¿Qué entendemos por violencia y agresión?

For the purpose of this protocol, violence and aggression includes behaviour that harms another person or creates a reasonable fear that harm may occur.

This may include:

• hitting, kicking, pushing, grabbing or other physical assault;
• attempted physical assault;
• throwing objects at or near another person;
• damaging objects or property as part of threatening behaviour;
• threatening to hurt, attack or kill someone;
• threatening another person with an object or weapon;
• blocking an exit or intentionally preventing someone from leaving;
• aggressive intimidation or approaching someone in a way that creates a reasonable fear of harm;
• aggressive verbal abuse that creates a significant safety concern;
• following, stalking or waiting for a volunteer outside activities;
• repeated threatening telephone calls, messages or online communication;
• threats against a volunteer's family, colleagues or other participants;
• other behaviour that causes a volunteer to reasonably believe that their physical safety or that of another person may be at risk.

A physical injury does not need to occur for an incident to be taken seriously.

Distress is not automatically violence.

Iguality recognises that beneficiaries may experience emotional distress, frustration, anxiety, anger or other strong emotions.

Crying, disagreeing, expressing frustration or briefly raising one's voice should not automatically be classified as violent behaviour.

Decisions should be based on the behaviour, the level of risk and the circumstances - not on a person's diagnosis, disability, nationality, migration status, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic situation or other personal characteristic.

At the same time, distress or personal circumstances do not require a volunteer to remain in a situation in which they feel unsafe.