[council] Harassment and Helsinki

["Edward Morris" <egmorris1@xxxxxxxxx>]

 My fellow Councilors,

 As all of you are aware, the issue of sexual harassment at ICANN meetings has 
become a topic both of conversation and of action by the corporation. Changes 
in ICANN's Expected Standards of Behaviour have been proposed and are currently 
open for public comment. We certainly had an extended discussion of the matter 
on Council earlier this year.

 One of the problems faced by victims of sexual harassment at ICANN Meetings is 
that such harassment is often experienced at a location where the victim does 
not know the language, the local laws or how to access support and help from 
both law enforcement and victims support groups. That is why I believe it is 
imperative for ICANN to create a specific conference harassment policy complete 
with clear and simple reporting and enforcement procedures and mechanisms so 
that victims know where to turn for assistance. I know some disagree with my 
perspective. Regardless of anyone's view, such a policy will not be ready in 
time for the upcoming ICANN meeting in Helsinki.

 As a graduate of the Faculty of Law of the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi, 
Finland I do have knowledge of the laws, customs and procedures of the Finnish 
state. Finland has a zero tolerance policy for harassment of any kind. Police 
officers in Helsinki are empowered to issue on the spot fines for what are 
considered minor forms of harassment. Victims also have full recourse to the 
Finnish legal system to pursue action, both civil and criminal, for any form of 
harassment they may experience.

 I am ready to offer my personal assistance to any member of the ICANN 
community who feel they have been harassed during ICANN56 and would like to 
report such violations of their person to the appropriate authorities. I am not 
creating new laws and procedures; rather I am ensuring that lack of cultural or 
linguistic knowledge is not an impediment for victims of harassment who wish to 
pursue clams against their assailant. Towards that end:

 1. I have made contact with the appropriate officers in the Helsinki Police 
Department whose focus is harassment type offences. I have directed them to 
documents, available online, that describe recent well publicized incidents of 
alleged harassment at ICANN meetings. I have been assured that all cases of 
alleged harassment that are reported to them will be taken seriously and will 
be fully investigated. The nationality of the parties involved is not a 
consideration. Assistance with these complaints in the English language is 
available 24/7. I have also been given a personal mobile telephone numbers of 
one of the specialist officers and have been directed to call her if the 
initial response to a complaint is not satisfactory.

 2. I have spoken to NYTKIS - the Coalition of Finnish Women's Associations - 
and have been referred to two Helsinki based groups that are available to 
counsel and provide assistance to female victims of harassment on a 24/7 basis. 
I have made contact with SETA, the largest LGBT organization in Finland, and 
have similar contact information for any LGBT member of our community who feel 
they have been harassed and desires support.

 3. I have arranged with two Helsinki based colleagues with whom I attended law 
school to provide pro bono representation for any victim of sexual harassment 
at ICANN 56 should legal representation be needed or desired.

 Colleagues, I have been made aware of allegations of sexual harassment at 
three of the last four ICANN meetings I have attended. On two occasions I have 
counseled and attempted to help female victims who were so wounded that they 
broke down in tears describing what had happened to them. In another instance a 
community member accompanied me to an event she really was not interested in 
attending to escape a male who was harassing her but whom she did not feel to 
be in a secure enough position of employment to confront. This type of 
occurrence must stop. If I do nothing else through my involvement in ICANN I am 
determined to do whatever is necessary to change the rules and eventually the 
culture at ICANN so that ALL people feel that they are able to safely 
participate in ICANN activities in a professional and respectful manner.

 Any GNSO member who feels a need to contact me in Helsinki with reference to 
this subject may do so by email at turkued@xxxxxxxxx, Skype at ejmorris or Wire 
at turkued@xxxxxxxxx. I will not in any way judge the validity of any complaint 
but rather will serve as a bridge to Finnish authorities and groups who are 
able both to do so and to offer the impacted party appropriate and caring 
support and counseling.

 Respectfully,

 Ed Morris