Hello, all.

Nutshell: this is a call for applications to volunteer for the Interim
Trust & Safety Case Review Committee (hereafter Case Review Committee)
which will stand until the Universal Code of Conduct escalation process
pathways are defined and established. Text below explains what the
committee is intended to do and what is required of applicants. If it
resonates with you, please apply. Please forward this to any groups you
think appropriate!(Translatable version on Meta [1])

*

The Board of Trustees has recently asked the Wikimedia Foundation to put
together an interim volunteer community review process to help support
Trust & Safety behavioral investigations by ensuring that there is a
functionary appeal process available for borderline cases.[2] For clarity,
this is to appeal cases handled by the Foundation’s professional Trust &
Safety staff. It is not to appeal governance decisions by community
administrators or governance bodies. A permanent review process for Trust &
Safety team cases will be created later as part of the final stages of the
Universal Code of Conduct, but this quickly constituted interim Case Review
Committee will be asked to serve until it is functional, anywhere from
January 1 2021  to June 30 2021. This is a critical layer of oversight to
ensure that Foundation actions are fair and unbiased and that the
Foundation doesn’t step in where it is not necessary to do so.

We are looking for functionaries and experienced volunteers with an
interest in joining this group. If the work resonates and you qualify,
please apply.

First, there’s a page on Meta with more information about how this
committee will work,[3] but, in brief, it will review the case files of
qualifying Trust & Safety investigations that are appealed either by the
person who requested the T&S investigation or by a person sanctioned as a
result of one. We anticipate that members may need to dedicate an average
of about 5 hours of work a week reviewing case files. As this is a new
process, it may prove significantly less; if it proves more, it may be
necessary to expand the review committee. You will be asked to meet with
the rest of the group on a quarterly basis to discuss the committee itself
and how it might be improved.

There are a few very specific requirements for those who are accepted. If
you are interested in applying, we ask that you first read the Committee
charter and decide if you are willing and able to abide by the conditions
of membership and if you meet the criteria outlined there.[3] If you then
want to apply, please write to legal@wikimedia.org using “Case Review
Committee” in your subject line. Please include your username, your
credentials, and a statement of what you hope to bring to the role.
Credentials in this case refers to community background - have you been an
administrator? A member of an arbitration committee? Where or when? What
experiences do you think have prepared you to do this well? Reference to
professional credentials will also be taken into account, but does require
legal identification so that it may be confirmed. Otherwise, we will only
be asking for legal identification from applicants who are finalists.

Unfortunately, English language fluency is a must. While we hope to get as
much linguistic diversity as possible, Trust & Safety’s case files are
lengthy documents written in complex English, and expedience and current
availability of resourcing does not make it possible to provide
translations for the interim process.

This is an important role and a new direction in collaborations between
Trust & Safety staff and volunteers to help make sure we get the balance
right in protecting communities - both in supporting community members and
recognizing community autonomy.

Please submit your application by the end of July 18th.

Best regards,

Maggie

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Trust_and_Safety/Case_Review_Committee/Call_for_applicants

[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/May_2020_-_Board_of_Trustees_on_Healthy_Community_Culture,_Inclusivity,_and_Safe_Spaces

[3]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Trust_and_Safety/Case_Review_Committee/Charter


--
Maggie Dennis
Vice President, Community Resilience & Sustainability
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
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