Dignity and Respect Policy

The CWA aims to give all our members the ability to celebrate the crime-writing genre in a welcoming and inclusive environment. We welcome people of all backgrounds. This encompasses (and is not restricted to) members of any sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, socio-economic class, religious belief, and mental and physical abilities. We welcome writers from a wide range of writing experience. We wish all members to feel valued and appreciated within the association. Everyone has a role to play in creating an inclusive culture and in making the CWA a truly great organisation of which to be a part.

With this in mind, we further set out the following expectations with respect to events and activities organised by the CWA.

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) is committed to providing a welcoming, friendly and safe environment. Our aim is always to promote activities, including conferences and events, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Everyone attending a CWA event, as audience, artist, author or colleague, should be able to do so safely, free of harassment, intimidation and anti-social or abusive behaviour. Harassment includes, but is not limited to: stalking, verbal or physical intimidation, offensive verbal comments, physical assault, harassing or non-consensual photography or recording, inappropriate/ unwanted physical contact or unwelcome attention. In the event of behaviour that we consider harassing or abusive, CWA staff reserve the right to take any action we deem necessary and appropriate, including eviction from the event, expulsion from the CWA and reporting the matter to the relevant authorities.

Associations such as ours are based on mutual respect. The CWA strives constantly to build and nurture a culture where such respect is at its forefront.