Dealing with harassment & Discrimination
ANTI-HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION[1]
What is this for?
In response to requests from members, the following is an example template for tango event organisers/teachers who may want a policy to share with their dancers/students. The content can be amended to suit your own circumstances. If you already have your own policy that you are willing to share with other members, then please let us know.
SAMPLE TEMPLATE
<ENTER YOUR DETAILS (Tango Club/Organiser/Teacher)>
We are committed to having a tango environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Harassment is action that is unwelcome, unwarranted and causes a detrimental effect. Discrimination is adverse action based on a person’s gender, sexual orientation, transgender status, marital or family status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, creed, culture, religion or belief, age, or disability.
We will ensure that all dancers, and others who come into contact with us, are treated with dignity and respect.
We will not tolerate harassment or discrimination in our tango space. This is regardless of whether the conduct is a one-off act or repeated course of conduct, and whether done purposefully or not. It is important to recognise that conduct which one person may find acceptable, another may find totally unacceptable. We encourage everyone in our tango space to treat others with respect and appropriate sensitivity.
We will not tolerate retaliation against any person involved in bringing a complaint about harassment or discrimination. All have a responsibility not to make false allegations as that in itself can be regarded as a form of harassment that can have a serious effect on innocent individuals.
Reporting concerns
If you are the subject, or witness, of such behaviour, you should report the incident to us (the event organiser or teacher). If you do not feel able to ,then confide in a friend and ask them to support you. All reports will be taken seriously and will be treated in strict confidence as far as it is possible to do so.
We are aware of the challenges of proving actions and intentions and we understand the challenges of dealing with perceptions and misunderstandings. However, we will have those ‘difficult conversations’ in order to resolve (and to remove from our tango space) any personal discomfort.
Resolution
As the subject or witness, you may be able to resolve the situation yourself by explaining clearly to the perpetrator(s) that the behaviour is unacceptable and must stop.
Alternatively, you may wish to ask us (the tango organiser/teacher) to say this on your behalf or to be with you when speaking with the perpetrator(s).
If the situation is not resolved by the above stages of mediation then we (the tango organiser/teacher) have discretion to take any further, or no, action as we deem appropriate. We will keep you informed of our action.
If the situation is not resolved by the above stages, then the complainant has further options:
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to continue in the tango space but to manage engagement with the alleged perpetrator
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to stop attending the tango space where the offending behaviour is happening
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in the case of alleged criminal behaviour to report the incident(s) to the police.
Conclusion
Tango events are attended voluntarily and relationships between people are not governed by law, other than in extreme cases. Incidents of harassment and discrimination are rare but do exist. It is the responsibility of all of those present to strive to create and encourage consensually respectful friendship in the tango space.
[1] This note constitutes neither legal nor UKATA advice. It is for information only. Individual members remain responsible for their own business decisions.