Child Protection Policy

Effective from: 1 July 2026 until revoked
Approved by: József Vasvári, President

1. Purpose of the Policy

The Central European Club Pannonia Public Benefit Association (KEP) is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for every child and young person participating in programmes and projects organised by the Association.
KEP envisions a sustainable and inclusive society in which every child grows up happy, healthy, confident, and able to develop their talents while being respected as an independent individual. We believe that child protection is essential to ensuring that children have the rights, information, and opportunities necessary to express their views freely.
Children can become active agents of change for a sustainable and inclusive future—benefiting themselves, their communities, and society as a whole—only when they are consistently protected from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence. KEP considers the voices of children, particularly those who are marginalised or disadvantaged, to be fundamental to its work and to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Child abuse and exploitation are global issues that occur in every country and every society. They include emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and all forms of exploitation. In order to protect children from potential abuse or exploitation while participating in programmes, events, and activities organised by KEP and the WITNESS-REM Consortium, this Child Protection Policy has been developed.
This Policy establishes the principles, responsibilities, and procedures that ensure the protection of children throughout all activities implemented independently by KEP or in cooperation with its international partners.

This Policy is aligned with:
• the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC);
• the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
• the Keeping Children Safe – International Child Safeguarding Standards;
• the requirements of the European Union CERV Programme;
• the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

2. Principles

KEP is guided by the following fundamental principles:
• Every child has an equal right to protection.
• Every child's dignity must be respected at all times.
• The best interests of the child shall be the primary consideration in every decision.
• Participation must always be voluntary.
• Every child's opinion matters and must be heard.
• Participation must be meaningful, relevant, and informative.
• Participation must be transparent and respectful.
• Participation must promote gender equality, non-discrimination, and inclusion.
• Participation must always be safe.
• Participation entails shared responsibility.
• Gender equality and non-discrimination are fundamental principles underpinning all KEP programmes and activities.
• KEP maintains zero tolerance towards all forms of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, harassment, or discrimination.
• Taking the child's wishes into account (https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child)

KEP firmly believes that these rights apply equally to every child regardless of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, social or cultural background, ethnic origin, language, political opinion, religion or belief, educational background, socio-economic status, disability, or physical or mental health condition.
KEP does not tolerate unequal treatment, discrimination, exclusion, or prejudice in any form and actively works to prevent and address such behaviour.
Furthermore, KEP considers all project staff members, volunteers, experts, partner organisations, contractors, and any other persons involved in its programmes and project activities responsible and accountable for ensuring a safe environment for children.
KEP actively encourages children and young people to express their views, participate in decision-making, and exercise their right to meaningful participation.

All activities organised or co-organised by KEP shall be based on the following principles:
• Full compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Respect for participants' social, cultural, ethnic, and personal backgrounds.
• Promotion of diversity, equality, and inclusion.
• Consideration of the individual needs and circumstances of every participant.
• Promotion of freedom of choice and self-determination as a primary objective of all activities.
• Raising awareness and understanding of diversity, inclusion, and special educational or accessibility needs.
• Supporting the personal development and individual potential of every participant.
• Promoting academic integrity, transparency, diversity of perspectives, and honesty.
• Protecting personal data, privacy, and individual integrity.
• Promoting non-violence, mutual respect, and peaceful conflict resolution throughout all projects.

3. Definitions and risks

For the purposes of this Policy, a child is defined as any person under the age of 18 years, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Child abuse includes, but is not limited to:
• Physical abuse;
• Emotional or psychological abuse;
• Sexual abuse or exploitation;
• Neglect;
• Harassment;
• Online harassment or cyberbullying;
• Bullying and intimidation;
• Discrimination;
• Exploitation in any form.

Due to the nature of the WITNESS-REM Project and other historical remembrance programmes, particular attention shall be given to emotionally sensitive content, including:
• Visits to former concentration camps;
• Holocaust memorial sites and museums;
• Testimonies of Holocaust survivors and witnesses;
• Historical photographs, films, and archival documents;
• Online communication and digital learning environments.

All educational activities shall always be designed and delivered in an age-appropriate manner.

Dealing with emotionally challenging historical content:
During programs related to the Holocaust, KEP pays special attention to ensuring that participants receive age-appropriate preparation and follow-up support. Before the visits, we provide information on the historical background, and after the program, we offer an opportunity for a guided discussion and Q&A session. No participant may be compelled to engage in any activity or make any statement that may be emotionally distressing or offensive to them.

4. Acceptable and prohibited behaviour

All KEP employees, volunteers, experts, contractors, and partner representatives who come into contact with children are required to:
• treat every child with dignity, respect, fairness, and empathy;
• provide and maintain a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment;
• take account of each child's individual needs, abilities, and circumstances;
• encourage children to express their opinions and participate actively in programme activities;
• avoid any behaviour or situation that could be misunderstood, create a conflict of interest, or give rise to allegations of misconduct.

