Code of
Conduct
To Prevent
Harassment,
Including Sexual
Harassment,
AT UN SYSTEM EVENTS
[Link]/codeofconduct
#codeofconduct
ZERO TOLERANCE
FOR HARASSMENT AT
UN SYSTEM EVENTS
Purpose • Repeatedly asking a person for dates or asking for
sex
The organizations of the United Nations system are • Staring in a sexually suggestive manner
committed to enabling events at which everyone can
• Unwelcome touching, including pinching, patting,
participate in an inclusive, respectful and safe environment.
rubbing or purposefully brushing
UN system events are guided by the highest ethical and up against a person
professional standards, and all participants are expected to • Making inappropriate sexual gestures,
behave with integrity and respect towards all participants such as pelvic thrusts
attending or involved with any UN system event. • Sharing sexual or lewd anecdotes or jokes
• Sending sexually suggestive communications in any
format
Applicability • Sharing or displaying sexually inappropriate images
The Code of Conduct applies to any UN system event, which or videos in any format
shall include meetings, conferences and symposia, • Attempted or actual sexual assault,
assemblies, receptions, scientific and technical events, including rape
expert meetings, workshops, exhibits, side events and any
other forum organized, hosted or sponsored in whole or part
by a UN system entity wherever it takes place, and any event Complaint process
or gathering that takes place on UN system premises A participant who feels that they have been harassed at a UN
whether or not a UN system entity is organizing, hosting or system event may report the matter to the organizer of the
sponsoring. UN system event or relevant security authority, and a
participant who witnesses such harassment should make
The Code of Conduct applies to all participants at a UN
such a report. Such reporting shall have no effect on any
system event, including all persons attending or involved in
applicable rules and procedures that may apply in the UN
any capacity in a UN system event.
system or to other personnel. The organizer of the UN
The UN system or other entity responsible for a UN system system event will be expected to take appropriate action in
event commits to implementing the Code of Conduct. accordance with its applicable policies, regulations and rules.
The Code of Conduct is not legal or prescriptive in nature. It Examples of appropriate action may include, but are not
supplements, and does not affect, the application of other limited to:
relevant policies, regulations, rules and laws, including laws • undertaking a fact-finding exercise
regulating the premises in which the UN system event takes
• requesting the perpetrator to immediately stop the
place and any applicable host country agreements.
offending behavior
• suspending or terminating the perpetrator’s access to
the UN system event or refusing registration at future
Prohibited conduct UN system events,
Harassment is any improper or unwelcome conduct that or both
might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause • conveying the complaint to any investigative or
offence or humiliation to another person. Harassment in any disciplinary authority with jurisdiction over the person
form because of gender, gender identity and expression, accused of harassment
sexual orientation, physical ability, physical appearance, • conveying a report to the employer or entity with
ethnicity, race, national origin, political affiliation, age, jurisdiction over the person accused of harassment
religion or any other reason is prohibited at UN system for appropriate follow-up action
events.
Sexual harassment is a specific type of prohibited conduct. The victim of alleged harassment may also seek help from
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome conduct of a sexual other relevant authorities, such as the police, bearing in mind
nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to the applicable legal framework.
cause offense or humiliation. Sexual harassment may involve
any conduct of a verbal, nonverbal or physical nature, A participant should never knowingly make a false or
including written and electronic communications, and may misleading claim about prohibited conduct.
occur between persons of the same or different genders.
Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not
limited to: Prohibition of retaliation
• Making derogatory or demeaning comments about Threats, intimidation or any other form of retaliation against
someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity a participant who has made a complaint or provided
information in support of a complaint are prohibited. The UN
• Name-calling or using slurs with a gender/sexual
system or other entity responsible for a UN system event will
connotation
take any reasonable appropriate action needed to prevent
• Making sexual comments about appearance, clothing and respond to retaliation, in accordance with its applicable
or body parts policy, regulations and rules.
• Rating a person’s sexuality