EAA Safe Space Policy for Rome
Updated on 25 October 2023
The EAA supports the rights and freedoms of its Members. We are committed to ensuring that everyone feel supported in attending our forthcoming Annual Meeting in Rome.
We expect all participants to respect the personal boundaries of others, whether they be physical, emotional or cultural. The EAA believes that people from different backgrounds bring ideas, creative thinking and wide-ranging approaches to those topics and subjects that we engage in; this dynamic makes our Annual Meetings both innovative and effective.
We support the right of all our Members to be able to express their viewpoints without undue interruption. Constructive criticism and dissent are welcome, but should be focused on the topic, not the person. Any participant must consider the effect their own words and actions may have on others.
Sexual harassment of any kind will not be tolerated within the EAA. Examples of sexual harassment include: victim is leered at; lewd suggestive remarks aimed at the victim; sexist remarks and jokes aimed at the victim; pornographic material shown or sent by social media; stalking; unwelcome physical, sexual and conversational advances.
Sexual harassment is a pernicious form of behaviour that oversteps the personal boundaries of others and seeks to debase a person on the basis of gender. It is always one sided and it is undesired by the person concerned. It is demeaning and offensive, it undermines self-confidence and it generates fear and uncertainty in its victim. Sexual harassment has nothing to do with sexual attraction and it can develop in a subtle way, but it is motivated by a wish to dominate and control the victim. It can originate from an individual or a group. Sexual harassment can occur verbally, in gestures or in actions.
The EAA will not tolerate inappropriate, intimidating or offensive behaviour, whether verbal, written or physical, including harassment or unwarranted and unwelcome attention in any form. Failure to abide by this policy will result in appropriate action being taken by the EAA or the Annual Meeting organisers. If necessary, local authorities will be informed.
To report discrimination, harassment, assault, bullying or intimidation at EAA Annual Meetings or within an EAA context, please contact the Appeal and Anti-Harassment Committee either in person or by email to antiharassment@e-a-a.org. Provide details about the discrimination, harassment, assault, bullying or intimidation you have been subjected to, or which you witnessed or are aware of. The details describing the incident should be submitted in English. If available, it is recommended to submit supporting documents (e.g. emails, photographs, court or third-party decisions on a case) which can be in the original language. The Appeal and Anti-Harassment Committee will treat the identity of the persons involved in the case as well as the supporting documents confidentially (e.g. in terms of filing, sharing and discarding the documents).
If the case or current circumstances are immediate (e.g., both the person making the complaint and the alleged offender attend an EAA Annual Meeting), you can request an escort by a fellow EAA Member who will ensure that the EAA Safe Space Policy is observed. Such escort can be requested either by email to antiharassment@e-a-a.org or at the EAA desk, located next to the registration area.
For procedures of the Appeal and Anti-Harassment Committee, please see here.
EAA Safe Space Policy within the Annual Meeting venues
The Sapienza University of Rome is committed to providing a safe campus for everyone. It adopted its Gender Equity Plan (2022-24), which can be consulted here:
https://www.uniroma1.it/en/pagina/gender-equality-plan-gep
Within the Annual Meeting venues, delegates are encouraged to report any incident that threatens their physical or psychological safety to the members of the EAA’s Appeal and Anti-Harassment Committee either in person or by email: antiharassment@e-a-a.org. The EAA desk, located next to the registration area, will also be available for help and support. Details and practicalities of the above measures will be announced closer to the Meeting.
The Sapienza University of Rome Security Service provides security presence across the campus. The Security Service is committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all persons working, studying, and visiting the University campus. To contact the Sapienza’s Security Control Room (located at the main gate of the University) you can dial +39 06 49694231. A Police station is active inside Sapienza Campus during weekdays, 8 a.m-8 p.m.; phone contacts: +39 06 490378; +39 06 49910966; +39 06 49910383
Both inside and outside the Venue, in the case of an emergency, where there is an imminent and serious danger to people or property, the appropriate emergency services (Fire, Ambulance, Police) should be called by dialling 112 (European emergency telephone number).
EAA Safe Space Policy in the city
Outside the Annual Meeting venues, it is more difficult for the EAA to directly support delegates. It is always wise to be sensible and follow good advice when exploring a new destination. As with all travel, follow general safety tips including leaving money and valuables in a safe place and locking valuables out of sight. Please note that buses and Metro line A, running from the Termini station to the Vatican, have been reported for high pickpocketing incidence.
LGBTQIA+ community
According to Rainbow Europe, Italy currently ranks 34th in Europe for LGBTQIA+ rights. Rome famous Circolo di cultura omosessuale "Mario Mieli" (homosexual culture circle, dedicated to the historical activist Mario Mieli) organises the Rome Pride (annually in June), and is linked to the night events by Muccassassina.
https://www.mariomieli.net/
http://www.muccassassina.com/
https://www.romapride.it/
The Rome municipality offers the Anti-homophobia and Transphobia Citizen Contact Center service (Tel. +39-800713713, Mon-Sat, 4-8 p.m.): https://www.comune.roma.it/web/it/scheda-servizi.page?contentId=INF469305
Emergency situations
Health and medical emergencies
In Italy, any person (both from EU, EEA - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland-, and from any other state) receives treatment for accidents and emergencies free of charge in public hospitals’ Emergency Units; a small co-pay is sometimes asked from all (citizens and foreigners) in non-urgent cases.
If you are travelling from the European Union, you should ensure you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) so you can avail yourself of free medical care. UK citizens receive the same treatment by possessing a valid Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). You can also find further information and details for other countries at this site:
https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/cureUE/dettaglioContenutiCureUE.jsp?area=healcareUE&id=3813&lingua=english&menu=italianHealthService
In case of health emergency situations which require the intervention of an ambulance and healthcare personnel, you can directly call 112, the European emergency telephone number, or 118, the direct healthcare phone number. 112 will anyway forward you to the necessary service.
During the Meeting, the Campus will have specific healthcare service, and the Security Service of Sapienza can be contacted through the Security Control Room (located at the main gate of the University) - you can dial +39 06 49694231.
The campus has first aid boxes and defibrillators in dedicated containers, usually near the entrance to buildings, but also in open spaces.
Reporting a crime
If you are the victim of a crime or a witness to a crime in any location in Italy, you should contact the Police Service or the Carabinieri (both are Italian security forces) whose pages you can access below. 112 is the European emergency telephone number. 113 is the direct Police Service phone number. 112 will anyway forward you to the necessary service.
https://www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/10619
https://www.carabinieri.it/ (in Italian)
Fire emergency
If you witness any fire emergency, you should contact the Vigili del Fuoco (National Fire service). 112 is the European emergency telephone number. 115 is the direct Fire Service phone number. 112 will anyway forward you to the necessary service.
https://www.vigilfuoco.it/aspx/Page.aspx?IdPage=5374 (mostly in Italian)