The Policy In Brief

This policy applies to our meeting, social and online spaces.

If you feel unsafe in one of our spaces due to somebody else’s behaviour, you should contact ACE immediately. The working group at ACE will initiate a process to deal with the behaviour.

If you wish, your complaint will be kept confidential and your identity secret.

If you have been subjected to violence, sexual assault or sexual harassment, the perpetrator will be asked not to use the space while the process is ongoing. The process will be survivor-led, you will be able to choose a mediator and you will not be expected to see or speak with your attacker if you do not wish to do so.

For complaints that do not involve violence, we encourage both/all parties to engage with our Conflict Resolution procedure, and will provide mediation if required. See our Conflict Resolution and Survivor-led procedures for details of how these processes work.

We define the following as abusive behaviours which are not tolerated in this space:

Physical abuse

1. Violence and threat of violence (unless in self-defence)
2. Use of force and threat of force (unless minimal to protect users of the space and the space itself)
3. Rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment

Verbal abuse

4. Personal insult (insults or aggression towards an individual)
5. Oppressive language (insults or generalisations about a group of people)
7. Verbal Harassment, sexual or otherwise (repeated uninvited personal comments or requests)
8. Verbal abuse in writing (all of the above in written form)

ACE is a zero-tolerance zone for expressions of transphobia. We stand in absolute solidarity with all trans people, especially the people of colour, trans women and trans feminine people most targeted. There is no place for transphobia in our collective and in the class struggle. We will not allow transphobic literature of any kind to be disseminated at ACE, and we will not hesitate to remove individuals or groups that breach this.

ACE rejects the alarmist notion that trans people are predators. ACE stands with survivors, and will not tolerate abusive behaviour from anyone of any gender or none. Respect for another person’s humanity (for example, using correct names and pronouns) is not conditional on agreeing with them or understanding them. We recognise that gender, like many aspects of a person’s life, can change over time, and that an individual is the expert on their own gender.

To read the full updated policy click on this link: Full ACE Safer Spaces Policy

The Conflict Resolution and Survivor-led procedures are to be added.

[Updated: August 2018]