Children Protection
Version 1.0 | This Policy was approved on 15 April 2020.
Introduction
Definitions
This document employs terms related to the DCDR Advocacy that can be found in the TIOF terminology.
For a structure of The IO Foundation, please visit
The IO Foundation's Organizational Chart
The IO Foundation's Organizational Taxonomy
About this document
This document, hereinafter the Policy, sets out the position maintained by TIOF in matters of Children Protection that you will need to be aware of while being a TIOF Member. You should familiarize yourself with it and comply with it at all times. Any questions you may have with regard to its contents or what you have to do to comply with it should be referred to your corresponding Team Human Resources Manager.
This Policy sets out TIOF's approach to the necessary steps to ensure proper and reliable protection of our most vulnerable citizens: children.
Any Member who breaches this Policy will face disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal for gross misconduct. In particular, failure to protect a whistleblower or interfere with any such related ongoing investigation will be treated as misconduct under our Disciplinary Procedures. Any non-employee who breaches this Policy may have their contract (or equivalent official relationship with TIOF) terminated with immediate effect.
Scope
This document directly applies to:
All TIOF Members
This document indirectly applies to:
The policies set out in this document apply to all TIOF Members unless otherwise indicated. They therefore apply to Members of the Boards (Directors, Advisers, Consultants), Employees, Volunteers and Interns; this is irrespective of their engagement type. They equally apply to all Contributors and will be used as part of the selection criteria when engaging with them.
This Policy applies within all TIOF Spaces, including (although not limited to) management activities, contributions or events; it and also applies when an individual is officially representing the organization in public spaces. Examples of representing the organization include (although not limited to) using an official e-mail address, posting via any official channel or acting as an appointed representative at an event.
Review and Amendments This policy shall be reviewed regularly to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness. Amendments may be made to adapt to new legal requirements, changing circumstances or to better serve the organization's Mission.
Policy details
Children Protection statement
The IO Foundation is committed to protecting children at all times and by any means necessary in accordance to the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The organization expects all TIOF Members and TIOF Contributors to maintain high standards in this regard. Any suspected wrongdoing should be reported as soon as possible and will be investigated with the outmost care towards the potential victims.
The IO Foundation is adherent to the concept of presumption of innocence and believes in its application under any circumstances.
This applies to both the alleged infractor and the organization alike.
Definitions
Child: Any underage individual, in accordance with applicable laws.
Child Protection: Measures taken to prevent and respond to abuse, exploitation, neglect and violence against children.
Abuse: Physical, emotional, sexual harm or neglect that endangers a child’s well-being.
Exploitation: The use of a child for someone else’s advantage or benefit in an unfair, unlawful or otherwise harmful manner.
Neglect: The failure to provide for a child’s basic physical, emotional or educational needs.
Core Principles
The IO Foundation is committed to the following principles in the protection of children:
Best Interests of the Child: All decisions and actions affecting a child shall prioritize their best interests.
Zero Tolerance for Abuse: Any form of abuse, exploitation or neglect of children is prohibited and will be met with immediate action, including immediate termination.
Do No Harm: The organization's programs, activities and technologies are expected to prevent any harm to children, ensuring their safety, well-being and privacy.
Confidentiality: Any personal information related to a child is handled with the highest level of confidentiality, in accordance with The IO Foundation's Personal Privacy and Data Protection policy and other applicable privacy laws.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
The IO Foundation observers the most protective international and national regulations, including:
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): Ensuring that all children are treated with dignity and respect and that their rights are protected.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): In accordance with Article 8 of the GDPR, ensuring that processing of personal data of children is lawful and that children under 16 require parental consent in relevant jurisdictions.
COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act): Ensuring that no personal information is collected from children under 13 in the U.S. without verifiable parental consent.
Local Child Protection Laws: We ensure compliance with child protection laws in every country the organization operates, including those specific to Estonia, Malaysia and the United States.
Child Safety Measures
The IO Foundation takes proactive steps to ensure the safety of all children interacting with the organization:
Screening and Recruitment
Background Checks: All TIOF Members and TIOF Collaborators who work directly with children undergo rigorous background checks to identify any prior offenses or behaviors that could pose a risk to children.
