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Guidelines for participants in ESC activities

Adopted by the ESC Executive Board on 20 January 2026

 

Guidelines for participants in ESC activities

Purpose of the Guidelines for participants in ESC activities

The European Society of Criminology (ESC) is committed to promoting an environment of mutual respect, understanding, and the encouragement of diversity to cultivate a productive, positive, inclusive, equitable, respectful, and safe environment that benefits all participants in ESC activities, including ESC members and non-members.

These guidelines reflect the specific objectives of the ESC to foster criminological scholarship, and encourage scholarly, scientific and practical exchange and cooperation. They are designed to reinforce the norms of mutual respect necessary to promote these objectives.

To these ends, these guidelines set out basic principles of professional conduct that all participants in ESC activities shall follow:

  • ensure all participants are treated with fairness and respect;
  • provide a scholarly environment which respects values and differences and promotes dignity, equality, and diversity;
  • uphold and reinforce the norms of professional regard necessary to promote respect and free academic exchange; and
  • ensure that all participants enjoy a welcoming environment free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

These guidelines are primarily aspirational rather than prescriptive; however, serious or repeated violations may result in formal action by the ESC.

Working relationships

Participants in ESC activities shall promote a respectful working environment and conduct professional relationships conducive to:

  • the advancement and dissemination of criminological knowledge;
  • the protection and enhancement of intellectual freedom; and
  • the creation of free, independent, and sound criminological inquiry.

Expected Conduct

Under these guidelines, participants in ESC activities shall behave professionally, treat everyone with respect, listen to other people’s views and engage constructively with them, and set examples of good and professional conduct. They shall avoid all forms of discrimination, harassment, oppression, aggression, or bullying, and refrain from such behaviour at all ESC activities.

Unacceptable Conduct

Participants in ESC activities shall refrain from the following on any grounds:

  • the use of violent, threatening or intimidating physical or verbal actions aimed at others;
  • the use of condescending or disruptive conduct which does not allow others to speak, or marginalises them;
  • the bullying and harassment of others (including through verbal comments relating to gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, institutional affiliation, or other protected statuses);
  • sexual harassment.

Any such unacceptable behaviour shall not be tolerated at ESC activities.

Application

These guidelines will be upheld during all ESC activities so that all participants are able to enjoy a welcoming and respectful environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. ESC activities include the annual conferences, meetings, and formal and informal social events, whether online or in person.

These guidelines apply to all participants in ESC activities, including ESC members and non-member attendees, speakers, chairs, students, staff, volunteers, exhibitors, and guests.

Compliance with the guidelines

By registering for ESC activities, including the annual Eurocrim conferences, all participants agree to:

  • abide by these guidelines and comply with their provisions in all activities undertaken in connection with ESC activities;
  • abide by decisions made by the ESC following any non-compliance with these guidelines;
  • comply with instructions given by the organisers and by staff responsible for safe and orderly conduct during ESC activities.

Consequences of non-compliance

Violations of these guidelines shall lead to measures determined by the ESC, which can include, depending on the severity and circumstances, an informal warning, a formal written warning, removal from specific sessions or events, exclusion from the remainder of the conference, and, for ESC members, further action in accordance with the ESC Constitution.

Reporting misconduct

If you have witnessed or experienced any conduct that you believe violates these guidelines for ESC activities, or if you wish to seek guidance, you may report it by:

  • contacting the ESC annual conference hotline (+48 798 496 735; available only during conferences);
  • sending an email to response@esc-eurocrim.org with the subject line “ESC Guidelines”;
  • making a report directly at the conference registration desk to the designated contact persons.

All reports of misconduct will be taken seriously and will be handled sensitively and discreetly, with a commitment to a fair, thorough, and impartial process.