Public Comment
Proposed ICANN Community Anti-Harassment Policy
Open Date
7 November 2016 23:59 UTC
Close Date
12 January 2017 23:59 UTC
Staff Report Due
26 January 2017 23:59 UTC
Brief Overview
Purpose: This public comment proceeding seeks to obtain community input on the proposed ICANN Community Anti-Harassment Policy [PDF, 72 KB], which includes Terms of Participation and a Complaint Procedure.
Current Status: The proposed ICANN Community Anti-Harassment Policy was created following consultation with experts and after consideration of the public comments received on the already adopted revisions to ICANN’s Expected Standards of Behavior. The community called for a more detailed policy statement and a complaint procedure, which is included in the proposal for the community’s consideration and input.
Next Steps: Upon completion of the public comment proceeding, ICANN staff will summarize and forward any community input to the ICANN Board for consideration.
Section I: Description and Explanation
The proposed ICANN Community Anti-Harassment Policy sets out how the participants in the ICANN community are expected to behave when participating in ICANN’s multistakeholder processes.
The proposed ICANN Community Anti-Harassment Policy is now provided for the community’s input. The proposed text is based in generally accepted broad standards for anti-harassment.
Section II: Background
During and after ICANN55, the issue of certain community member conduct toward one another was raised in various sessions and on various email lists, and the ICANN Board agreed to address this matter. In response, the ICANN Board has confirmed and reiterated that the ICANN Board and staff take the issue of harassment or other improper conduct at its meetings very seriously. ICANN and members of the community share the goal of ensuring that ICANN community members are able to participate and contribute within an environment that remains free from harassment.
As an organization, ICANN has robust internal policies regarding the issue, including mandatory training. While ICANN community members are not bound to the same policies and rules as the ICANN organization or the ICANN Board, ICANN does expect community members to adhere to certain Expected Standards of Behavior. In addressing the issues identified at ICANN55, one step taken was to revise the Expected Standards of Behavior to specifically call out issues of harassment and the fact that such conduct is not acceptable in ICANN fora. The revised ICANN Board-approved version of the ICANN Expected Standards of Behavior can be found at: https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/expected-standards-2016-06-28-en.
In addition, as noted by the ICANN Board in adopting the revised Expected Standards of Behavior (see https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2016-06-25-en#2.f), the organization has worked with an expert, as appropriate and necessary, to develop a proposed “ICANN Community Anti-Harassment Policy” for the community’s consideration, which if adopted should be followed at ICANN Public meetings and throughout other ICANN community interactions. The proposed ICANN Community Anti-Harassment Policy is the subject of this public comment proceeding, which the ICANN Board resolved to post for 60 days so that the community has sufficient time to discuss, evaluate and formulate comments for consideration (see https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2016-11-05-en#1.a). As requested by the community, the proposed Policy also includes a complaint procedure.
Note that as the Board approved a 60-day public comment period at its 5 November 2016 meeting while in Hyderabad, for transparency purposes the public comment process is being opened now, but the 60 days will not start running until 13 November 2016 and will run through 12 January 2017.
Section III: Relevant Resources
Proposed ICANN Community Anti-Harassment Policy [PDF, 72 KB]
Section IV: Additional Information
For more information, see https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2016-11-05-en#1.a
Comments Closed
Report of Public Comments