Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie
COC Netherlands and all COC associations in the Netherlands have one Code of Good Conduct to offer safe spaces for everyone.
The Code of Good Conduct includes:
1. Rules of Conduct
Together we ensure a positive climate and want to encourage this within and outside the association. I endorse the rules of conduct and help others to adhere to these agreements and address those who do not adhere to them.
1. I endorse zero tolerance at COC for sexual harassment, bullying, gossiping, swearing and
other undesirable behavior.
2. I accept and respect everyone and do not discriminate against anyone (based on religion,
philosophy, political opinion, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation or
any ground). Everyone counts within the association. I do not make any racist statements.
3. I do not make assumptions or ask inappropriate questions about someone’s sexual orientation,
gender identity, personal life or appearance.
4. I adhere to the boundaries set by the other person. I respect everyone’s personal boundaries and their space.
5. I set my own boundaries and address those who cross my boundaries.
6. I treat (personal) information of others confidentially, and always ask permission to post personal information or images on social media, or other ways.
7. I do not use physical and/or verbal violence.
8. I keep an appropriate distance and only touch the other person if that is okay for the other person.
9. I do not give the other person unwanted sexual attention, and I do not perform unwanted sexual acts.
10. I will not abuse my position of power and/or a relationship of dependence in any way.
11. I will handle the association’s money and goods responsibly and will not use it for my own gain.
If you are confronted with a violation of these rules of conduct, or if you witness or have suspicions (or doubt) that this is happening to or by others, you can contact your own board, the COC confidential counsellors, or you can file a complaint with the independent complaints’ committee. The reporting protocol indicates which route you can take to discuss your situation.
Update: 29 June 2024
2. Confidential Advisors
Would you like to have a confidential conversation about any of these rules of
conduct? Please feel free to contact one of the confidential advisors of COC Netherlands. You can do this by phone: (020) 623 4596 or by email:
vertrouwenspersoon@coc.nl.
3. Reporting Protocol
For the complete reporting protocol (available in Dutch / English translation) go to: www.coc.nl/meldprotocol
In a nutshell: Have you seen something happen that you would like to report or file a complaint about? Please do this directly with the person responsible for the activity as soon as possible. You can also report this to the board via info@coclimburg.nl. You also have the option to spar with an independent confidential advisor (free) and you always have the option to submit an official complaint to the independent complaints committee of COC Netherlands.
4. Complaints Committee
COC has an independent Complaints Committee (klachtencommissie) that serves all
member organisations within the Federation. On this page you can read how you can make
a complaint and how the Complaints Committee will deal with that.
Making a complaint
- All complaints must be made in writing. How you do that is up to you (there is no set
form to fill out). Please describe the event(s) as carefully as possible in your own words.
You can find the address of the independent Complaints Committee at the bottom of
this page. - When the Complaints Committee has received your written complaint, they will notify
you of that in writing and inform you of their next steps. - The Complaints Committee will read your complaint and determine whether or not they
can take it into consideration. The Committee will only consider complaints that can be
judged against the rules of conduct that afpply (since 1 January 2016) to all member
organisations within the Federation. If that is not the case with your complaint, the
Committee will refer you to a different body within the Federation. The Complaints
Committee will not deal with complaints about membership records or about how a
COC building is cleaned, for example.
If the Complaints Committee does take your complaint into consideration, you will be
invited to further explain your complaint to the Complaints Committee in person. In that
case, you may ask a confidential advisor to be there with you.
Fair hearing
- The person your complaint is about (the defendant) will be informed that the
Committee has taken a complaint about him/her into consideration. He/she will also be
told who made the complaint. In addition, he/she will be informed of the procedure and
given an opportunity to explain his/her own position in writing. - To allow for a fair hearing, the Complaints Committee will invite both you (as the
plaintiff or person making the complaint) and the defendant to come explain your
respective sides of the matter further in person. The defendant will also be allowed to
bring a confidential advisor to assist him/her during the hearing.
It is possible that the hearing before the Complaints Committee will result in a
satisfactory solution for you (the plaintiff). If so, that will resolve the case. It is also
possible that Complaints Committee will decide that the defendant’s conduct must be
penalised.
Findings of the Complaints Committee
- The Complaints Committee will report its findings in writing to you (the plaintiff), to the
defendant and to the board of the legal entity (i.e. member organisation) concerned.
Their report will also contain recommendations for measures to be taken by that board.
In effect, the report will notify the board that there is a problem with a particular
individual (e.g. volunteer/employee/visitor) within their organisation. - The involvement of the independent Complaints Committee is a serious step. It means
that you are being taken seriously as a plaintiff. It also means there could be serious
consequences for the defendant.
The director of the Federation office (COC Netherlands) will receive a copy of the
recommendations and will make sure that the board of the legal entity (i.e. the member
organisation) concerned will follow up on those recommendations.
Duration of the procedure
- Acknowledgement that the complaint has been received: within 2 working days.
- Notification of the plaintiff about whether or not the Complaints Committee will take
his/her complaint into consideration: within 2 weeks. - Notification of the defendant about the complaint and the defendant’s opportunity to
respond to the accusation in writing: within 2 weeks. - Hearing of the Complaints Committee at which both parties can explain their respective
position: 6 weeks, with a possible extension of 2 weeks if otherwise not technically
possible. - Submission of the final report on the Complaints Committee’s decision and
recommendations to the plaintiff, the defendant and the board of the legal entity
concerned: within 2 weeks after the hearing.
Confidentiality
The only people who will have access to information regarding the complaint are the
members of the Complaints Committee, the official secretary of the Federation, the plaintiff
and the defendant (and their respective confidential advisors, if any). The Complaints
Committee will share its findings with the board of the legal entity concerned and with the
director of the Federation (COC Netherlands).
Members of the Complaints Committee
Annual report
Each year, the Complaints Committee provides the General Assembly (i.e. the Federation’s
highest body) with a written report. Their report includes an anonymised list of all the
complaints they dealt with in the previous year and their recommendations with regard to those complaints. This reporting to the highest level of the Federation underlines how
important the Federation considers it to ensure a safe space for everyone, to stimulate a culture of good behaviour and to promote the self-cleansing capacity of the organisation.
Contact with the Complaints Committee
You can contact the Complaints Committee either by e-mail (klachtencommissie@coc.nl) or by regular post to the following address:
COC Nederland
Attn: Klachtencommissie
Postbus 3836
1001 AP Amsterdam
