General Definition of the Policy: The Sexual Harassment Policy for the Silat Wassel Platform aims to create a safe environment for employees and followers. It seeks to protect the team and enhance transparency and accountability. This policy is an essential part of the platform’s work, aligning with its vision and objectives that focus on women’s issues, freedoms, and human rights.
The Goal and Purpose of this Policy:
To protect the team and the public, ensuring a safe space for expressing opinions. To promote transparency and accountability in a work environment that complies with local laws.
The Party Responsible for Implementing the Policy:
Updates and all applicable laws, including national ones, in alignment with internal regulations (to mitigate risks).
Target Audience:
Internal/External: All employees of the platform, as well as the following audience, whether through direct interaction or online.
A Brief Statement about the Identity, Vision, and Mission of the Organization.
Silat Wassel is an independent youth media platform based in Southern Lebanon and the Arab world, focusing on social and humanitarian issues. It is committed to the principles of neutrality, independence, and credibility. The platform provides critical and objective journalistic content that highlights regional issues, covering topics such as youth and women’s rights, corruption in all its forms, marginalized groups, the LGBTQ+ community, and the environment.
Sexual harassment is considered one of the major challenges faced by both work environments and digital communities. It is an unacceptable behavior that violates individuals’ rights and negatively impacts their psychological and professional safety and well-being. Establishing a clear policy to combat sexual harassment aims to provide a safe and fair environment for all employees of the platform, whether they are women or men, as well as protecting followers and visitors from exposure to inappropriate or offensive behaviors.
نطاق السياسة:
تشمل هذه السياسة جميع أشكال التحرش الجنسي التي قد تحدث ضمن نطاق العمل في المنصة أو أثناء التفاعل مع المتابعين والزوار عبر الوسائل المختلفة. وتشمل السلوكيات غير المرغوب فيها مثل الإيحاءات الجنسية، الرسائل المسيئة، الرسائل الرقمية أو الإبتزاز الرقمي وأي شكل من الأشكال التي قد تؤدي إلى إيذاء أو مضايقة الآخرين. وتُطبق السياسة على جميع الأفراد داخل المنصة، سواء كانوا موظفين، متعاقدين، فرينلاسرز أو متابعين.
Objective of the Policy:
The goal of this policy is to protect the rights and safety of all individuals associated with the platform, from employees to followers, regardless of their gender. This policy ensures the provision of a work environment that respects everyone and promotes a sense of safety, contributing to the creation of a productive and positive atmosphere that encourages trust and collaboration among individuals.
Our Message:
Silat Wassel believes in the importance of independent journalism as a means to understand societal challenges, especially under the restrictions placed on freedom of expression. We are committed to supporting and developing local journalism to amplify the voices of Arab youth, offering a new model in Arab media. The sexual harassment policy is a priority that the platform seeks to implement as a natural and necessary mechanism to ensure a safe environment that upholds and defends freedom of speech and expression. It is also a foundational step in protecting marginalized groups and advocating for their rights, as well as safeguarding all employees and followers of the platform. This is one of the core goals of Silat Wassel’s existence.
Terminology and Definitions:
What is Sexual Harassment?
Any unwanted behavior of a sexual nature that causes discomfort to the targeted person, including physical or verbal harassment.
Types of Harassment:
There are several types of harassment, but this policy covers:
Verbal Harassment/Bullying: Includes any unwanted sexual comment or suggestion.
Physical Harassment: Includes any unwanted physical act of a sexual nature.
Digital Harassment: Includes forms of harassment that occur online or through digital media, social media platforms, email, messaging apps, or any other digital means.
Who Does the Sexual Harassment Policy Apply To?
This policy applies to all employees of the Silat Wassel platform and its followers alike. It will be implemented from the top of the hierarchy to the bottom, and will be reviewed annually to ensure its effectiveness and compliance with international and local laws, regulations, and guidelines.
What Are the Workplaces We Operate In?
Social media platforms such as: Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn…
In the workplace: office or center.
Work in public places, such as: cafes, coworking spaces.
Social media apps such as: WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Slack, and other similar apps.
In public transportation or private vehicles.
Zero Tolerance Policy, Abuse of Power
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
The workplace encompasses all areas where a team operates, whether online, in offices, or any other location, where a “zero tolerance” policy for any harassing behavior must be upheld.
Zero Tolerance Policy
The policy stipulates zero tolerance for any harassing behavior, holding violators accountable while ensuring a safe work environment that respects everyone and guarantees equal opportunities. It also emphasizes the necessity of having a meeting with both the accused and the victim in a hearing, conducted by the designated team member responsible for overseeing this matter, who manages the process independently.
Platform’s Social Media Policy
The platform’s social media policy requires respect for all parties, prohibiting the posting of offensive comments or any form of verbal harassment. Comments are monitored, and warnings are issued to violators when necessary.
Activating the correction feature: The correction was made based on communication with the readers and has been…
Activating the correction feature
To enhance engagement with the audience and improve content, materials are updated based on reader feedback, with clear mention of the changes and notifications to readers about content updates.
Activating the mechanism: The path
This mechanism includes maintaining the confidentiality of all parties involved in the investigation.
Direct reporting: Via email or through the page available on the website.
Complaint Review Committee: Regular meetings are held for the committee, which is formed by appointing a dedicated individual responsible solely for implementing this policy. This person reviews complaints and ensures compliance with the policies, in coordination with the platform’s manager.
This will be published on the platform’s website to promote transparency and credibility through the release of an annual report.
Continuous Training: Training the team on best practices for handling harassment and fostering a safe work environment. Providing psychological and legal support.
Processing Mechanism: If misconduct is identified during the investigation, appropriate actions will be taken, including (issuing an initial notice, a verbal and written warning, training, resorting to psychological counseling in cases that require it… up to termination based on the assessment of the damage caused and its severity).
The general goals of the Silat Wassel platform:
Presenting the issues of the judiciary in Tyre, South Lebanon, and youth in the Arab world in a critical and objective manner.
Revealing the key issues of youth, women, marginalized groups, the LGBTQ+ community, corruption in all its forms, and the environment.
Training and empowering journalists in the Arab world and Lebanon, as well as journalism and media students in South Lebanon, through workshops and training courses.
Values:
Objectivity, independence, credibility.
Professionalism – Assessing risks and considering the journalist’s situation in the work environment, taking into account potential harm, without compromising the publication.
