Community Guidelines

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Thanks for your interest in our online discussion group!

The online discussion group is intended to serve as a useful space for the free and positive exchange of ideas. To ensure the best possible experience for all members, we have established some basic guidelines to help everyone engage.

We will share these guidelines in the online group from time to time as a friendly reminder for longstanding members and to support newer members.

By joining the group, you agree that you have read, understand and will follow the guidelines set out below.

1. Be kind and courteous
   This group is a space for people across the Commonwealth to share their views in a respectful and collaborative way. Please treat everyone with respect and keep things civil, even in disagreement
2. Respect the right to privacy
   Being part of this global group requires mutual trust. Discussion and debate make this group incredibly helpful, but these conversations may also be sensitive and private
3. No hate speech or bullying
   Bullying of any kind is not allowed. Attacks on characteristics including race, gender identity, immigration status, religion, sexuality, disability or ethnicity will not be tolerated
4. No promotions or spam
   We are very happy to support the good work of other organisations and civil society actors across the Commonwealth, but unwanted spam or disruptive advertising will not be allowed. Please only share news, press releases and statements of your organisation if they are relevant for broader audiences within or beyond your country
5. Use plain language
   While we only use English in the group, we want to make sure everyone can follow the conversation, please try to use clear and plain English
6. Report offensive material
   If you see anything that breaks our rules, please report it to the admin team by forwarding the email to moderation@commonwealthfoundation.com. Do not confront the author of the post or comment as this could antagonise the original poster and escalate the issue further
7. No deception or impersonation
   To build a trusted community of advocates and change-makers in the Commonwealth, the identities and behaviours of members must remain transparent and honest. We do not allow members to mislead our community and impersonation of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes but is not limited to operating forums on behalf of the Commonwealth Foundation or impersonating Commonwealth Foundation staff.

Removal from the group

We have a zero-tolerance policy to hate speech and bullying. Anyone in breach of this guideline will be quickly removed from the group.

If you are found to have breached any other of our community guidelines, we will have a discussion with you first to explain why it’s important to keep our community safe and accessible for all.

Anyone who repeatedly breaches our guidelines will be removed from the group.

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