Animal & Vegan Advocacy (AVA) International is a global nonprofit hosting a highly modern, diverse, progressive, and impactful conference series for the animal and vegan advocacy movement worldwide. We connect people working on a wide range of tactics, strategies, and approaches, committed to inspiring our participants to be as impactful as possible. We want to nurture the animal and vegan advocacy community worldwide.

 

Expectations

At any event organized by Animal & Vegan Advocacy (AVA) International, we do not engage in or tolerate harassment of any kind, including but not limited to:
 

Harassment based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, appearance, religion, immigration status, pregnancy, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, or apparel.
 

Harassment includes but is not limited to:

Hostile or denigrating written, verbal, or physical conduct; stalking; verbal or physical intimidation; physical assault and/or battery; harassing or non-consensual photography or recording; disruption of talks or other events; shaming or ridicule; bathroom policing; inappropriate physical contact; and unwelcome physical attention.
 

No policy can fully describe all forms of harassment.
 

AVA International strongly encourages people who believe they or others are being subjected to such conduct to promptly advise the offender that their behavior is unwelcome and request that it be discontinued.

If a participant is reported or found to have engaged in harassing, threatening, inappropriate, or unsafe behavior, AVA International retains the right to take any actions reasonable or necessary to keep the event a safe and welcoming environment for all participants. This includes but is not limited to, the expulsion of participant(s) without a refund.

 

AVA International recognizes that some topics and issues covered at this event may, by their nature, include exposure to controversial, provocative, and challenging ideas. Harassment generally does not include respectful disagreement or good-faith criticism. However, to the extent that discourse distracts from the content or rises to the level of harassment described in the paragraphs above, it will not be tolerated.

This policy extends to all event participants, including sponsors, vendors, independent contractors, attendees, presenters, speakers, volunteers, and workshop participants.
 

AVA International’s events often include volunteers, staff, funders, and organization leaders. Leaders and funders should be particularly aware of the power dynamics that may exist between themselves and other participants and should take special care to be mindful of this so everyone is treated respectfully. Leaders and funders are encouraged to maintain their interactions in the spirit of mentorship if a volunteer or staff member approaches or agrees to socialize with them.
 

AVA International reserves the right to revoke, without refund, registration of any attendee or participant not in compliance with this policy; the right to remove from an event, seminar, or workshop anyone not in compliance with this policy; the right to revoke a speaker invitation; the right to cancel a contract with a sponsor, vendor or contractor that is not in compliance with this policy; as well as the right to ban participation in any future AVA International event.
 

Any sponsor, vendor, independent contractor, speaker, attendee, or anyone affiliated with an event hosted by AVA International who believes they have witnessed or been subjected to harassment or discrimination should report it immediately to AVA’s Executive Director in person or by email at Julia@AVASummit.com or by submitting this anonymous form. Reporting harassment or discrimination anonymously can empower individuals to share their experiences without fear of retaliation, fostering a safer environment and encouraging more disclosures. However, anonymity may make it challenging for the AVA team to thoroughly investigate and address the issue, potentially hindering the resolution process.
 

If there is an allegation against the Executive Director, please contact Flavia, Board Treasurer, at Flavia@avasummit.com or Michael Weberman, Board Secretary, at Michael@avasummit.com. If there is an allegation against a member of the Board of Directors, please contact another member of the Board. In both cases, the contacted people will engage with an external and impartial party to conduct the investigative process, and the person against whom the allegation is made will be recused from the process. External investigations will also be conducted in the cases where the person who conducts or oversees investigations would have a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest (e.g they’re close friends with the accuser or the person accused).

 

Legal

Please view the AVA Summit Harassment Investigation Policy & Procedure.

This policy should not be construed as creating any duty, obligation, or liability on the part of AVA International. Instead, it is solely intended to inform all participants and attendees of our expectations that their behavior complies with this policy.

 

Photos & Videos

By registering to attend an event organized by AVA International, you agree that AVA International has the right to use any photographs and videos taken at the event. They may use these in publications or other produced media materials, including but not limited to social media, brochures, websites, promotion of future events, etc.

 

If you do not consent to have your image recorded for distribution, please inform event organizers at least 72 hours before the event at info@AVASummit.com.

Any person or organization using AVA International’s photographs, graphics, videography, or other similar reproductions or recordings for commercial use requires advance written permission from AVA International.