Consistent with the Governance Committee’s Terms of Reference, the Committee had been requested by AFRINIC’s Chief Executive Officer to review the current Code of Conduct.

On 31 March 2021, a Call for Comments was launched for one month.

The Governance Committee has considered the input received from the Community and thus proposes the following draft new Code of Conduct for the Community’s final review which shall be open for 3 weeks.

The deadline for this final review shall end on 5 August 2021.

The Governance Committee looks forward to continuous beneficial engagement with its stakeholders.

AFRINIC Code of Conduct

Purpose and Scope

AFRINIC community is a collaborative environment in which stakeholders from many different backgrounds and cultures work together for the good of the African and global Internet. Consistent with its role as RIR, AFRINIC, therefore, coordinates various community activities, including conferences, community meetings as defined in its bylaws, training, workshops, social events and digital platforms (including the AFRINIC blog, mailing lists and social media channels). These activities, howsoever held, are intended for information dissemination, discussion and knowledge-share.

Notwithstanding the above, this Code of Conduct also applies to anyone interacting, directly or indirectly, with AFRINIC including registered administrative contacts appearing for and on behalf of AFRINIC Resource Members.

This Code of Conduct explains the expectations for anyone interacting with AFRINIC; as well as those participating in the events and platforms including delegates, guests, speakers, contributors, commenters, AFRINIC Board members as well as staff, and all others involved to behave professionally and respectfully at all times.

Expected behaviour

Anyone involved in AFRINIC participation spaces is expected to:

1. Treat others with politeness and show equal respect to others.
2. Avoid behaviour or remarks that give offence or discriminate based on gender, sexual orientation, religion, race or ethnic origin, language, or other perceived social, cultural, or personal differences. 
3. Avoid personal attacks or otherwise defamatory or discriminatory comments.
4. Avoid any form of harassment or other conduct that might create an intimidating or offensive environment.
5. State your opinion calmly and politely when participating in debates.
6. Listen respectfully to the views of other participants.
7. Respect meetings’ agenda.
8. Respect all directives given by the meetings’ timekeeper: Please keep your remarks reasonably short, and if the session leader closes the microphones before you have had the chance to speak, then please return to your seat and request for an additional floor if willing to.
9. Work to build consensus with other participants and to find solutions to problems, particularly in the case of debates and policy development and decision-making processes.
10. Respect language differences, translators, and remote participants: Please speak slowly and clearly, and use the microphones, where appropriate.
11. Avoid any form of antisocial behaviour, such as offending or exerting physical violence against third parties, interrupting activities during an event, misuse of public spaces or private property (e.g. damage to the facilities), theft or other illegal behaviours.
12. Act fairly and in good faith in your interactions with others.
13. Act in the best interests of the AFRINIC community at all times. 

If you are subject to or witness unacceptable behaviour, or have any other concerns, please notify us as soon as possible by emailing comms@afrinic.net

Additionally, AFRINIC event staff are available to help community members experiencing unacceptable behaviour. In the context of in-person events, organizers will also provide escorts if needed by anyone experiencing distress.

Consequences

Unacceptable behaviour by any community member, including those with decision-making authority, will not be tolerated. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behaviour is expected to comply immediately. Likewise, inappropriate behaviour may lead to you being asked to leave the meeting (and without refund in the case of a paid event) or to be unsubscribed from the relevant mailing lists.

If you have any questions about expected behaviours at meetings or the code of conduct, please contact comms@afrinic.net

Enforcement of Code of Conduct

In regard to the rpd mailing list, the responsibility to enforce the code of conduct lies with the PDWG co-chairs. If you observe a violation of the code of conduct, please send an email to the co-chairs via 'pdwg [at] afrinic dot net'.

As regard, the members and community mailing lists, the responsibility to enforce the code of conduct lies with the CEO or staff designated by the CEO.

In the case of community mailing lists, the CEO or staff will not take action without a complaint. If you observe a violation of the code of conduct, please send an email to 'ceo [at] afrinic dot net'.

Understanding AFRINIC Warning Process on AFRINIC Mailing lists 

The AFRINIC mailing lists warning system is intended to safeguard the community in general, including AFRINIC staff, from being subject to behaviours that deviate from the current AFRINIC Code of Conduct and Terms of use and is intended to assist the enforcement authority in its decision to enforce a warning

Following a first breach of the Code of Conduct and/or Terms of Use, the subscriber will receive the first warning from AFRINIC

Following a second breach, the subscriber’s email will be subject to moderation. This implies a moderator from AFRINIC will moderate the subscriber’s email before pushing it to the list. This moderation will take place for a period not exceeding three months.

Following a third breach, the subscriber will be removed from the mailing list for a period of three months.

For the purposes of the above, the warning issued for each breach shall be valid for a period not exceeding 12 months following the notification of the warning on the mailing list.

Following a fourth breach, the subscriber may be removed from the list with no possibility of return.

 Please use the comment feature at the bottom of this page to submit your comments.