We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive RIPE Meeting where all attendees feel welcome to participate. We support and organise several initiatives that aim to make it easier for people from underrepresented groups to take part in a RIPE Meeting. Here is a summary of our diversity and inclusion efforts:
Improved RIPE Meeting Code of Conduct
The RIPE Code of Conduct covers all participation in RIPE, which means it applies equally to interaction over the Internet or in person. Here’s a short update on the process of developing the Code of Conduct.
The Code of Conduct Task Force will also hold a BoF during RIPE 85.
Trusted Contacts
Everyone who takes part in RIPE 85 shares a responsibility to follow the code of conduct and should look after each other. However, if you feel that someone has behaved inappropriately towards you at the meeting, you can reach out to the Trusted Contacts.
Rob Evans and Vesna Manojlovic have kindly agreed to stay on as trusted contacts at RIPE 85 and have been joined by Lia Hestina and Saloumeh Ghasemi from the RIPE NCC. If you feel you have been subjected to behaviour contrary to the environment that the RIPE Meetings attempt to achieve, or if you have any other concerns, please contact them at trustedcontacts [at] ripe [dot] net. They will provide support.
On-site Childcare
This initiative aims to make it easier for parents in the RIPE community to participate fully in a meeting. We partner with professional childcare organisations to provide a safe, fun and diverse play space at the RIPE Meeting venue with a programme that changes daily. Childcare is available for children of ages from 6 months to 10 years.
For online attendees, we have put together some activities to keep your little ones occupied while you attend the meeting.
More information: Childcare
RIPE Meeting Mentoring
Mentoring is a really easy way for experienced RIPE Meeting attendees to share their knowledge and experience with newcomers. During the registration process, attendees can indicate whether they would like to volunteer to be a mentor or to be a mentee. We match mentors with mentees based on what their interests and areas of expertise are. The time commitment is fairly light; an email from the mentor to the mentee before the meeting to understand goals/expectations and a couple of coffees or short meetings throughout the week to check-in.
More information: RIPE Meeting Mentoring
RIPE Fellowship
The RIPE Fellowship aims to remove the financial barrier to attend a RIPE Meeting by funding a full-week meeting ticket, travel and accommodation for selected candidates from the RIPE NCC service region.
More information: RIPE Fellowship
Diversity Tickets
Do you want to help the next generation of RIPE community members fully participate in a RIPE Meeting? You or your organisation can become a Diversity Ticket sponsor to help attendees from underrepresented parts of the tech community come to a RIPE Meeting.