Introduction

Welcome to the Global Tibetan Youth Festival, a three-day gathering of Tibetan youth from around the world at Upper TCV in Dharamsala, India. This festival is a celebration of culture, community, and creativity. To ensure a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for everyone, we have established this Code of Conduct. All participants, including attendees, speakers, performers, volunteers, and staff, are expected to adhere to these guidelines throughout all workshops, panels, networking sessions, and concerts. By participating in the festival, you agree to uphold this Code of Conduct and help us foster a positive experience for all.

Behavioral Expectations

1. Inclusivity & Cultural Respect: Treat everyone with respect, kindness, and an open mind. Embrace the diversity of our Tibetan diaspora community and celebrate each other’s cultural backgrounds. We uphold principles of inclusivity, mutual understanding, and a safe space for all. Respect each other’s culture, accept differences, and be open-minded in learning from one another. Any form of demeaning or prejudicial behavior goes against our values and will not be tolerated.
2. Harassment & Discrimination: Harassment, bullying, or discrimination of any kind is strictly prohibited. This includes offensive or derogatory comments, slurs, or jokes related (but not limited) to someone’s race, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, disability, physical appearance, or any personal characteristic. Racism, sexism, or other bigotry have no place here. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards such behavior. Unwelcome sexual attention, inappropriate touching, or any form of sexual harassment is forbidden. No unwelcome advances—always respect personal boundaries. If someone tells you “no” or asks you to stop any behavior, you must respect their wishes immediately.
3. Safe Conduct & Wellness: Help us create a safe and positive environment. No disruptive or threatening behavior. This includes yelling at, mocking, or intentionally intimidating others. Violence or threats of violence are absolutely banned. Weapons or dangerous materials are not allowed on festival premises. If you see someone in distress or in need of help, be an ally: offer assistance if you can, or alert a staff member. Don’t stand by silently if someone’s safety or dignity is at risk. We all share responsibility for a supportive community.
4. Sobriety During Programming: The festival is a drug- and alcohol-free space during official programming hours. No consumption or possession of alcohol or illegal drugs is allowed at festival venues or events. Participants should not attend workshops, panels, or concerts while intoxicated. Public intoxication is not permitted at the festival. After-hours socializing is of course your choice, but during scheduled festival activities we require full sobriety. Anyone found using illegal substances or visibly impaired during program hours will be asked to leave and may face further consequences. 
5. Cleanliness & Shared Environment: We are guests of our venue and part of a community—please help take care of our shared space. Keep the festival areas clean and tidy. Dispose of trash in designated bins, and avoid leaving any litter or mess behind. Treat the facilities, equipment, and artwork with respect. Let’s all do our part to maintain a pleasant environment for everyone and leave it as beautiful as we found it. 
6. Follow Staff Instructions: Festival organizers, staff, and volunteers (you can identify them by their badges or t-shirts) are here to help run a smooth and safe event. Please follow the instructions of staff at all times. If a staff member or volunteer asks you to stop a certain behavior or move to a different area for safety reasons, you are expected to comply immediately. Failure to cooperate with festival staff or ignoring their guidance is a serious breach of this Code. In addition, please adhere to any posted rules or guidelines specific to venues or sessions (e.g. no photography if requested, capacity limits, etc.).
7. Responsible Enjoyment: Enjoy the music, discussions, and activities with full enthusiasm, but do so responsibly. During performances and panels, be mindful of others—avoid behavior that might disrupt the experience (no shouting, excessive phone use, or interrupting speakers). Celebrate and have fun, but not at the expense of someone else’s comfort or the cultural dignity of the event. This festival is about uplifting each other and our heritage, so let’s make it enjoyable for everyone.

Consequences of Violations

We take violations of this Code of Conduct very seriously. The festival organizers reserve the right to take immediate action in response to any behavior that violates these rules. Possible consequences include:

• A verbal warning or reminder of the rules; removal from or denial of access to a specific session or activity; or expulsion from the festival premises altogether. If you are asked to leave for misconduct, you must leave promptly—in such cases no refunds will be issued for tickets or fees.
• Particularly severe or illegal behavior (e.g. physical assault, theft, harassment of a serious nature, vandalism, possession of illegal drugs or weapons) may result in immediate expulsion and referral to local law enforcement.
• The organizers may also bar individuals who violate the Code from attending future events. All decisions by the festival management regarding conduct issues are final. Our priority is to maintain a safe and respectful environment, and we will act to address any situation that jeopardizes that goal.
• If you are removed from the event due to a Code of Conduct violation, you are responsible for any consequences that follow (for example, arranging your own transportation home). We truly hope never to impose these sanctions, but we will not hesitate to enforce this Code of Conduct to protect our community.

Reporting an Issue

We encourage everyone to be vigilant and speak up if you experience or witness any problematic behavior. If you feel unsafe or observe someone violating the Code of Conduct, please report it as soon as possible. You can report issues in several ways:

1. In person: Contact a festival organizer, staff member, or volunteer on site. All our staff/volunteers are trained to handle such reports respectfully. You can find staff at the registration desk or identified by special badges/shirts.
2. By email: If you prefer or if an issue comes to light after the event, you can email our team at “info@tibetanyouthfestival.com.” This inbox is monitored confidentially by the festival organizing committee.

• When making a report, you can share as much detail as you feel comfortable. All reports will be handled discreetly and with confidentiality—we will not share identities or details beyond the small team responsible for responding, unless required for safety or by law.
• You may choose to remain anonymous if you report, although providing your contact information can help us investigate and follow up. We will take every report seriously and investigate the situation to the best of our ability.
• Our team may reach out to you to gather more information and will work quickly to address the issue. No retaliation will be tolerated against anyone who reports a concern or assists in an investigation. We appreciate your courage in speaking up—it helps us maintain a positive environment. In fact, we expect participants to not passively condone inappropriate behavior. If you see something wrong, do the right thing and let us know. This way, we can all look out for each other.

Conclusion

Thank you for being a part of the Global Tibetan Youth Festival and for doing your part to uphold this Code of Conduct. By following these guidelines, we ensure that the festival remains a warm, welcoming space for everyone—a place where Tibetan culture is celebrated with respect, and all participants can learn, network, perform, and have fun without fear of harassment or exclusion. We are committed to these principles of inclusivity, cultural respect, and safety, and we trust that you are too. Let’s work together to create an event that truly embodies the values of respect, unity, and zero tolerance for hate or misconduct. If we all contribute to a positive atmosphere, the festival will be an inspiring and memorable experience for all involved. We appreciate your cooperation in honoring this Code of Conduct, and we hope you have a fantastic time at the festival!