W3C is a global community where participants choose to work together. In that community, we experience differences in language, location, nationality, and experience. In such a diverse environment, misunderstandings and disagreements happen, and in most cases can be resolved informally.
W3C has developed several resources:
We also curate a list of Education and training materials.
Important: These procedures do not substitute for intervention by legal authorities. Anyone may seek advice from law enforcement authorities at any time and should do so immediately if a situation is dangerous or potentially so.
Timely action is encouraged, especially if a behavior rises to the level of harassment or intimidation.
Any individual in the W3C community —including staff, members, invited experts, participants in W3C meetings, in W3C teleconferences, and participants in mailing lists— may call upon the W3C ombuds for assistance.
Note: In exceptional circumstances, the W3C Director may ban an individual from participating in our activities, e.g. on a mailing list or in a group (refer to section 3.1.2 of the W3C Process Document).
The W3C Ombuds are a small group selected by the W3C management to act as trusted confidants to work toward resolving complaints between any internal or external constituent. Ombuds will operate by procedures appropriate to their sites and jurisdictions.
The ombuds positions are currently held by:
Note: there is no obligation to contact an Ombuds associated with a particular W3C Host, but they may be able to orient complaints to the right process and next steps more quickly.
The ombuds may be contacted individually or in subset (potentially all of them via the confidential alias ombuds@w3.org).
| Ombuds affiliation | Ombuds Name | |
| W3C Interim CEO | Ralph Swick | swick@w3.org |
| China | Xiaoqian Wu | xiaoqian@w3.org |
| Japan/Korea | Naomi Yoshizawa | naomi@w3.org |
| Americas and rest of the world | Ralph Swick | ralph@w3.org |
Several resources are, or will be, available:
The Positive Work Environment Community Group is responsible for the evolution of this document.
Send comments or questions on this document to public-pwe@w3.org [publicly archived]. Note: Do not use this list to report inappropriate behavior; refer to Procedures.
This is the 22 October 2014 version of the document.
Coralie Mercier, Head of W3C Marketing & Communications
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