Child Protection Policy

Alternative Brains Rule (ABR) is a non-profit organisation based in Cyprus working on intersections of art, education, community engagement and inclusion. Throughout local and international collaborations, ABR design and delivers creative programmes that promote cultural participation, equity and accessible learning. As part of its mission to create safe and inclusive environments for all participants, ABR recognises its fundamental duty to project children and young people who engage in and are impacted by its activities.

This Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy expresses ABR’s commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of age, ability, gender, ethnicity or background, is treated with dignity, respect and care. It outlines the organisation’s responsibilities, standards of behaviour and procedures for preventing and responding to harm or abuse.

This policy applies to all ABR staff, facilitators, artists, volunteers and collaborators. 

Whithin this framework, the EUnity20 Project Partnership, led by ABR in collaboration with SigmaLive, the University of Limassol (UoL), and YEU Cyprus, reaffirms a collective commitment to upholding the safety, dignity, and well-being of all children and young people participating in, or coming into contact with, any of its actions.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all Eunity20 environments are safe, inclusive, and protective for children and young people.

Specific aims and objectives are to:

1. Prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation through proactive safeguarding measures.

2. Define clear professional conduct standards for all staff and partners.

3. Promote inclusion and equity, ensuring every child feels welcome, respected, and supported.

4. Provide clear reporting and response procedures for safeguarding concerns.

5. Comply with Cypriot, European, and international child protection legislation.

6. Embed safeguarding awareness within the Project’s culture and across all projects.

Guiding Principles

Guidelines for , EUnity20 Staff, artists and Volunteers

Awareness and response

This Child Protection Policy is guided by the following principles:

Best Interests of the Child: The safety and wellbeing of children are paramount in all Project’s decisions and actions.

Zero Tolerance: EUnity20 Partnership will not tolerate any form of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or discrimination.

Do No Harm: All activities and communications will be designed to protect children from harm or risk.

Equality and Inclusion: Every child is entitled to equal protection and participation opportunities.

Transparency and Accountability: All staff share responsibility for maintaining safe environments.

Empowerment and Participation: Children’s voices and perspectives are respected and valued.

Confidentiality: Information about children and safeguarding cases is handled with discretion.

Alignment with EUnity20 Code of Conduct for Inclusion: This policy should be read in conjunction with the Code of Conduct for Inclusion, which outlines expectations for respectful and equitable interaction across all Eunity20 activities.

EUnity20 staff, artists and volunteers should be committed to: 

Treating children and young people with respect and dignity 

Always listening to what a child or young person is saying 

Valuing each child and young person 

Recognising the unique contribution each individual can make 

Encouraging and praising each child or young person 

EUnity20 staff, artists and volunteers should endeavour to: 

● provide an example, which we would wish others to follow

● use appropriate language with children and young people and challenge any inappropriate language used by a child or young person or an adult working with young people

● respect a child and young person’s right to privacy 

One to one contact: EUnity20 staff, artists and volunteers should: 

● not spend excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others 

● in the unlikely event of having to meet with an individual child or young person, make every effort to keep this meeting as open as possible 

● if privacy is needed, ensure that other staff are informed of the meeting and its whereabouts 

EUnity20 staff, artists and volunteers should never: 

● engage in sexually provocative or rough physical games 

● allow, or engage in, inappropriate touching of any kind General: Sistema Cyprus staff, teachers and volunteers should: 

● be aware that someone might misinterpret our actions, no matter how well-intentioned 

● never draw any conclusions about others without checking the facts 

● never allow themselves to be drawn into inappropriate attention-seeking situations, such as tantrums or crushes 

● never exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues or make suggestive remarks or gestures about or to a child or young person.

EUnity staff, artists and volunteers need to be alert to the potential abuse of children, both within their families and also in other surroundings, including abuse by others. Project staff should know how to recognise and act upon indicators of abuse, or potential abuse, involving children. All staff of the project should be alert and ready to respond to any suspected or actual abuse of a child, in accordance with these procedures. It is good practice to be as open and honest as possible with parents/carers about any concerns, however, staff members, facilitators and volunteers must not discuss their concerns with parents/carers in the following circumstances: 

Where sexual abuse is suspected 

Where organised or multiple abuse is suspected 

Where fictitious illness by proxy (also known as Munchausen Syndrome by proxy) is suspected 

Where contacting parents/carers would place a child, staff members, facilitators or volunteers, or any others at immediate risk.

Code of Conduct and Professional Boundaries

Reporting and Response Procedure

Reporting Steps

All partners, staff, artists, and volunteers shall:

Treat all children with respect and without discrimination.

Maintain professional and appropriate relationships at all times.

Avoid being alone with a child in private spaces.

Use child-appropriate, inclusive, and non-violent language.

Ensure informed consent for photography or interviews.

Report any suspicion or incident of abuse immediately to the CPO.

They shall not:

Engage in sexual or inappropriate behaviour with children.

Use corporal punishment, humiliation, or discrimination.

Exploit children for labour, media, or promotional purposes.

Consume alcohol or drugs when responsible for children.

All concerns, suspicions, or allegations of child abuse must be reported immediately to the Child Protection Officer.

Reporting Channels:

Primary Contact: Child Protection Officer (ABR)Secondary Contact: 

Partner Focal Point

External Authorities:

Social Welfare Services (Department of Social Integration)

Cyprus Police – Domestic Violence and Child Protection Unit

Hope for Children CRC Policy Centre Helpline: 1466

Child Helpline: 116 111

Record facts promptly and objectively using the email of the CPO.

Submit to the CPO within 24 hours.

The CPO will assess the case, consult with partner focal points, and decide on escalation to authorities.

Confidentiality must be maintained throughout, and only those directly involved are informed.

Immediate action must be taken if a child is in danger, including contacting emergency services (112).

Data Protection and Ethical Standards

Communication, Media and Image Use

EUnity20 adheres to GDPR and Cypriot data protection laws in all handling of children’s personal information.

Personal data (names, images, contact details) shall not be shared or published without written consent of the child’s parent or guardian.

Sensitive information regarding safeguarding incidents shall be securely stored with restricted access.

Photography or video of minors is permitted only with prior written consent from parents/guardians.

Images must be respectful, non-exploitative, and not place the child at risk.

No image may be used for financial gain, political promotion, or in contexts that could cause harm, stigma, or misrepresentation.

Monitoring, Review and Accountability

Legal and Ethical Framework

The policy shall be reviewed annually by the Lead Partner in consultation with all partners.

Revisions may be made following significant project changes, incidents, or legal updates.

This Policy is aligned with national and international legal obligations governing the protection of children and young persons, including:

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950)

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2009)

Treaty of Lisbon, Article 3(3) TEU

Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention, 2007)

Law No. 91(I)/2014 of the Republic of Cyprus on the Prevention and Combating of Sexual Abuse, Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography

Children Law Cap. 352 (Cyprus)

General Data Protection Regulation (EU 2016/679) and the Cyprus Data Protection Law (125(I)/2018)

By adopting this Child Protection Policy, the EUnity20 Partnership reaffirms its collective commitment to safeguarding children’s rights, ensuring inclusive and respectful environments, and embedding the values of equality, participation, and protection at the core of its cultural, educational, and creative activities across Cyprus and Europe.

The EUnity20 project is a collaboration between @alternativebrainsrule @yeu_cyprus @sigmalivecom
and @uol.ac.cy @uol_researchcenter. This is an EU Project Funded under the Programme CERV-2024-CITIZENS-REM.

“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting
authority can be held responsible for them.”