Peace Talks – Terms of use

PeaceTalks is a service hosted by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Centre) at http://peacetalks.hdcentre.org.

The objective is to improve the practice of mediation by encouraging the sharing of information, experience and opinions on topics directly related to peacemaking. We believe that dialogue is not only a viable alternative to armed conflict for resolving differences but an effective way of improving the peacemaking profession.

Comments submitted on PeaceTalks, although moderated, are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the HD Centre. They are submitted in full agreement with these ‘Conditions of use ’.

The following terms and conditions of use (”Terms”) are intended to protect the respective rights and responsibilities of participants and host of the Site. By accessing, creating or contributing to PeaceTalks and in consideration for the Services provided by the HD Centre, you agree to abide by these Terms. Please read them carefully before posting to or creating any content on the site.

  1. Disclaimer

    Unless explicitly designated otherwise, you acknowledge that the comments you post on PeaceTalks, express your opinions, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the HD Centre. You acknowledge that, except as provided herein, the HD Centre will not edit comments. You are solely responsible for the information, analysis and/or recommendations contained in your comments. You agree that you must evaluate and bear all risks associated with creating or contributing comments to PeaceTalks.

  2. Site moderation policy

    The HD Centre is hosting these Services to help improve the profession of peacemaking by encouraging the sharing of information, experience and opinions on directly related topics. The HD Centre intends for posts, comments and content on PeaceTalks to meet basic standards of respect and accuracy in tone and content. The HD Centre maintains the right to remove or not to post content at our discretion if said content does not contribute to the objective of the site.
    PeaceTalks is moderated to maintain the respect required for the ongoing discussion to remain productive. Voicing differences of opinion and providing countervailing information or analysis is encouraged – however, hate speech will not be tolerated.

    You acknowledge that any content you create for or contribute to the Site, including any content to which you link to from the Site, will not include the following:

    1. advertisement for products, services or websites
    2. racial, gender-based or sexualized slurs or attacks, threats of violence, or aggressive harassment or abuse of other participants on the Site;
    3. illegal, obscene or defamatory language;
    4. infringement upon intellectual property rights or privacy rights;
    5. any representation that your content is endorsed by the HD Centre.

  3. Rights in the content you submit

    Unless you specify otherwise, any and all works of authorship copyrightable by you and posted by you to the Site (“Content”) are submitted under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License. Under this license, you permit anyone to copy, distribute, display and perform your Content, royalty-free, on the condition that they credit your authorship each time they do so. You also permit others to distribute derivative works of your Content, but only if they do so under the same license that governs your original Content. Amongst other things, this license permits RSS aggregators to copy, distribute, display and perform any Content on the Site.

    Option for more restrictive license terms

    If you prefer to offer your Content on more restrictive terms, you may do so as follows: For Content you submit, include in the title a full copyright notice, i.e., your name, the word “copyright” or symbol “©” and the year of first publication. By posting your Content on the Site, you are granting the HD Centre a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, and worldwide license to use your Content in connection with the operation of the Services, including, without limitation, the license rights to copy, distribute, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, reproduce, edit, translate and reformat your Content, and/or to incorporate it into a collective work.

    Attribution

    When publicly displaying, publicly performing, reproducing or distributing copies of your Content, or Content as incorporated into a collective work, the HD Centre will make best efforts to credit your authorship. You grant the HD Centre permission to use your name for such attribution purposes. You, likewise, agree to represent yourself accurately. You acknowledge that misrepresentation may lead us, in our sole discretion, to cancel your use of the Services and delete any of your Content.

  4. Conduct

    Posting

    You may not use the HD Centre name to endorse or promote any product, opinion, cause or political candidate. Representation of your personal opinions as institutionally endorsed by the HD Centre or any of its grantees is strictly prohibited.
    By posting any content, you warrant and represent that you either own or otherwise control all of the rights to that content, including, without limitation, all the rights necessary for you to provide, post, upload, input or submit the content, or that your use of the content is a protected fair use. You agree that you will not knowingly and with intent to defraud provide material and misleading false information. You represent and warrant also that the content you supply does not violate these Terms, and that you will indemnify and hold the HD Centre harmless for any and all claims resulting from content you supply.
    You acknowledge that the HD Centre shall have the right to remove or refuse to post in its sole discretion any content that it considers in violation of these Terms.

    Accessing

    You understand that all content posted to the Site is the sole responsibility of the individual who originally posted the content. You understand, also, that all opinions expressed by users of this site are expressed strictly in their individual capacities, and not as representatives of the HD Centre.
    You agree that the HD Centre will not be liable, under any circumstances and in any way, for any errors or omissions, loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of use of any content posted on this site. You agree that you must evaluate and bear all risks associated with the use of any content, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such content.

  5. Disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability

    PeaceTalks is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. The HD Centre makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the Site’s operation or the information, content or materials included on the Site. To the full extent permissible by applicable law, the HD Centre hereby disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for any particular purpose. The HD Centre will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of or inability to use the Site. You expressly agree that you use the Site solely at your own risk. You agree that the HD Centre will not be liable, under any circumstances for any errors or omissions, loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of any content posted by you as a participant of the Site.

  6. Privacy policy

    The HD Centre’s Statement of Privacy and Use (the “Privacy Policy”), incorporated herein by reference, describes the online information practices of the HD Centre. The HD Centre’s Privacy Policy outlines the information the HD Centre collects through its websites, including PeaceTalks, how the HD Centre may use the data it collects, and the conditions regarding the use of the HD Centre’s websites. You acknowledge that you have read and understand the Privacy Policy.

    Notwithstanding the Privacy Policy, as a participant of the Site, you agree that the HD Centre may publicly display your name, affiliation and other personally identifiable information in association with the Content you create or contribute on the Site.

  7. Modification of these ‘Terms of use’

    The HD Centre reserves the right to change, at any time, at our sole discretion, the Terms under which these Services are offered. You are responsible for regularly reviewing these Terms. Your continued use of the Services constitutes your agreement to all such Terms.

  8. Copyright complaints

    The HD Centre respects the intellectual property of others, and requires that our users do the same. If you believe that your work has been copied and is accessible on this site in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or that your intellectual property rights have been otherwise violated, please contact the HD Centre to report copyright infringements at pr@hdcentre.org . If you believe that you have been treated unfairly with respect to any decision made by the HD Centre not to post the content of any post or to delete or modify the content of any post on this Site please contact pr@hdcentre.org

ADDITIONAL LEGAL TERMS

These Terms, your rights and obligations, and all actions contemplated by these Terms will be governed by the laws of Switzerland, as if these Terms were a contract wholly entered into and wholly performed within Switzerland.

If any provision in these Terms is invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect, and the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable provision that most closely matches the intent of the original provision. These Terms are the entire and final agreement regarding the Site, your Content and any other content posted on the Site, and supersede any prior or contemporaneous communications between the HD Centre and you regarding the Site and your Content and the content posted on the Site.

USER OBLIGATIONS.

In consideration of your use of the Services, you represent that you are of legal age to form a binding contract and are not a person barred from receiving services under the laws of Switzerland or other applicable jurisdiction.

You agree to provide true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself upon registration and thereafter. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account, and are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your password or account. You agree to immediately notify the HD Centre of any unauthorized use of your password or account or any other breach of security. The HD Centre cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply this Section 11.

You agree to comply with all local rules regarding online conduct and acceptable Content, including all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from Switzerland or the country in which you reside.