The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference 2019 Equity Policy
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The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference
hkumunc.org | info@hkumunc.org
The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference 2019
Equity Policy
A. Scope/Objectives
The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference (HKUMUNC) is the first Model UN
conference of its kind hosted by The University of Hong Kong Student Model United Nations Society.
HKUMUNC is one of the largest international Model UN conferences in Hong Kong, with highly-
experienced international Secretariat and Directorate. This year, our conference looks forward to
welcoming international delegations coming from the Philippines, Indonesia, Mainland China and
other regions to the lovely HKU campus for a fruitful and rewarding conference.
The HKUMUNC Equity Policy endeavours to provide a comprehensive and holistic welfare
framework from which delegates can have the most enjoyable conference experience, whilst
maintaining respect, safety and responsibility for all those involved. The Equity Policy aims to
provide both common-sense behavioural guidelines for Attendees as well as fair and equitable
mechanisms for dealing with disputes where they may arise. The policy was reformed and
developed by the Secretariat based on the invaluable AMUNC Equity Policy.
B. Definitions
1. In this document, unless the context otherwise requires:
‘Attendee’ means any person who attends HKUMUNC in any capacity
‘Delegate’ means any person attending HKUMUNC as a participant in any committees.
‘Director’ means any person attending HKUMUNC under a directorship or role to any
committees.
‘Assistant Director’ means any person attending HKUMUNC under an assistant directorship
or role to any committees.
‘Secretariat Members’ means the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, Director-
General and Under-Secretaries-General.
‘HKUMUNC’ is The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference.
‘Officers of the HKMUNC’ are Secretariat Members, Directors, Assistant Directors and
Facilitators.
2. Interpretation of this policy is to be provided by Under-Secretary-General for Equity in
consultation with other Secretariat Members.The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference
hkumunc.org | info@hkumunc.org
C. Code of Conduct for Attendees
1. Attendees are to treat other Attendees with respect, dignity and in good faith.
2. Attendees must follow directions given by any Secretariat Member, Directors and Assistant
Directors.
3. Attendees must not engage in discriminatory, insulting, intimidating, harassing or offensive
conduct in person and through any mediums, including but not limited to digital mediums.
4. Attendees must not discriminate against, insult, intimidate, harass or bully other Attendees on the
grounds such as but not limited to:
Race, ethnicity, culture or national origin;
Religion;
Political Orientation;
Age;
Sex or gender;
5. Attendees will and must comply with the law of HKSAR for the duration of the conference.
6. Attendees must treat all conference spaces, venues and environments with respect, to which they
must not commit acts such as but not limited to:
Stealing; and
Intentionally or recklessly damage anything.
7. Attendees must conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner during Committee
sessions, including but not limited to:
Attending all Committee sessions, unless a legitimate reason is given in a timely manner;
Being punctual;
Observing the dress code;
Acting respectfully and with decorum in debate and negotiations;
Refraining from engaging in intimidation, coercion, bullying, harassment or other harmful or
offensive behaviour towards other Attendees during Committee sessions; and
Following the instructions of Directors, Assistant Directors and/or Secretariat members.
8. Attendees attending Conference-sanctioned social events must agree to the follow the
instructions and directions of venue staff and security at all times, noting their right to:
Deny entry;
Deny alcohol; and
Leave the event.
9. All Attendees must have informed the Secretariat Member of any ongoing medical conditions via
official correspondence at least one week before the opening ceremony.The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference
hkumunc.org | info@hkumunc.org
D. Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment and Any Other forms of Harassments
1. HKUMUNC has a zero-tolerance policy towards any forms of harassments.
2. The HKUMUNC Equity Policy does not replace obligations to abide by the law of HKSAR.
3. Sexual harassment is behaviour that is not based on mutual attraction, friendship and respect.
4. Behaviour that falls under sexual harassment includes but is not limited to:
Making promises or threats in relation to sexual activity;
Displaying or sharing of sexually graphic material;
Persistent unwelcome requests for sex or intimate physical contact;
Stalking; and
Use of sexually based insults or threats.
5. ‘Indecent assault’ is the act of violating another person’s bodily integrity through non-consensual
touching.
6. Nothing in this policy is intended to vary rights and responsibilities under the law of HKSAR.
7. Nothing in this policy is intended to unreasonably restrict participation in, and enjoyment of, the
activities of any HKUMUNC Events.
8. In the event of harassments, HKUMUNC encourages the victim to report through any of the
following mechanisms:
Informing the Under-Secretary-General for Equity;
Informing any other Secretariat Member; and
Informing the police.
9. In any disclosure to any member of the Secretariat, the wishes of the victim shall be considered of
paramount importance. Under-Secretary-General for Equity will take the welfare of the victim and
other attendees seriously, and so in cases where the victim and other attendees (if any) may be in
danger, emergency services may be contacted. Aside from this, a number of measures may be taken,
depending on the victim’s wishes and the nature of the event:
Referral of the victim to external services;
A formal warning to the disclosed perpetrator;
Demand any offending material to be removed;
Moving the disclosed perpetrator to another committee;
Expelling the disclosed perpetrator from HKUMUNC;
Informing the Police;
Any other measures deemed reasonably appropriate.