Interviews and Reference Checks: TIOF Member candidates are carefully vetted through interviews and reference checks to ensure they possess the character and skills necessary for working with children whenever necessary.
Behavioral Guidelines
All TIOF Members and TIOF Collaborators working with children are required to adhere to the following conduct guidelines when interacting with children:
Respect Boundaries: Avoid any form of physical punishment, inappropriate physical contact or behavior that may harm or exploit a child.
No Unsupervised Contact: TIOF Member or TIOF Collaborator should be alone with a child without parental or guardian permission, unless it is part of a clearly defined and supervised activity (for which permission needs be equally provided).
Reporting Suspicious Behavior: Any suspicion or evidence of child abuse or exploitation must be immediately reported to the appropriate authority in accordance with the reporting procedures set forth in this policy.
Online Safety
Given that technology is central to our operations, the organization takes special precautions to ensure the safety of children online:
Parental Consent for Online Interaction: For children under the applicable age of consent, the organization requires verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal information.
Age-Appropriate Content: The organization ensures that any technology or content provided through its platforms is appropriate for children, including filters and warnings for sensitive material whenever applicable.
Data Protection for Children: The organization follows strict guidelines to protect children's privacy online, ensuring that personal data is only collected and processed with appropriate legal bases and data is never shared without parental or guardian consent. For more information, please refer to The IO Foundation's Personal Privacy and Data Protection policy
Training and Awareness
To ensure the effective implementation of this policy, The IO Foundation provides training and resources to all TIOF Members or TIOF Collaborators whenever necessary:
Child Protection Training: All individuals who work directly with children must complete mandatory child protection training. This includes recognizing signs of abuse, reporting procedures set forth in this policy and understanding their legal obligations.
Technology-Specific Training: TIOF Members involved in designing or implementing digital services that will be directed to children receive specific training on online safety and child data protection requirements.
Regular Refresher Courses: Periodic refresher training is provided to keep relevant TIOF Members or TIOF Collaborators up-to-date with the latest child protection protocols and legal requirements.
Reporting and Response Procedures
The IO Foundation takes all allegations or concerns regarding child abuse or exploitation seriously and has established clear procedures for reporting and responding to such concerns:
The IO Foundation is adherent to the concept of presumption of innocence and believes in its application under any circumstances.
This applies to both the alleged infractor and the organization alike.
Immediate Reporting: Any suspicion, allegation or evidence of abuse must be reported immediately to the Child Protection Officer (CPO) or the relevant designated safeguarding officer.
Confidentiality in Reporting: Reports of suspected abuse or exploitation will be handled with strict confidentiality, with information only shared on a need-to-know basis to protect the child and comply with legal obligations.
Mandatory Reporting to Authorities: The organization will report incidents to local law enforcement or child protection agencies without delay in accordance to applicable laws.
Investigation: Internal investigations will be conducted in a timely and impartial manner by trained personnel to assess the validity of the report and take appropriate action.
Partner Organizations
Any TIOF Collaborator that working with The IO Foundation must adhere to this Children Protection Policy or demonstrate that they follow equally protective standards that shall be enforced through the applicable instruments such as contractual obligations.
Review and Accountability
The IO Foundation is committed to regularly reviewing and updating this policy to ensure that it reflects the latest laws, regulations, and best practices. The Children Protection Officer (CPO) is responsible for the overall implementation and enforcement of this policy by following measures whenever considered pertinent:
Reviews: The policy will be reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure its effectiveness.
Monitoring Compliance: Audits and spot checks shall be conducted to ensure adherence to this policy by all TIOF Members or TIOF Collaborators whenever applicable.
Reporting to Governance Bodies: Reports on child protection issues and incidents will be made to the organization’s governance board to ensure accountability and transparency if ever occurring.
Contact Information
For any questions, concerns, or requests related to this policy or the processing of personal data, please contact The IO Foundation via email to: [email protected]
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