The following conduct is strictly prohibited:
• any form of physical, emotional, or psychological abuse;
• humiliating, degrading, or intimidating treatment;
• discrimination of any kind;
• sexualised behaviour or communication with a child;
• being alone with a child without a legitimate reason and without appropriate supervision;
• supervising or interacting with children while under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• taking photographs, videos, or audio recordings of children without the required consent;
• establishing private relationships with children through social media or other personal online communication platforms.

5. Staff members and volunteers

All persons working with or on behalf of KEP who may come into contact with children shall:
• read, understand, and formally accept this Child Protection Policy;
• receive appropriate child safeguarding information and guidance before participating in project activities;
• provide a certificate of good conduct or criminal record check where required by applicable legislation or project requirements;
• begin working with children only under appropriate supervision until they are fully familiar with safeguarding procedures.

Whenever reasonably possible, KEP shall ensure that at least two responsible adults are present during activities involving children.

6. Data protection and communication

KEP processes children's personal data exclusively in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and all applicable national data protection legislation.

Photographs, videos, or interviews may be taken only with the appropriate consent.

When communicating about or with children, KEP shall:
• respect every child's dignity, privacy, and rights;
• avoid stereotypes, prejudice, and discriminatory language;
• use inclusive, respectful, and age-appropriate language;
• ensure that no published content could expose a child to harm, identification risks, exploitation, or other safety concerns.

7. Reporting Procedure

Every KEP employee, volunteer, contractor, expert, or partner representative has a duty to report immediately any concern, suspicion, allegation, or actual incident involving child abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, or any situation that may place a child at risk.

Reports shall be submitted without delay to the designated Child Protection Officer of KEP.

If necessary, the KEP will notify the relevant authorities.

The child’s safety is always the top priority.

The reporting procedure has been made widely available so that everyone is aware of the steps they must take to ensure the safety of children and other witnesses. The guiding principle is that the child’s safety is always the top priority. At events where children are directly involved, they will be informed about the Child Protection Policy.

In accordance with its Child Protection Policy, KEP responds to all reports of actual or alleged abuse, regardless of the nature of the report, the identity of the person against whom the allegations are made, or the identity or source of the person making the report.

Our standards:
• Be aware of what constitutes child abuse and exploitation (as defined in the Child Protection Policy) and understand its provisions.
• Recognize the signs of abuse and immediately report any suspicious observations to the project manager and management.
• Respect lines of authority and reporting procedures.
• Respect the fundamental rights of others by treating them fairly, honestly, and sensitively, and by treating them with dignity and respect.
• Treat all children equally: be inclusive and involve every child without discrimination.
• Protect your own health, safety, and well-being, as well as those of others.
• Be aware of high-risk situations involving peers (e.g., unsupervised mixing of older and younger children, and the potential for discrimination against minors).
• Be aware of the potential for peer abuse (e.g., bullying).v • Be mindful of how your language, actions, and interactions with children may be perceived.
• Encourage and respect children’s voices and perspectives.
• Comply with data protection regulations and privacy rights.
• Ensure that at least two staff members are present during activities with children (so that one can step away to address the children’s immediate needs).
• Before the event, obtain detailed information about the assistive devices used by children with disabilities to ensure that all buildings and meeting places are accessible.
• Make sure that accompanying adults are at least 18 years old, except in exceptional circumstances and by prior agreement.
• When participants are asked to stay overnight, arrange room assignments in advance with the consent of the parents/guardians and the children.
• Report any suspicious observations or alleged abuse to the project leader, as well as any circumstances or situations that could be open to misinterpretation.

8. Child Protection Officer

The designated Child Protection Officer of KEP is:
József Vasvári, President
Contact: KEP Association as the coordinator of the WITNESS-REM project
E-mail: info@witness-rem.eu

The Child Protection Officer shall be responsible for:
• receiving safeguarding concerns and reports;
• documenting all reported incidents and actions taken;
• notifying the competent authorities where necessary;
• reviewing and updating this Child Protection Policy;
• maintaining communication with project partners regarding safeguarding matters;
• promoting awareness of child safeguarding throughout KEP activities.

9. Complaints procedure

Any participant, parent, legal guardian, or partner is entitled to file a child protection complaint.
The KEP investigates and documents complaints and takes action as necessary.
We aim to resolve complaints within 30 days whenever possible.
Retaliation against any person making a safeguarding report or complaint in good faith is strictly prohibited.

10. Monitoring and review

The KEP leadership continuously monitors the implementation of these guidelines.
We review these guidelines at least once a year, as well as before the start of any new international project involving children.

These guidelines will be publicly available on:
• the KEP website, in Hungarian,
• and on the WITNESS-REM project website, in English.

Final provisions

All KEP staff members, volunteers, project partners, and contractors are required to familiarize themselves with and comply with the provisions of this policy.

The safety of children is a top priority in all programs.

KEP considers respect for children’s rights, equal treatment, gender equality, the prohibition of discrimination, and the protection of human dignity to be fundamental organizational values.

Contact

KEP Association as the coordinator of the WITNESS-REM project
E-mail: info@witness-rem.eu