ARIN Participants Expected Standards of Behavior

Version 3.0
January 2024

Those who take part in any ARIN meeting, conference or event including but not limited to Public Policy and Member Meetings, ARIN on the Road, ARIN in the Caribbean, etc., and related activities (including but not limited to ARIN staff, members of the Board of Trustees, Advisory Council [“AC”], Address Supporting Organization Address Council [“ASO AC”], and ARIN meeting attendees) must:

• Treat each other with civility, courtesy and respect (both face-to-face and online), regardless of the sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, age, religion, creed, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, occupation, line of business, or any other classification protected by law, or policy position of other participants.
• Make reasonable and informed comments when participating in policy development and decision-making discussions and processes.
• Listen respectfully to the views of all stakeholders when considering policy issues.
• Those who take part in the ARIN Policy Development Process must take responsibility for the success of the model by trying to build consensus with other participants and find solutions to issues.
• Act fairly and in good faith with other participants in the ARIN process.
• Act in accordance with ARIN’s Policy Development Process when participating in ARIN public policy events. The ARIN model is based on a bottom-up, consensus-driven approach to policy development.
• Refrain from inappropriate photography or recording of individuals without their knowledge or permission.
• Follow the rules and regulations of the event venue or hotel.

Further, those who participate in ARIN events and related activities must foster an environment that is free from any form of discrimination and conduct that is harassing, coercive, or disruptive. ARIN prohibits harassment in any form – verbal, physical or visual – and will not tolerate discriminatory harassment or inappropriate conduct of a harassing nature directed against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, age, religion, creed, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, occupation, line of business, or any other classification protected by law, or policy position of other participants.

Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination that is unlawful and violates this policy. For purposes of this policy, sexual harassment is defined generally to include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when such conduct is made a condition of an individual’s employment or participation, used as the basis for decisions, or has the effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s performance or creating a hostile environment. Sexually harassing conduct, as well as inappropriate conduct of a harassing nature, is prohibited. Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to: (1) sexually-oriented kidding, teasing, gestures or jokes; (2) offensive or unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, or propositions; (3) verbal abuse of a sexual nature; (4) graphic or verbal comments, epithets, or slurs about an individual’s body; (5) sexually degrading words used to describe an individual; (6) the display or transmission (e.g., e-mail, text or social media) of sexually suggestive or sexually explicit materials (such as magazines, videos, pictures, cartoons or posters); (7) inquiries into another individual’s sexual experiences and activities or discussion of one’s own sexual experiences and activities; and (8) unwelcome intentional touching of another person or other unwanted intentional physical conduct.

ARIN is committed to supporting a productive and safe environment for all participants at ARIN events. Any ARIN participant who feels that another participant has violated these standards is asked to immediately notify any of the following: ARIN’s President and CEO, Chief Human Resources Officer, or General Counsel; the Chair of ARIN’s Board; or the Ombudsperson. Contact information for these individuals can be found here. Any ARIN participant who believes there has been a violation of this policy on the ARIN mailing list should report it via the ARIN Mailing List Acceptable Use Policy.

All allegations of violations that are reported will be reviewed as promptly as possible and will be treated with as much confidentiality as possible, consistent with the need to conduct a thorough review and investigation if necessary.

ARIN prohibits retaliation against any ARIN community member or participant who, in good faith, alleges a violation of these standards, even if sufficient evidence is not found to substantiate the allegation. ARIN also prohibits retaliation against any ARIN participant or community member participating in a review or an investigation of an allegation. An ARIN community member or participant will not be penalized in any way for reporting a potential violation of these standards.

Violations of these standards may result in disciplinary action without warning, which correlates with the nature and gravity of the violation. Discipline can include but is not limited to:

• A reprimand.
• Removal from ARIN-related activities and/or initiatives.
• Any other measure deemed necessary to maintain a productive and safe working environment for all participants.