Nine meeting and event organizations are putting their collective strength behind an organized effort to once and for all put an end to sexual harassment in the industry.
The Events Industry Sexual Harassment Task Force consists of leaders and executives from industry organizations who are determined to eliminate sexual harassment within the events industry and in the workplace.
While each organization has been addressing sexual harassment prevention separately, it was determined that broader policies that address the issue of sexual harassment are needed, including tools and resources to assist in educating the events industry about sexual harassment.
“We are stronger together,” says Amanda Armstrong, chair of the MPI Board of Directors. “With any successful social change, it starts with a united message and commitment. The organizations part of the coalition are the premier organizations in our industry. Without their support, making progress on this important issue would be even more challenging.”
Increased awareness of important causes including #MeToo and sexual harassment, health and safety, gender inequality and workplace issues have been at the forefront of social change.
MPI, for example, has proactively taken steps to demonstrate that it will not tolerate harassment in its global community and to educate members on how to prevent, report and respond to harassment—whether at an event organized by MPI Global, its chapters or in the workplace. Actions taken include updating MPI’s Principles of Professionalism to include specific wording about not tolerating harassment of any kind; implementing annual non-harassment training for all staff, board members and chapter volunteer leaders; establishing a confidential, independently serviced harassment hotline for complaints to be raised and investigated; and addressing the issue and offering prevention advice in The Meeting Professional magazine and blog posts.
Nicole Edmund, MPI’s vice president for community, will also work with the coalition.
“Progress has definitely been made,” Armstrong says. “Look at the masses sharing their story and demanding change. We are talking about it and organizations are looking internally at policy and culture. We need to look at behavior and biases to understand how we got here.”
Armstrong also addressed the issue during the World Education Congress.
“It’s time to honor the many victims of sexual harassment with a commitment to address and eliminate it,” she says. “Think of what we can accomplish when sexual harassment isn’t a part of the equation at work, in our industry or communities. Isn’t that the world we want to live in and create for generations to come?”
IMEX included a half-day education program, She Means Business, at its recent gathering in Frankfurt. The session was devoted to increasing awareness of sexual harassment, health and safety, gender inequality and workplace issues. More than 400 attendees heard a power-packed lineup of speakers share personal experiences and offer advice, encouragement and inspiration.
Carrie Abernathy, CMP, CEM, CSEP, past president and co-founder of the Association for Women in Events (AWE), and Kiki J. Fox, president and co-founder of AWE, rallied the industry leaders to establish the coalition and organized regular meetings to determine the group’s strategic direction. The group’s next step is to launch a webinar that introduces sexual harassment prevention subject matter experts later this year.
The coalition includes ASAE, AWE, the Events Industry Council, IAEE, IMEX, the Joint Meeting Industry Council, MPI, PCMA and SITE.
Education Session
#MeetingsToo: How to Prevent & Manage Sexual Harassment at Events
10:30-11:30 a.m.
#MeToo—two words that have sparked a powerful movement, from Hollywood to Corporate America to the technology sector and beyond. In this session, Sarah Soliman of Soliman Productions Inc. and Courtney Stanley of CS Consulting will shed light on sexual harassment in the meeting and event industry and share some actionable steps organizations and individuals can take to get ahead of the issue.
