Conference Harassment Pledge

It has become increasingly clear that we must face the problems of sexual harassment and other kinds of harassment (racial, disability, sexual/gender identity, religion, nationalism, and more) that are happening within our own children’s literature community. We acknowledge that this is a systemic problem, and that systems of power are very difficult to change. They are also difficult to see, but we must start to see the ways in which we are all implicated in looking away from uncomfortable talk about those we have once looked up to within the community. We cannot change this problem until we see it and face it plainly. We must start thinking differently, intervening more quickly, believing victims more easily, and allowing excuses less readily. We cannot allow harassers to continue to act freely and without consequence, nor can we allow victims to be ignored, revictimized, or minimized. Nor can we continue a “whisper network” of knowledge that only helps those who are “in the know.”

Moving forward, we call upon those who are in charge of conferences and events related to the children’s literature community to immediately institute an official policy on harassment NOW so that attendees and guests know what expectations are, what will and will not be tolerated, and what consequences will be for those who disobey these rules of interaction.

We plead with writers to cosign this document and to pledge NOT to attend conferences where there is no policy in place or where stated policies have not been followed through on.

If you are worried about the message this will send to those in power, please consider instead the message you may inadvertently be sending to victims who feel they are not seen or heard and that their pain does not matter. This is not the business world we choose to live in. We need to send clear messages about what acceptable professional behavior is.


In accordance with that, we recommend the following:

1. Stating that harassment can take many forms, including verbal comments, written comments, displayed images, intimidation, touching, photographing, disruption of talk, and unwelcome attention or advances. Harassment is defined by the victim.
2. Anyone asked to stop harassment should be expected to stop immediately.
3. A process for reporting harassment officially to a committee which will deal with it immediately.
4. A no tolerance policy for serial harassers, which means they will not be invited to attend a conference where they have disobeyed rules. The harasser may write an appeal to the committee for reinstitution. An appeal would only be considered with proof of lengthy rehabilitation and restitution. Notification of an harasser's presence will be required at future events.
5. A no quid pro quo policy for sexual “favors.”
6. Promise of confidentiality for those who report, should they choose it.

Please sign this pledge by leaving a comment. We encourage all authors, artists, panelists, speakers, vendors, and attendees to sign.

Created by the Anti-Harassment Committee for Rock Canyon Writers