# Awareness at Berlin Brettspiel Con

We want you to feel welcome at Berlin Con at all times and to enjoy your time here with us. To make this possible, it’s important that everyone feels safe and looks out for one another. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation or witness discrimination, harassment, or other issues, please contact our Awareness Team.

**Our Awareness Team will be on-site during the event and is here for you. You can find them in the Awareness Oasis or walking around the venue (mobile patrol).**
The Awareness Oasis is located in Room 5 on the 2nd floor and can be reached via the stairs or the elevator in Foyer 1. Follow the signs.
You can also reach our Awareness Team by phone: *Number to be updated*
You can use the email address awareness@berlin-con.de to report any needs in advance and/or ask questions about accessibility barriers.

The event organizers are responsible for ensuring that all guests and staff are taken seriously and that inappropriate behavior is not tolerated at any time.
All participants—that is, guests (visitors), helpers (staff), the organizing team (event management), and venue management (Estrel)—agree to the Code of Conduct by participating in Berlin Con and commit to adhering to it. The Code of Conduct outlines the shared rules of behavior during the event, which are intended to protect individuals from exclusionary or discriminatory behavior. Guests and the team can turn to the Awareness Team for support in emotionally distressing or stressful situations. The Awareness Team is located in a dedicated room and equipped with psychological first aid resources. The Awareness Team maintains direct contact with medical first aid personnel and event management.

# **Our Understanding of Awareness**

**By “feeling welcome,” we mean:**

• Everyone is treated with kindness and accepted just as they are.
• Each person’s boundaries and needs are acknowledged and respected.

**By “feeling safe,” we mean:**

• Event organizers provide guidance
• and take responsibility for the safety of all participants.

**By “joy,” we mean:**

• The diversity of all participants is seen as an enrichment.
• The vast majority of time spent together is perceived as a positive experience.

# **Code of Conduct**

**All participants must adhere to the following rules of conduct:**

1. If I don’t want to do something, I won’t do it. I don’t have to explain why. My personal boundaries are the standard.
2. If I feel that someone is being humiliated or belittled, I can report it.
3. I have the right to be addressed (by name and pronouns) in a way that makes me feel comfortable.
4. If I am upset or emotionally blocked, I may point this out. I do not have to be able to directly identify the source of the feeling.
5. If I encounter barriers that make it difficult for me to participate, I can report this.
6. Any form of interaction requires the consent of the person I am interacting with.
7. I am mindful that people’s physical, mental, and sensory impairments are not always visible from the outside.
8. If I take photos of people who are the main subject, I ask for their consent.
9. I have the right to live freely. However, it is equally my responsibility to be mindful of the boundaries and needs of others.
10. While I may convince everyone of my opinion, I myself learn nothing. Getting to know different ideas is the purpose of every human gathering.
11. My freedom of expression, however, has its limits where it calls into question the equality of people or violates the dignity of individuals.

12. I understand that physical and verbal violence, as well as all forms of discrimination—particularly sexism, racism, ableism, ageism, classism, and queerphobia/transphobia—will not be tolerated. (https://degede.de/dks-glossar/)
13. In the event of serious violations of points 11 or 12, I understand that event organizers may exercise their right to enforce house rules. The Awareness Team will support me, or the affected person, in this process.
*Based on the veto principle by M. Plath (https://vetoinstitut.de) and the 9 trigger points for inclusion, as well as the Index for Inclusion – Events by N. Feld & R. Aehnelt (https://www.fachstelle-inklusion.de/) *

# Breaking Down Barriers

The event management team works continuously with the venue management to break down barriers to participation. The goal is to ensure that:
• guests can hear and see everything,
• understand the content,
• have physical access to the venue,
• and are not overwhelmed by sensory stimuli

Gender-neutral restrooms are being installed and appropriately labeled.
Those responsible are aware that not all barriers can be removed, but they ensure that these issues are addressed and communicated. Guidance and active participation are indispensable keys to inclusion. Needs can be reported in advance and/or questions regarding participation barriers can be asked via the email address awareness@berlin-con.de. Barriers that cannot be removed will be clearly identified as such.

# **Awareness Team**

Awareness Team members are responsible for monitoring the emotional and psychological well-being of guests and staff. They are available to provide information at any time and serve as points of contact in emotionally stressful situations, as well as the go-to resource for reporting inappropriate behavior by others (see Rule of Conduct). Awareness Team members are clearly identifiable by their vests. Individuals wearing this vest can be approached as Awareness Team members. They work on a volunteer basis and may step away from their role at any time, either temporarily or permanently. The Awareness Team has a direct line of communication with event management and the right to be heard by them at any time. Event management has a duty to provide information to the Awareness Team members currently on duty. Cases of violence and discrimination must be documented by the Awareness Team (anonymized if necessary) and immediately reported to the event management. The Awareness Team is responsible for victim support; the event management and its delegates are responsible for perpetrator support. Event management strives to help those who have crossed boundaries to recognize their actions and change their behavior. If this is not successful and a threatening situation persists, this may lead to exclusion from the event and, if necessary, further legal action. The Awareness Team is located in the Awareness Oasis. This is marked on the site map and signposted on-site.
You can reach our Awareness Team by phone: *Number to be updated*

# Awareness Oasis

The Awareness Oasis serves three purposes:
1. A safe space for those who have experienced violence and/or discrimination
2. A quiet retreat in cases of sensory overload and following emotionally or psychologically stressful situations
3. Consultation with the Awareness Team
The Awareness Oasis is located in Room 5 on the 2nd floor and can be reached via the stairs or the elevator in Foyer 1. Follow the signs.
The Oasis is not a break room.

**Our Awareness concept is not set in stone and is open to further development. Please feel free to send any suggestions to: awareness@berlin-con.de**