Plan to Promote Safe Environments

The CFAR leadership is committed to providing a conference environment free from discrimination and harassment of all types. Please see below for the (1) Safety Plan/Conference Code of Conduct, our (2) Communication and Documentation Strategy, and information on the (3) Steps to Ensure a Safe and Respectful Environment.

Safety Plan/Conference Code of Conduct:

We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all attendees at the CFAR National Scientific Symposium and other associated meetings. We expect all attendees to conduct themselves professionally, respectfully, and in accordance with our Conference Code of Conduct. Any behavior that is inconsistent with our commitment to a safe and inclusive environment will not be tolerated.

Our Conference Code of Conduct’s expectations of behavior include:

  • Inclusive Behavior: All attendees are expected to be inclusive and welcoming of others, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or other personal characteristics.
  • Respectful and Open-minded Communication: All attendees are expected to communicate constructively with each other in a respectful and professional manner, free from derogatory language or disrespectful behavior.
  • Zero Tolerance Policy: Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation of any kind will not be tolerated. Specific examples of unacceptable behaviors include:
    • Verbal Harassment: This can include making derogatory comments, using slurs or other sexist, racist, or homophobic language, making jokes or comments that are offensive or disrespectful, or engaging in verbal bullying or intimidation.
    • Non-Verbal Harassment: This can include making gestures or facial expressions that are derogatory or intimidating, invading someone's personal space, making threatening or violent gestures, engaging in physical altercations, or using physical touch in any way that is unwanted or inappropriate.
    • Sexual Harassment: This can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is unwanted or offensive. Sexual harassment can also include comments or behaviors that create a hostile or offensive conference environment.
    • Racial or Ethnic Harassment: This includes derogatory comments, slurs, or jokes based on someone's race or ethnicity, or other behavior that creates a hostile or offensive environment based on race or ethnicity.
    • Discrimination: This can include treating someone unfairly or differently because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, religious or other personal characteristics.
    • Intimidation: This can include using threats, intimidation, or other forms of coercion to pressure someone into doing something they do not want to do.
    • Retaliation: This can include taking negative action against someone who has reported a violation of the expectations of behavior.
  • Reporting of Violations: All attendees are encouraged to report any violations of the expectations of behavior, including incidents of harassment or discrimination, to the conference organizers.

 

We take all allegations of violations of our expectations of behavior seriously. If you experience or witness behavior that you believe violates our expectations, please confidentially report it to this year’s conference organizers by contacting the conference organizers: 

Anne Efron, MSN, MPH, RN
Administrative Director, Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research
Email: aefron1@jhmi.edu
Phone: 410-502-2803

We will assess all allegations of violations of our expectations of behavior and take appropriate action. Consequences may include removing individuals from the conference/meeting, banning individuals from future CFAR National Meetings, and reporting individuals to appropriate authorities. It's important to note that the specific approach to investigating and assessing allegations may depend on the nature and severity of the alleged behavior, as well as the resources available to the meeting organizers. Investigations may include collecting witness statements and any other relevant evidence. The organizers will keep detailed records of the investigation and any resulting actions taken.  Meeting organizers will take steps to ensure that all assessments are conducted fairly and impartially, potentially engaging an external investigator or other third-party to assess allegations of violations of our expectations of behavior if the allegation involves a conflict of interest or if the organizers themselves are implicated in the alleged behavior.

Individuals who have questions, concerns, or complaints regarding harassment are encouraged to contact the conference organizers or the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Individuals may also file a complaint with the HHS OCR by following the instructions on their Filing a Civil Rights Complaint webpage: https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/index.html. Please note that filing a complaint with the conference organizer is not required before filing a complaint of discrimination with HHS OCR and seeking assistance from the conference organizers in no way prohibits filing complaints with HHS OCR.

Individuals with concerns of harassment, including sexual harassment, discrimination, or other forms of inappropriate conduct at this NIH-supported meeting, can contact the NIH using the instructions on this Find Help webpage: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/harassment/find-help.htm.

Thank you for your agreement to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all attendees.