ABA Adopts Code of Conduct for Meetings and Events

Effective with the ABC Children's Institute June 19-21, the American Booksellers Association has adopted a code of conduct for all association meetings and events. The ABA is encouraging member stores to adapt the code for their events and to offer feedback, which may lead to additions or changes. Booksellers with comments or questions can e-mail ABA CEO Oren Teicher.

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The ABA Code of Conduct:

The American Booksellers Association values the dignity, diversity, and inclusion of everyone with whom we interact. Our safety and anti-harassment policies are critical to ensuring that this core value guides what we do and say. All participants at ABA events are required to adhere to ABA's code of conduct, as described below. This includes booksellers, ABA staff, exhibitors, speakers/presenters, guests, sponsors, volunteers, and all affiliated attendees.

ABA is committed to a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of race, sex, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity, and religion. We do not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or other unwelcome or unlawful behavior on the basis of any of these characteristics.

Behaviors that violate this policy include, but are not limited to:

Offensive verbal comments related to any protected category above
Inappropriate physical contact
Sexual propositions
Unwelcome sexual attention
Off-color or obscene jokes, remarks, or gestures
Any other words or conduct of a sexual nature that makes the recipient or observer uncomfortable
Intimidation, stalking, or following
Sustained disruption of talks or other events
Unwelcome photography or recording

ABA expects all event participants to follow established rules throughout both official event offerings and related social gatherings, including this policy.

ABA takes any violation of this policy very seriously. Accordingly, participants who violate this policy may, in the judgment and discretion of ABA, be asked to stop; may be expelled from an ABA event, without refund if applicable; may be prevented from attending future ABA events; and may have ABA membership and future participation privileges revoked.

If you are being harassed, observe someone else being harassed, or have concerns about potential violations of this policy, please notify ABA event organizers immediately. If an appropriate ABA representative is not readily available, a special text number for such communications will be publicized to all attendees at the beginning of all ABA meetings. ABA will take all appropriate action in response to protect anyone affected by violations of this policy.

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