The organizers of the Washington Dialogue are committed to providing a productive, inclusive, and respectful environment for all attendees. By participating, you agree to adhere to the following ground throughout all conference activities, communications, and associated events.

1. Respectful Communication

Treat every person with dignity and courtesy. Disagreements are part of any lively discussion, but how you engage matters. Speak with intent and actively listen to others. Abusive language, personal insults, threats, and intimidation are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

2. No Discrimination or Harassment

The Washington Dialogue has zero tolerance for harassment, exclusion, or discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, or any other protected characteristic. Sexual harassment, including unwanted comments of a sexual nature, propositions, and physical advances, are unacceptable and should immediately be reported to Dialogue organizers or staff.

3. Support for Diverse Perspectives

The Washington Dialogue is stronger because of the range of backgrounds, expertise, and viewpoints in the room. Actively make space for voices that differ from your own. Do not dominate discussions, and welcome contributions from those less heard.

4. Good Faith Debate

Challenge ideas, not people. Argue from evidence, engage honestly with opposing views, and be willing to revise your position. Bad-faith tactics such as strawmanning, gotcha questioning, or deliberate misrepresentation undermine the value of open discussion.

5. No Calls for Violence

Any speech that incites, encourages, or glorifies violence against individuals or groups — whether in sessions, public remarks, or any conference-associated channel — is strictly prohibited and grounds for immediate removal.

6. Chatham House Rule

Unless a session is explicitly designated as public, all sessions at The Washington Dialogue are held under Chatham House rule.

What this means: Participants are free to use the information received — but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed. You may share what was said; you may not say who said it or where it was said. This rule exists to encourage openness and the frank exchange of views.

7. Publicity and Social Media

The participants of the Washington Dialogue live with a range of personal and professional risks as a result of their opposition to the Putin regime. Many participants have been targeted by the Russian regime for their work, including through politically motivated designations that unjustifiably label individuals and organizations as foreign agents, extremists, and terrorists under Russian law. Be sensitive and respectful of individual concerns regarding publicity and social media.

Recording and live posting of session content are not permitted unless the session is explicitly marked as on the record. Participants may post online about their own participation in the Washington Dialogue but should not post photos or information about the participation of others without their consent.

NED may photograph or record sessions at the event for communications purposes. Any participant who does not wish to be photographed or recorded is encouraged to discuss this preference in advance with NED staff or other conference organizers. In accordance with NED’s Duty of Care policy, NED prioritizes the safety and security of grantees, partners, and stakeholders. NED will not publish photos, multimedia, or the names of participants without their express consent.

Reporting

If you experience or witness a violation of this code, please report it to a conference organizer or staff member. All reports will be taken seriously and handled with discretion. Participants asked to stop any behavior in breach of this code are expected to comply immediately. The Washington Dialogue Organizing Committee reserves the right to exclude or remove participants who violate the Code of Conduct.