inba code of conduct

Code of Conduct for Participants at Ireland Netherlands Business Association Events (INBA) Events

Context and approach INBA organises regular public events and programmes in the Netherlands, and on occasion/ certain instances, we also organise events in collaboration with partner organisations. 

INBA is committed to enabling events at which everyone can participate in an inclusive, respectful, healthy, and safe environment and be treated with fairness and dignity. 

This applies to all attendees, participants, INBA Board and staff members, speakers and external contractors servicing our events.

 The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to ensure INBA and partner organisations are aware of and familiar with procedures and that all attendees and participants agree to and adhere to this Code and associated procedures. INBA is committed to implementing the Code of Conduct fairly. 

The INBA Safeguarding Policy Statement underpins this code of conduct. 

Code of Conduct: Attendees, participants, members and contractors at INBA’s events and programmes agree to the following: 

1. Behave in a professional and courteous manner at all times. 

2. Treat all other attendees and participants with respect and dignity. Any form of harassment, including sexual harassment, is prohibited and described under “Prohibition of harassment” below. 

3. Respect the privacy, personal space and preferences of any other attendee, or participant and treat them with dignity and respect. 

4. Follow all applicable rules and procedures of the event or programme, including any relevant health and safety protocols. 

5. Cooperate and comply with requests and instructions from INBA Board members, volunteers or staff and/or venue/security staff regarding conduct at INBA events. 

6. Refrain from using INBA events and programmes as venues and/or outlets for unauthorised activities. 

Should an issue arise: 

1. If an issue arises for a participant/attendee/staff member at an INBA event or programme, they may report the matter to an INBA board member, who will endeavour to resolve the issue in the first instance. 

2. A Board member will endeavour to resolve the issue, and the issue will be recorded. The person who raised the issue and/or other relevant persons may be contacted during this process. If the incident cannot be resolved on site, the matter will be escalated to the INBA Board. 

3. If the issue is still not resolved, legal advice may be sought. 

4. During this process, INBA will keep in regular contact or engagement to update the person who raised the issue. Any non-compliant behaviour is prohibited. INBA reserves the right to ask a person who does not abide by our Code of Conduct to leave an event to ensure the wellbeing of all other participants. 

INBA reserves the right to refuse admission. Prohibition of harassment Harassment is defined as any form of unwanted conduct related to any of these discriminatory grounds, which has the purpose, or effect of violating a person’s dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person. The unwanted conduct may include acts, requests, spoken words, gestures, or the production, display or circulation of written words, pictures, or other material. 

The following are examples of inappropriate behaviour, which may constitute harassment. These examples of harassment are illustrative but not exhaustive: 

1. Verbal harassment, e.g. jokes, derogatory comments, ridicule or song; 

2. Written harassment, e.g. text messages, e-mails or notices 

3. Physical harassment, e.g. jostling or shoving; 

4. Intimidatory harassment, e.g. gestures or threatening poses; 

5. Visual displays, e.g. posters, emblems or badges; 

6. Persistent negative body language; 

7. Ostracising a person. 

What is Sexual Harassment? Sexual harassment is any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person. This includes same-sex sexual harassment. The unwanted conduct may consist of acts, requests, spoken words, gestures, or the production, display or circulation of written words, pictures, or other material. 

The following are some examples of inappropriate behaviour, which may constitute sexual harassment. These examples are illustrative but not exhaustive. 

1. Physical conduct of a sexual nature, e.g., unwanted physical contact such as unnecessary touching, patting, or pinching or brushing against another person’s body; 

2. Verbal conduct of a sexual nature, e.g., unwelcome sexual advances, propositions or pressure for sexual activity, continued suggestions for social activity after it has been made clear that such suggestions are unwelcome, unwanted, and offensive flirtations, suggestive remarks, innuendos or lewd comments; 

3. Non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature, e.g. the display of pornographic or sexually suggestive pictures, objects, written materials, emails, text-messages; 

4. Unwanted or derogatory comments about dress or appearance; 

5. Leering and suggestive gestures.