In Aboagora 2024 we are touching upon themes that might be distressing for many. While we believe that deep discussion and reflection is not and can not always be easy and comfy, real dialogue can happen only in spaces where everyone involved is feeling safe to speak and be themselves.

As the organizers of Aboagora, we are committed to equality and antiracism, and we’re responsible for the safety and security of everyone in our event. However, creating a safe space for everyone requires also a collective effort. This is why we have drafted Safer Space Guidelines for Aboagora 2024, and we hope all attendees can commit to following them. Safer Space practices in events especially support the participation of the more vulnerable or under-represented audience members.

When attending ABOAGORA we all have a personal responsibility to

• understand our (social) position and privilege in the discussion, and how it might differ from others’ situation(s). The discussions and comments might affect different people unequally. Some members of the audience might be directly affected by war – your academic observation might be someone’s personal tragedy.
• abstain from any discriminatory or abusive language or practices (this includes attempts at humour). Forms of discrimination include e.g. racism, colourism, xenophobia, sexism, transphobia, all forms of religious discrimination (e.g. islamophobia, antisemitism), homophobia, classism, ableism, and ageism, among others.
• challenge and raise to the attention of Aboagora staff (recognisable by their red event passes) any discriminatory language or practices if we were to witness any, and support the victim of such behaviour.
• provide feedback in a constructive manner to others, if you notice they are making someone uncomfortable.
• take in constructive criticism, question ourself and our own assumptions and change our behaviour, if someone is so requesting. 
• aim to use language that is understandable to all.
• respect everyone’s physical and psychological boundaries, and not make assumptions about their background.
• be aware of the space we’re taking in the discussion and the boundaries of our own knowledge.

As event organisers, we have the further responsibility to 

• assess and act on situations that we detect (or someone reports to us) as discriminatory or harassment – this might mean e.g. a request to change of behaviour or removal from the event
• be available for feedback and assistance at the event (please refer to people wearing red Staff-passes) and before and after the event (via email at aboagora@utu.fi or phone at +358 50 570 4017)
• provide a channel for anonymous feedback after the event for feedback on these guidelines and reporting anything you’d rather not connect to your person
• keep developing our own practices – we’re very much aware that we’re also not perfect!

These guidelines were drafted for Aboagora 2024, and we aim to develop them as needed for the future. The safer space guidelines of Anti-Racist Forum (ARF)  and the Safer space guide­lines for aca­d­e­mic events by the Uniarts Helsinki, as well as discussions and consultations with and between our workshop holders and Aboagora curatorial committee have helped us in formatting these guidelines.