The Policy Against Harassment at ACM Activities applies to all SIGDOC meetings, events, and conferences. This policy communicates what the expected and unacceptable behaviors are of participants in ACM events (policy does not only apply to ACM members). As one of 38 SIGs operating within the ACM organizational infrastructure, SIGDOC is beholden to this policy, as well as the:
While these other policies often only are applicable to ACM members, the ACM Policy Against Harassment applies to anyone participating in an ACM-sponsored event.
Should you experience or witness any form of harassment listed in the above anti-harassment policy at a SIGDOC event, there are two steps of action, as per the webpage on Reporting Unacceptable Behavior at ACM Activities:
  1. In the event of unacceptable behavior, you may wish to inform a person in authority. Those in authority to act in these cases include the event organizers (e.g., event chair, a SIG Chair or leader). These individuals can provide information about the process for handling complaints or handling immediate onsite needs. If you feel as though you have enough information from the resources linked above, you can proceed to step two.
  2. Report the incident using the form for Reporting Violations of the ACM Policy Against Harassment. Any investigation or further action requires that a written communication be made to ACM. Prompt reporting is critical so that ACM can take action to stop the conduct before it is repeated. All reports will be followed up promptly, with further investigation conducted where needed to confirm facts or resolve disputed facts. In conducting its investigations, ACM will strive to keep the identity of the individual making the report as confidential as possible beyond the investigation. ACM prohibits any threats or acts of retaliation against individuals who report unacceptable behavior or provide information in connection with a report by another individual. ACM considers a threat or act of retaliation to be as serious an offense as harassment itself and will handle reports of retaliation accordingly.
You can also email a trained ACM representative directly at advocate@acm.org to inquire further about ACM policies and process. We’re committed to empowering our attendees and members by educating everyone accountable to these applicable policies. If you would like more clarity on any of the policies listed above or would like to relay your experiences, please feel free to reach out to the SIGDOC Chair or anyone else on the SIGDOC Advisory Board.