatory, ‬derogatory ‬or ‬demeaning ‬speech ‬or ‬actions ‬by ‬any ‬participant ‬in ACP activities, ‬at ‬all ‬related ‬events ‬and ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬in ‬one-on-one ‬communications ‬carried ‬out ‬in ‬the ‬context ‬of ACP activities‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬;‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
  • Offensive, degrading, humiliating, harmful, ‬or ‬prejudicial ‬verbal ‬or ‬written ‬comments or visual images ‬related ‬to ‬gender, ‬sexual ‬orientation, ‬race, ‬religion, ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬disability‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬, age, appearance, or other personal characteristics‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬;‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
  • Unwelcome sexual advances or propositions, requests for sexual favours, inappropriate touching of an individual’s body, or other verbal/physical conduct of a sexual nature;
  • Inappropriate ‬or gratuitous use ‬of ‬nudity, ‬sexual ‬images, or stereotyped images ‬including using an activity‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬-related communication channel to display or distribute ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬sexually explicit or otherwise offensive or discriminatory images or messages; ‬
  • Bullying, stalking ‬or ‬following;
  • Harassing ‬photography ‬or ‬recording;
  • Sustained ‬disruption ‬of ‬talks ‬or ‬other ‬events;‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
  • Physical assault;
  • Real or implied threat of physical, professional or financial damage or harm.

Harassment can occur when there is no deliberate intention to offend. Be careful in the words that you choose. Harassment committed in a joking manner or disguised as a compliment still constitutes unacceptable behaviour. Remember that sexist, racist, and other exclusionary jokes can be offensive to those around you.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behaviour

If ‬a ‬participant in an ACP activity ‬engages ‬in unacceptable behaviour, the ACP ‬reserves the right to take any action it deems ‬appropriate. This ‬includes‬‬, but is not limited to::‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

  • Remove an individual from any ACP activity without warning or refund;
  • Prohibit an individual from participating in future ACP activities, including publishing in ACP publications;
  • Exclude an individual from ACP leadership positions;
  • Exclude any individual from deriving other benefits from ACP activities;
  • Suspend or terminate membership in ACP.

Such sanctions may be applied regardless of whether or not the offender is a member of ACP.

Appropriate sanctions will also be taken toward any individual who knowingly makes a false allegation of harassment.

How to Report Unacceptable Behaviour

Any individual who experiences harassment (as described above) at any ACP activity can report the incident using the online form for Reporting Violations of the ACP Policy Against Harassment. Prompt reporting is critical, and all reports will be followed up swiftly by the ACP. In doing so, the ACP will strive to keep the identity of the individual making the report as confidential as possible.

The ACP prohibits any threats or acts of retaliation against individuals who report unacceptable behaviour or provide information in connection with a report by another individual. The ACP considers a threat or act of retaliation to be as serious an offence as harassment itself and will handle reports of retaliation accordingly.

Addressing Grievances

Any individual who feels has been falsely or unfairly accused of violating this Policy Against Harassment at ACP Activities, should notify ec@a4cp.org with a concise description of the grievance, which will also be followed up swiftly.

Warnings and Disclaimers

This Policy Against Harassment at ACP Activities is not intended to limit open discussion of the merits of particular work or issues presented at ACP events. It applies only to behaviour at ACP events and activities.

The ACP assumes no liability or responsibility for the actions of any member or other activity participant.

The ACP is not responsible for protecting the safety of members or participants in ACP activities. Any individual who feels his/her safety is at risk due to harassment or for any other reason is encouraged to take appropriate steps to ensure personal safety.

There may be situations (such as those involving Title IX issues in the United States and venue- or employer-specific policies) where an on-site person who is informed of harassment will be under an obligation to file a report with an individual or organisation outside of the ACP.

Online form

Please, use this online form to report any unacceptable behaviour.