We foster inclusive, respectful and empowering environments. By participating in any HELSINKI LEFT event or online space, you agree to comply with our Safer Spaces Guidelines.
We have zero tolerance for all forms of discrimination, bullying & harassment. In our physical and online spaces, we do not tolerate discrimination, on the basis of gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, belief, opinion, trade union activity, family relationships, state of health, disability, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics, in compliance with the Acts on Non-Discrimination and Equality between Women & Men.
We respect all voices. Building our community of individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, abilities and languages requires willingness to understand one another’s perspectives. Let’s engage in a way that builds inclusivity and respects diversity.
We work positively together towards shared political goals. While we may have different perspectives on issues or communication, let’s shift from providing evidence-based critiques, to proposing concrete, realistic, and publicly acceptable solutions.
1) No harassment or inappropriate behaviour: We do not tolerate harassment, abuse, violence, or inappropriate behaviour, whether verbal or written, physical or online, including unwanted advances, offensive jokes, derogatory or discriminatory comments, microaggressions, or behaviour creating an intimidating or uncomfortable environment.
2) Informed consent, privacy, & boundaries: Obtain explicit consent before taking or sharing photos, videos, personal information, or stated opinions, especially on sensitive topics. You are encouraged to express your needs and boundaries. It is everyone’s responsibility to avoid making anyone uncomfortable.
3) Actively prioritise everyone’s safety: At face-to-face events, ask for permission before touching others (e.g. hugging, taking by the hand). Virtual spaces (e.g. messaging apps, social media platforms) are important spaces for dialogue; be conscious that tone can be difficult to judge online, leading to misunderstandings and quick escalation. Using friendly emojis can help indicate a friendly tone and prevent this. Provide a content warning before discussing sensitive or traumatic themes, such as sexual, racial or physical violence or self-harm. These may negatively impact someone, e.g. by invoking a physical or psychological reaction. Individuals should have the choice to participate or opt out.
4) Respectful disagreement: Direct criticism at issues, not individuals. Be open to new people and opinions. Actively listen, engage in open dialogue, and refrain from using dismissive or belittling language, assuming opinions, or projecting your experiences. Strive for respectful coexistence within the community. Persistent promotion of views that make others uncomfortable or repeated escalation of tensions is a violation of the guidelines. Freedom of speech does not include freedom to promote hatred or intolerant views.
5) Acknowledgment, empowerment, & inclusivity: Be aware of group power dynamics. Strive to understand your position and privilege in relation to topics under discussion.. Give space for others to participate in a conversation and ensure everyone’s voice is heard, especially members of groups that have historically been underrepresented or silenced. Do not make assumptions about others’ background, life situation, experiences, citizenship, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, ability, or age. Instead, avoid perpetuating stereotypes with your words and actions by striving to recognise and correct your biases. Actively educate yourself on minority issues: it is no one’s responsibility to educate you.
6) Use accessible language: Do not make assumptions about others’ education, first language(s), physical, cognitive, or linguistic ability, or political consciousness. Provide background information if needed, use plain language, and explain jargon and acronyms.
7) Accountability & learning: If someone points out words or actions that have been harmful, reflect, apologise, and take responsibility. Learn from your mistakes and work towards personal and collective growth. Changing your behaviour is the best apology.
8) Prevent escalation: Think & listen actively: Take time to truly listen to others’ perspectives before responding. Avoid assumptions about intentions or beliefs. Consider others’ feelings: Imagine yourself in another’s position. Speak slowly and considerately to avoid offending. Stay focussed: Keep the conversation focused on the topic at hand. Avoid veering into unrelated subjects, past conflicts, or personal attacks. Avoid blame: When expressing disagreements, use “I” statements and avoid “you” statements to share your feelings and thoughts without attributing blame. This encourages a more understanding and empathetic exchange. Seek common ground: Identify shared values or goals that can serve as a basis for finding common ground and moving forward. Be self-aware: Pay attention to how much space you take up. Take time out: If you feel the discussion is becoming heated and affecting you, voice your feelings or take a break. Read the room: If disagreement over a specific topic persists and is affecting someone else, take a break and revisit the topic later. If this is happening because someone is breaking these guidelines, please report this to a moderator or event organiser to prevent escalation.
9) Intervention & support: If you encounter or witness inappropriate behaviour, face a dispute, or would benefit from mediation or conflict resolution, follow the steps below. a) Communicate directly or request support: If you feel able, address the person involved to express how their behaviour was inappropriate, unconstructive, or offensive, giving them a chance to respond. If you do not feel comfortable directly approaching them, or are dissatisfied with their response, report inappropriate behaviour to an event organiser, board member, or moderator (Melissa: secretary (at) helsinkileft.fi; Muji: membership (at) helsinkileft.fi), or request intervention from a neutral third party (Fon: fon.krairiksh (at) gmail.com). b) Document your experience: Maintain a record of the incident (date, time, location, description of what transpired). This may be valuable if further action is necessary. c) Support, resolution & mediation: We take reports of inappropriate behaviour seriously and treat them with respect. We will identify actions to be taken to resolve the issue. In disputes, we will attempt to find common ground and reach a resolution through open discussion. If needed, we will involve a neutral third party to mediate. Retaliation against those who report in good faith is not tolerated. d) Responses to guideline violations: Depending on severity, moderators may: i) Request a person takes time out from a discussion, to cool down and reflect; ii) Provide a written warning, with information on how the behaviour violates the guidelines, and how it should be modified; iii) Take additional actions, as required; iv) Propose a member’s expulsion from HELSINKI LEFT, at its Board Meeting, if they repeatedly or severely break its Safer Spaces Guidelines, or violate Article 6 of its rules (i.e. act against the party’s principles, harm the party, or engage in fraudulent behaviour within/outside the party).
Let’s make HELSINKI LEFT’s spaces safe for all! By following these guidelines, we can ensure our community, events and platforms are safer spaces, in which concerns are addressed constructively, promoting a sense of inclusivity and fairness. We welcome feedback on how to improve our practices and ensure our spaces are as welcoming as possible. We will continually develop this set of guidelines to address shortcomings.