10. Any information disclosed through the above mechanisms will be treated as strictly confidential,
only kept within the knowledge of the Secretariat, unless it is deemed that disclosure would be
necessary for the safety of other Attendees. In such a case, the victim will be notified beforehand,
and only what is deemed reasonably necessary will be disclosed to other Attendees.The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference
hkumunc.org | info@hkumunc.org
E. Bullying
1. Attendees are not to engage in any practice of bullying during the conference.
2. Attendees who believe that they are being bullied are encouraged to come forward, and their
complaint will be handled with complete discretion and dealt with in the following manner:
Referral of the victim to external services;
A formal warning to the disclosed perpetrator;
Demand any offending material to be removed;
Moving the disclosed perpetrator to another committee;
Expelling the disclosed perpetrator from HKUMUNC;
Informing the Police;
Any other measures deemed reasonably appropriate.
F. Code of Conduct for Officers of the HKMUNC
1. Officers must perform their role to the best of their abilities before during and after the
conference.
2. Officers must act fairly and impartially towards all Attendees.
3. Officers must behave and conduct themselves in a respectful and exemplary manner that reflects
their leadership positions.
4. Officers must not abuse their position of authority, including but not limited to:
Monetary or financial gain
Sexual favours
Officers must not disclose any sensitive information or information held.
Officers must be sober.
Code of Conduct for Directors and Assistant Directors
5. They have a responsibility to ensure conformity and respect of the Equity Policy by delegates
under their directorship.
6. Directors must respond to any concerns or complaints made by an Attendee in a responsible and
appropriate manner.The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference
hkumunc.org | info@hkumunc.org
G. Complaints Procedure and Dispute Resolution Mechanisms
1. Attendees are entitled to make complaint(s) against any Attendee, and Officers of the HKUMUNC.
2. At all times, complaints made will and must be
Handled in a confidential, fair and professional manner;
Handled in a timely manner, where possible;
Initiated only with the consent of the complainant.
3. The complaint and dispute resolution regime (excluding complaints or disputes where the Under-
Secretary-General for Equity is an active party) can be found in Appendix of this Equity Policy.
4. Attendees are entitled to make any complaints to any Under-Secretary-General for Socials in
person during any social events, noting:
Under-Secretary-General for Socials may exercise discretion to resolve minor disputes.
Under-Secretary-General for Socials may involve venue staff and security to resolve serious
disputes.
Under-Secretary-General for Socials may involve the emergency services to resolve
emergency situations.
Attendees are entitled to make Committee-related complaints to their relevant Directors, or
the Under-Secretary-General for Delegations, noting that:
Directors and Under-Secretaries-General may exercise discretion to resolve minor disputes.
Directors and Under-Secretaries-General may refer complainants to the Under-Secretary-
General for Equity.
Attendees may appeal a decision, subject to the discretion by the Secretariat Members.
Attendees are entitled to make confidential complaints to equity@hkumunc.org, accessed
by the Under-Secretary-General for Equity.
Complaints against a Under-Secretary-General for Equity will be handed by the other
members of the Secretariat.
5. All written official complaints made may be resolved in the following way:
Under-Secretary-General for Equity may have a follow up discussion regarding the complaint
with the complainant,
Under-Secretary-General for Equity, with the complainant’s consent, may hold a mediation
session involving alleged parties where this action is appropriate.The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference
hkumunc.org | info@hkumunc.org
H. Complaints Procedure and Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (Cont’d)
1. In a mediation session:
Under-Secretary-General for Equity will act as a mediator;
All parties may bring an additional person for emotional support;
All parties will have their views, accounts and interests fairly recognised; and
The parties will be encouraged to voluntarily come to a mutual conclusion and agreement
on the issue.
If parties fail to come to a mutual conclusion or agreement, the complainant may request an
executive decision made by the Under-Secretary-General for Equity.
2. In making a decision:
The Under-Secretary-General for Equity will speak to each alleged party;
If necessary, consult with other members of the Secretariat;
Advise each alleged party of the outcome, giving reasons for the decision; and
Inform all parties of right of appeal, if available, subject to the discretion by the Secretariat
Members
All decisions are final and are to be enforced, unless the right of appeal is otherwise granted.
3. A successful complaint application constitutes as a breach of the HKUMUNC Equity Policy.
4. In considering an appeal to a decision made by an authority lower in the hierarchy of dispute
resolution, the decision making body will:
Seek information on the complaint and the original decision;
Either affirm or revoke the original decision; and
Give reasons for their decisions.The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference
hkumunc.org | info@hkumunc.org
K. Disciplinary Action
1. Where the Equity Policy has been breached, any Secretariat Members, Directors and Assistant
Directors has the discretion to impose penalties, including but not limited to;
Demanding an apology;
Relocating the offender to another Committee;
Excluding the offender from receiving any award; and
Pass on the complaint to the Under-Secretary-General for Equity.
2. Where the Equity Policy has been breached, the Under-Secretary-General for Equity has discretion
to impose penalties, including but not limited to:
Ejecting the offender from any social events;
Recommend the offender be ejected from HKUMUNC;
Any other penalties deemed reasonably appropriate.
3. No refunds will be given to anyone who is given a penalty.
L. Miscellaneous
1. The Secretariat reserves the right to photograph or video any person who agrees to the
HKUMUNC Equity Policy.
2. Attendees are entitled to refuse to be photographed, videoed or included in other forms of media
at HKUMUNC after informing the Secretariat at least 24 hours before the opening ceremony.
3. This document may be changed at any moment without prior notice to Attendees.
4. HKUMUNC reserves the final right to the interpretation of this document.The University of Hong Kong Model United Nations Conference
hkumunc.org | info@hkumunc.org
HKUMUNC Equity Policy
AppendixYou can also read
