The Parasites in the Pacific 2024 Conference embraces the values of inclusiveness, social justice, environmental sustainability, scientific advancement, and education within the broader life science community.
It is our goal to make this conference a great experience for everyone. Thus, we encourage all attendees to inform us about specific needs – either during the registration or by contacting our organising committee (Email parasitologycommunicator@gmail.com with subject accessibility).
The ASP and the PiP2024 Conference Organising Committee recognises the importance of participation by indigenous researchers from around the world, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, parasitologists of all ages and career stages and LGBQTI+ people.
The ASP and the PiP2024 Conference Organising Committee supports multiculturalism and anti-discrimination including non-discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or disability.
The ASP and the PiP2024 Conference Organising Committee recognises the importance of participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Māori people and Pacific peoples and welcomes all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Māori people, Pacific peoples and indigenous people from all countries to this Conference. See our principles and by-laws for more information.
Policy on Gender Equality at the Parasites in the Pacific 2024 Conference
The ASP and the PiP2024 Conference Organising Committee recognises and values the wealth of talent, creativity and discoveries achieved by women in the fields of tropical medicine and parasitology. We acknowledge that women continue to be underrepresented in the fields, particularly at senior levels, and in the diverse countries that constitute attendance at the congress. See the ASP principles and by-laws for more information.
This goal of gender equality in our discipline is vitally important for two reasons. The first reason relates to the science we conduct. We recognise that women are under-represented at congresses, both in invitations to speak and in participation. Thus, the important contributions and discoveries made by a significant portion of our community remain under-recognised. Secondly, it is understood that career development in the sciences is driven, not only by publication output, but also by prestige measures, such as active and invited participation in scientific conferences. Equal representation at conferences is thus important for women to thrive and develop in their careers.
Parasites in the Pacific 2024 Conference seeks to be a meeting that is committed to gender equality. We will seek to achieve the following:
- As a congress held in Auckland, New Zealand we will adhere to The Gender Action Plan 2021–2025 for New Zealand as it applies to the activities of the conference. The plan can be found online Gender-Action-Plan-2021-2025.pdf (mfat.govt.nz)
- Parasites in the Pacific 2024 will be a scientific venue that actively seeks equality for all participants. The congress will strive to achieve gender balance at all levels of the congress. We will aim to achieve gender balance among plenary and invited presentations, contributed papers and session chairs. In all aspects, the principle we adopt will be that all participants to have equal opportunity for representation, regardless of gender.
- We aim to present Parasites in the Pacific 2024 as a safe place for scientific engagement and discussion. We thus strive to promote responsible participation in congress business and social events by all delegates and committee members, so that all participants can experience full benefit from the congress.
- To promote Parasites in the Pacific 2024 as the model for future ASP conferences so that gender equality is achieved in all conferences and events. This goal will be achieved by:
- Working with ASP to adopt a strong Gender Equality policy
- Working with conference partners, sponsors and co-hosts to ensure that they adopt and enact gender equality policies at the outset of their conference organisation.
- Audit the Parasites in the Pacific 2024 Conference to gauge how we have performed in gender equality and to use this information to guide development of future conferences.
Code of conduct at the Parasites in the Pacific 2024 Conference
All Conference participants are expected to show respect and courtesy to others across all platforms during the Parasites in the Pacific 2024 Conference. This includes the use of welcoming and inclusive language and for all participants to be respectful of different experiences and views and to exhibit appropriate behaviour at all times during the Parasites in the Pacific 2024 Conference. Conference delegates are responsible and will be held accountable for their own behaviour at the Parasites in the Pacific 2024 Conference. If participants engage in behaviour that does not follow this then the participant maybe warned and/or asked to leave the conference. Any behaviour deemed inappropriate, discriminatory or disrespectful will not be tolerated.
Examples of unacceptable behaviour include;
- Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech or actions by any participant and at all related events
- Harmful or prejudicial verbal or written comments or visual images related to gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, political orientation, socioeconomic, disability or ability status, or other personal characteristics, including those protected by law
- Violating the rules and regulations of the venue or provider (online)
- Disruption of workshops, presentations or other events
- Photographing, reproducing or recording of content without permission