Anti-bullying policy

(Download: Personal Conduct Matters (Guidelines for Alcoholics Anonymous in Great Britain: No. 17)

This guideline makes it abundantly clear that ALL forms of “Bullying, harassment and offensive behaviour are negative and UNACCEPTABLE forms of DISCRIMINATION that are in conflict with the AA Traditions and our way of life in recovery. ANY such behaviour needs to be taken seriously, and sober AA members MUST deal with it as it arises”.

(our emphases)

Now in the case of the cult groups such coercive behaviour has become the norm within their group “consciences” (if such conduct can be considered to occupy this category!) and thereby legitimised and indeed rationalised as being the authentic means by which the recovery programme of Alcoholics Anonymous may be communicated. Manipulation, indoctrination, discrimination, coercion, segregation, isolation, threats, (in some instances blackmail), general control “freakery”, and even outright thuggery are the norm within these groups, and include some of the techniques deployed from within the cult armoury to gain the “compliance” of newcomers: their “victims” (and we use this last term because that in fact is what they are). Given the “institutionalisation” of such behaviour this naturally implies that anyone on the receiving end of this abusive conduct will fail to find any redress from within these groups. The guideline goes on to make it clear that: “If the situation is sufficiently serious or complex, it may be necessary to involve members from outside the Group” (under the much misquoted Tradition Four). In practice this means that other groups (via Intergroup but not solely) have a moral obligation to tackle any such problems. The guideline goes on to propose that at the individual level we should: “Treat other people with respect and dignity” and that at the group level: “Your Group may wish to discuss and agree, at a Group Conscience meeting, upon a 'clear statement' to display for example”:

This Group does not tolerate:

Bullying

Harassment

Discriminatory behaviour

Personal Conduct Matters!

The guideline also makes it clear that such individuals actually have a legally enforceable right to be treated properly (under the Protection Against Harassment Act, 1997 and the Human Rights Act, 1998). Moral considerations aside, too few groups are currently aware of this fact and fail to act accordingly.

See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullying