Code of Conduct - Awareness at YOUKI

Why?

We are very happy that you are here to spend a great festival week with us! With your help, we strive to make this festival a safer space. A safer space is a place where personal boundaries are respected. Where everyone is encouraged to respect each other and express themselves freely.

Our Code of Conduct is a reference point for the behaviour of everyone involved in the festival. It is also the basis for the actions of our Awareness Team. The Awareness Team is the point of contact for all festival participants and guests. Below you can find out how to recognise them and in what situations you can contact them.

We all have a responsibility to ourselves and to each other. Help us to make this festival an open and respectful place to come together. 

Attitude and behaviour

YOUKI is a place for everyone who wants to experience an inspiring festival together and takes a firm stance against discrimination and disrespectful behaviour in any form. If you experience or witness discriminatory behaviour, please feel free to contact the Awareness Team, Festival Management or other team members at any time.

Be aware of  your language

Discrimination is also expressed through language. That is why we try to use respectful language. This means using gendered and neutral forms. When we talk to and about each other, we use our preferred names and pronouns. Offensive words and discriminatory language have no place at YOUKI.

Respectful interaction

Together we strive for fair and open interaction and exchange on a personal and creative level. Treat yourself, the people around you, your environment and the displayed art with respect. We want to create a community based on solidarity and kindness. We are all responsible for this. Take care of yourself and others. Respect and communicate boundaries. If you don't understand something or are unsure, ask. 

Boundaries and consensus 

Respecting and communicating boundaries requires consensus. In other words, mutual agreement. To ensure that your actions are not based on assumptions, it is essential to ask for consensus. Only a yes is a yes, and a no is always a no.

Consensus is important for physical touch, for example, but also for other types of interaction. 

Here are some examples: 

• Consensus can mean asking if it is OK to talk about certain topics. 

• Whether the other person has the capacity for an emotional conversation.

• Whether it's OK to sit with other people or whether they need that space to themselves. 

So let's be mindful of each other and rather ask too often than too few.

Consequences of violation

Anyone who violates the Code of Conduct can expect consequences. This may include exclusion from events as well as the festival by the festival management or the Awareness Team. Additional measures will be taken in the case of offenses relevant under criminal law. 

Awareness (AWA) at YOUKI

We will all do our best to create a pleasant atmosphere. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that everyone will always feel comfortable and safe. So if you experience an unpleasant situation, feel uncomfortable or just want to talk to someone, feel free to talk to a member of the YOUKI team. Or send an SMS or call the awareness phone (number will be displayed on site). We are also available digitally at awareness@youki.at. You can also write to us anonymously. 

Our AWA team (marked with fairy lights) will be on site at the evening events. It is always best to speak directly to the people with the lights. 

Our AWA team is a first point of contact. We can offer you open ears, support and problem-solving approaches. We have formed from within the entire YOUKI team and prepared for this task through workshops. 

We are not psychologists, social workers or conflict resolution experts. We are people who are passionate about this work. People with different skills and abilities. If something is beyond our capabilities, we will tell you and refer you to other people or organisations.

Should actions occur that require consequences, the AWA team will make a decision together with the AWA team management. If there are structural consequences (e.g. cancellation of a cooperation), a decision will be made together with the festival management.