The principle of Consent is not officially recognized as one of the ten principles of Burning Man. However, in recent years, the concept of Consent has gained increased awareness and recognition within the Burning Man community and events. Consent, in this context, emphasizes the importance of establishing clear boundaries, mutual understanding, and respect for personal autonomy in all interactions.
Consent is about ensuring that all individuals involved in any kind of interaction or engagement, whether it be physical, emotional, or verbal, have willingly and enthusiastically given their agreement.
Consent emphasizes the need for communication, active listening, and respect for personal boundaries and desires.
Within Burning Man, consent is crucial to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment where participants feel comfortable and respected. It acknowledges that every individual has the right to control their own body, choices, and experiences.
While not officially enshrined as one of the ten principles, the principle of Consent aligns with the overall ethos of Burning Man, promoting a culture of consent and personal agency that contributes to the overall well-being and positive interactions of the community.
You can reach out to us at:
consent@sixthsense.dk
Our Awareness framework is explained in the following documents. They outline our safety and follow up protocols.
All documents are licensed under the Creative Commons By v4.0 International
For everyone else who are looking for a quick overview over our Awareness framework, we prepared a summary of the key points.
Terminology plays a significant role in how we understand and assess different situations and shapes the way we address them.
Reporter
The person who initially reports an incident.
Reported
The person or individuals who are reported upon after an incident.
Victim
As soon as we acknowledge that someone has experienced a violation of consent, then we refer to them as a victim.
Offender
Conversely, an offender is someone who has perpetrated a violation of consent.
Violation of Consent
Violation of Consent denotes an act that infringes upon the boundaries or safety of one or more individuals.
The color code system is a vital tool we utilize to swiftly categorize incidents at our events and within our community. It helps us to prioritize and respond in a timely manner.
Green
Code Green is used for minor incidents where communication between parties remains positive and solutions are easily found. In such cases, the involvement of our Awareness team is minimal.
Orange
Code Orange is used for incidents that requires some effort from our Awareness team to facilitate resolution. Although parties agree on the issue and manifest a genuine interest in resolving it amicably, they may need extra care.
Red
Code Red is used for situations where is parties are unable, or unwilling to reconcile. This scenario necessitates a post-event investigation. Furthermore, one or both parties may be requested to leave the venue. In response of a code Red we will always convene an Awareness coucil and follow up.
Black
Code Black is reserved for emergencies where the safety of our guests is at immediate risk, either due to intentional actions or intoxication. In these critical situations, security is swiftly involved to handle the offender/s. The Awareness team will follow up with the victim/s and ensure their wellbeing is prioritized.
We are dedicated to safeguarding your privacy. When handling your data, we adhere to GDPR regulations and ensure the highest levels of confidentiality. Further information on our data handling practices can be found in our documents linked above.
The Awareness Council plays a crucial role in addressing sensitive reports and serious incidents within the Sixth Sense space. The council is always convened in respose of a code red or black, and it comprises of three experienced members chosen from our Awareness Team.
The primary goal of the council is to collect information from both parties and facilitate a resolution that is satisfactory to all involved.
When this is no possible, we will take the necessary steps to ensure the wellbeing of the victim/s. This may result in the offender/s being barred from attending future Sixth Sense events.
Occasionally we may receive reports before an official event. These reports typically indicate a history between the parties involved.
When we receive such reports, our initial step is to assign a member from our Awareness team to handle the case and delve deeper into the nature of the conflict. Our color code system is applied to these cases as well. We will take the necessary steps to ensure the appropriate actions are taken in order to prevent any incidents from occurring. This may result in the offender/s being barred from attending future Sixth Sense events.
There may be instances where we have to make the difficult decision to exclude someone from attending our upcoming events. This decision is never taken lightly and is taken in response to a serious conflict between parties.
When this happens, we always follow up on the person being excluded.
To be re-allowed to attend future events, the excluded person must first complete our Awareness Workshop module 1 (free of charge). This workshop is designed as initial training for our Awareness team and will provide the excluded person with a better understanding of our values and expectations.
Our Awareness team operates in group of 3 during our public events. We are recognizable by a glowing armband and we are there to help you with any issues you may have. We are trained to handle a variety of situations and are there to support you.
Always feel free to reach out to us if you need help or have any concerns. Security will handle code black situations.
Our decision, or Security's to remove someone from the event is final. If you are asked to leave, you must do so peacefully and immediately.
