All members of the IUCN SSC, and thus CSG members, are bound by the SSC Code of Conduct of the Members of IUCN Commissions. The CSG also adheres to the IUCN Policy on the Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment and related Anti-harassment Policy, including bullying and sexual harassment, for IUCN Events. Regardless, since the inception of the CSG in 1971, the underlying premise upon which CSG members are expected to operate is, and always has been, “respect, understanding and tolerance”,  regardless of an individual’s characteristics.

A claim of harassment at a CSG Working Meeting (in 2018) stimulated the IUCN to formulate guidelines for handling claims of harassment, should they arise, and also resulted in a “closed” investigation on the case by the IUCN in 2022-2023. Prior to the completion of this investigation, concerns were raised by two members of the CSG Steering Committee that additional measures may be required to deal with allegations of bullying, harassment or discrimination at CSG-endorsed events, and thus ensure that events continue to provide a professional, respectful and harassment-free environment.

Accordingly, the CSG Executive Committee developed its own Policy and Procedures to address incidents of harassment, bullying or discrimination, should they occur, at CSG-endorsed events (eg working meetings, regional meetings, species meetings, virtual meetings) and other forms of communication. Draft versions of the Policy and Procedures were circulated to CSG Steering Committee members in February 2024, seeking their review and comments, and the documents (Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination Prevention Policy for CSG-Endorsed Events and Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination Resolution Procedures for CSG-Endorsed Events) were finalised (late-March 2024).

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015, as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The CSG and its members play a significant role in contributing to the achievement of many of the UN's 17 SDGs. This document summarises how crocodilian conservation efforts support the SDGs (download here).