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Dignity and Mutual Respect

The IMC seeks to create a safe and productive environment for everyone, irrespective of race (including caste, ethnic or national origin, nationality or colour), gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, religion, pregnancy or maternity status, marriage or civil partnership status, or any other characteristic or perceived characteristic.

To ensure that everyone can make the most of the academic, networking, and social opportunities that the IMC offers, the organisers expect all delegates, exhibitors and staff to adhere to our policy on dignity and mutual respect at all conference venues and conference-related social events, as well as online and on any form of social media.

The IMC is a diverse international event, and attendees come from a variety of different backgrounds with a wide range of opinions and perspectives. Please be mindful of this and appreciate that behaviours and comments that seem harmless to you may impact other people in different ways.

We do not tolerate any form of harassment or bullying against any delegate, exhibitor, or member of staff, whether in person or online. If you feel you are being harassed or bullied, notice harassing or bullying behaviour, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of IMC staff immediately. We value your attendance and take all reports seriously and wish to ensure that all delegates feel safe throughout the IMC.

If you are asked to stop a behaviour which is deemed to be inappropriate, we will expect you to comply immediately. We reserve the right to take action against people who violate these standards, which may include expelling offenders from the IMC with no refund, or banning them from future events, both virtual and in-person.

We use the definitions of harassment, sexual harassment, and bullying used by the University of Leeds in its policy on dignity and mutual respect. All users of the IMC virtual event platform are also expected to comply with this policy and the University’s Equality & Inclusion Policy.

Harassment: Unwanted conduct that has the purpose or effect of either violating another person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for that person.

Sexual harassment: Unwanted verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, or other conduct based on sex, which affects a person’s working or learning conditions or creates a hostile or humiliating working or studying environment for that person.

Bullying: Offensive, intimidating, malicious, or insulting behaviour which intentionally or unintentionally undermines, humiliates, denigrates or injures the recipient.

Read or download the University of Leeds policy on mutual dignity and respect

Read or download the University of Leeds Equality and Inclusion Policy