Report on Community Engagement Guidelines and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Framework for a Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Environment

This report outlines the guiding principles for community engagement, designed to foster a digital commons that is safe, respectful, and constructive. These guidelines are intrinsically linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting a responsible and inclusive online society.

2.0 Promoting Peace, Justice, and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 5, 10, 16)

A core objective of the community standards is to build a peaceful and inclusive space, directly contributing to several key SDGs.

• Commitment to Non-Violence and Safety: In alignment with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), threats of harm against any individual are strictly prohibited to ensure a safe and secure environment for all participants.
• Upholding Equality and Non-Discrimination: The prohibition of racist, sexist, and other forms of degrading language directly supports SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). These rules ensure that the platform is an inclusive space free from prejudice and hate speech.
• Maintaining a Standard of Decency: Users are required to avoid obscene, vulgar, and lewd language. This policy fosters a respectful atmosphere conducive to productive dialogue, a foundational element for strong and inclusive communities (SDG 16).

3.0 Ensuring Responsible Information and Accountable Institutions (SDG 4, 16)

The integrity of the information shared and the accountability of the platform are paramount, reflecting principles central to the SDGs.

1. Principle of Truthfulness: The deliberate posting of false information is forbidden. This standard supports SDG 16 by promoting accountable institutions and combating misinformation. It also indirectly contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by safeguarding the reliability of information exchanged within the community.
2. Communication Etiquette: The guideline to avoid excessive capitalization (“caps lock”) promotes clear, accessible, and respectful communication, which is essential for effective and inclusive discourse.

4.0 A Collaborative Partnership for Community Governance (SDG 17)

The guidelines establish a cooperative model for platform governance, empowering users to contribute positively to the community’s health and sustainability.

• Proactive Community Moderation: Encouraging users to report abusive posts creates a partnership between the community and administrators. This collaborative approach to maintaining a safe environment reflects the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Constructive Knowledge Sharing: The invitation for users to share eyewitness accounts and historical context fosters a collaborative learning environment. This practice enhances the quality of discourse and builds a stronger, more informed community, aligning with the partnership-oriented nature of the SDGs.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • The article’s rules aim to create a peaceful and inclusive online environment. Rules like “Don’t Threaten,” “Be Nice,” and avoiding degrading language directly support the promotion of peaceful societies. The moderation system (“Use the ‘Report’ link”) represents a form of institutional mechanism to enforce these principles.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  • The explicit prohibition of “racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person” directly addresses the goal of reducing inequalities by promoting social inclusion and ensuring that the online space does not perpetuate discrimination.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  • By specifically calling out “sexism” as unacceptable, the article supports the creation of a safer online environment for all genders, which is a key component of achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls to participate in public discourse without fear of harassment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   • The rule “Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated” is a direct measure to prevent online threats, which are a form of psychological violence.

2. Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

   • The rule “Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything” aims to protect the integrity of information shared in the public forum. The encouragement to “Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts” promotes public access to information.

3. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices…

   • The comment policy itself is a practice aimed at ensuring equal opportunity for participation. The rules against “racism, sexism or any sort of -ism” are a direct attempt to eliminate discriminatory practices within the platform’s community.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Proportion of the population subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence. (Relates to Target 16.1)

   • Implied Indicator: The article implies a tracking mechanism with the instruction “Use the ‘Report’ link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.” Progress could be measured by the number and proportion of comments reported for threats and abuse, and the subsequent moderation actions taken.

2. Proportion of population who believe they can report a crime to the authorities and feel that the authorities would respond. (Relates to Target 10.3/16.10)

   • Implied Indicator: The “Report” link functions as a mechanism for users to report policy violations. The effectiveness of this system could be measured by the number of reports filed by users, implying their belief that the platform’s moderators (the “authorities” in this context) will respond to discriminatory or untruthful content.

3. Existence of policies and practices to combat discrimination. (Relates to Target 10.3)

   • Implied Indicator: The article itself is evidence of the existence of a policy. The enforcement of this policy, measured by the number of comments moderated or removed for violating rules against “racism, sexism or any sort of -ism,” would serve as an indicator of its implementation.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

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