Online Community Code of Conduct

The Stop TB Partnership Working Group on New TB Vaccines (WGNV) is committed to providing a professional, inclusive, respectful, and safe environment for its members engaged in this online community platform (Community) – regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion (or lack thereof).  WGNV values the diversity of views, expertise, opinions, backgrounds, and experiences among members and believe this diversity is fundamental to an open and productive dialogue that is encouraged among members in this Community.

Creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment is a shared responsibility. All members are expected to conduct themselves with integrity and to treat all other members with dignity and respect, and to abide by the following Code of Conduct when engaging in the Community. This Code of Conduct is applied in conjunction with the Terms of Use.

Zero Tolerance

WGNV has zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, harassment, or bullying, whether it be physical or verbal, by members and reserves the right to take any action necessary to uphold the principles outlined in this Code, including revoking a member’s participation in and access to the Community.

Expected and Acceptable Behavior

• Be considerate and respectful of other members and of differing opinions, viewpoints, and experiences. While you may critique ideas in a constructive manner, personal attacks directed toward other members will not be tolerated.
• Posts, discussions, and questions should be as open and inclusive as possible. Be aware of how language or images may be perceived by others. Refer to the Words Matter language guide for suggested language and usage for TB communications.
• WGNV encourages open communications within this Community and more broadly, and members may share information they learn in this Community with external audiences. Do not post confidential information or information that you do not wish to be shared with other audiences.

Unacceptable Behavior

• Harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation, or discrimination in any form.
• Disparaging comments related to gender, gender identity or appearance, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, political views, or affiliation.
• Verbally abusing, threatening or stalking any member.
• Posting, transmitting, distributing, or displaying any content that may be deemed as defamatory, libelous, obscene, harassing, threatening, incendiary, abusive, racist, offensive, deceptive or fraudulent, encouraging criminal or fraudulent conduct, or which is otherwise objectionable.
• Collecting or attempting to collect, and/or sharing personal information about members without their consent.
• Posting any information that would violate another person’s intellectual property rights.
• Impersonating any person or entity; falsely claiming an affiliation with any person or entity; misrepresenting the source, identity, or content of information transmitted via the Community, or any other similar fraudulent activity.
• Transmitting junk or spam, including but not limited to unsolicited mail, fraud, phishing, chain mail, or otherwise engage in unethical marketing or advertising.
• Interfering with, disrupting, disabling, or damaging the operation of the Community platform or any member’s enjoyment of them, by any means, including uploading or otherwise disseminating viruses or other malicious code.

Reporting

• If you have experienced or witnessed a member violating this Code of Conduct by reporting the member or the specific post. Instructions on how to report a member or post can be found in the Community platform's Welcome Section. All reports will be kept confidential.
• If WGNV receives reports that a member has failed to abide by this Code of Conduct, then WGNV may take whatever actions it deems appropriate, including, for example, providing a warning and request for the behavior to cease, and/or expelling the member from the Community.