Child Protection Policy

Original policy effective date: 3 June 2024
Revision date: 5 October 2026

Hidak Ifjúsági Alapítvány is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children in its care. It recognises the responsibility to promote safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation. For the purposes of this policy and associated procedures a child is recognised as someone under the age of 18 years.

Staff and volunteers will work together to embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of children and young people.

This document outlines Hidak Ifjúsági Alapítvány’s commitment to protecting children. It applies to staff, members, volunteers, trustees and other persons acting on behalf of YBB in activities involving children, including online activities.

Principles

• The welfare of children is the primary concern.

• All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, socio-economic status, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from all forms of harm and abuse.

• Child protection is everyone’s responsibility.

• Children have the right to express views on all matters which affect them, should they wish to do so.

• Organisations shall work in partnership together with children and parents/carers to promote the welfare, health and development of children.

Organisational commitments

Hidak Ifjúsági Alapítvány will:

• Promote the health and welfare of children by providing opportunities for them to take part in different youth activities, non-formal education and sport safely.

• Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children.

• Promote and implement appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of children and protect them from abuse.

•  Recruit, train, support and supervise its staff, members and volunteers to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children from abuse and to reduce risk to themselves.

• Require staff, members and volunteers to adopt and abide by this Child Protection Policy and these procedures.

• Respond to any allegations of misconduct or abuse of children in line with this Policy and these procedures, applying the relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures where appropriate.

• Follow applicable Hungarian child protection legislation and guidance from the competent child welfare services and authorities.

• Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Policy and these procedures.

Procedures in cases of misconduct or abuse

All concerns, disclosures and allegations must be taken seriously, including suspected physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying and online harm. Proof is not required before reporting a concern.

1 Ensure immediate safety

The person receiving or observing a concern must first protect the child from further harm and arrange medical assistance if needed. In an emergency or where there is immediate danger, call 112 without waiting for internal approval. The child must not be left in an unsafe situation.

2 Listen and record

Listen calmly, take the child seriously and avoid leading questions or repeated questioning. Explain that information may need to be shared with people who can help; do not promise secrecy. As soon as possible, record the date, time, observations, the child’s own words and any action taken. Separate facts from assumptions. Staff and volunteers must not conduct their own investigation or confront the alleged perpetrator.

3 Report the concern immediately

Report the concern without delay to YBB’s child protection contact person, Csenge Kolozsvári, in person or at info@youthbridgesbudapest.org. Urgent concerns must be communicated directly and must not rely solely on email. If the contact person is unavailable, implicated or has a conflict of interest, report directly to another uninvolved trustee. Anyone may also contact the competent services or authorities directly; internal reporting must never delay external reporting or emergency assistance.

4 Refer to the competent services and authorities

The child protection contact person, or an uninvolved trustee handling the concern, must promptly assess the immediate protection needs and ensure the necessary external reports are made without delay. Concerns about a child being at risk must be reported to the competent family and child welfare service. Abuse, serious neglect or other serious endangerment must also be referred to the competent authority, such as the guardianship authority; suspected criminal offences must be reported to the police. YBB must cooperate with these bodies in accordance with Section 17 of Act XXXI of 1997. Internal enquiries must not delay or interfere with their work.

5 Take protective and organisational action

Where an allegation concerns a person acting on behalf of YBB, the responsible uninvolved trustees must assess the risk and restrict or suspend that person’s contact with children where necessary. Protective measures do not prejudge the outcome. Any subsequent disciplinary action must follow applicable law and fair procedures, and may include ending the person’s involvement with YBB.

6 Support the child and follow up

The responsible contact person or trustee must arrange appropriate support and explain next steps in a way the child can understand. Parents/carers should be informed unless this could increase the risk to the child or compromise an official investigation; in such cases, seek guidance from the competent authorities. Record referrals, decisions and follow-up actions. Information must be stored securely and shared only with those who need it to protect the child or fulfil legal duties. No person may be penalised for raising a concern in good faith.

Implementation and compliance

The Board of Trustees is responsible for implementing this Policy and providing the necessary support. The child protection contact person coordinates its application and reports concerns or gaps to the Board. The following requirements apply:

    • Before working with children, staff, members and volunteers must receive the Policy, be briefed on conduct and reporting, and confirm that they have read and understood it. YBB must retain records of these confirmations and relevant briefings or training.

    • Recruitment for roles involving children must include suitability assessment, appropriate references and legally required checks. Staff and volunteers must receive supervision and guidance appropriate to their responsibilities.

    • For activities involving children, project coordinators must assess safeguarding risks, arrange supervision and communicate reporting contacts. This includes online activities and work with partners.

    • Children and parents/carers must receive accessible information on reporting concerns, including a direct contact route to an alternative uninvolved trustee before activities begin.

    • Staff and volunteers must maintain appropriate boundaries. Physical punishment, humiliation, sexual conduct involving children, exploitation and bullying are prohibited. Contact, including online contact, must be appropriate to the activity and open to supervision.

    • Project coordinators must check compliance during activities. Breaches must be reported promptly to the child protection contact person or an uninvolved trustee, and addressed through corrective measures or disciplinary action as appropriate.

    • At least annually, the Board must review implementation, including briefing records, activity risks and concerns or incidents. It must record decisions and corrective actions, assign responsibility and check completion. Incident information must remain confidential.

    • The current Policy must be available on YBB’s website and shared with relevant staff, volunteers and partners. Approved revisions must be communicated to those concerned.

Review

This Policy and these procedures will be reviewed:

    • In accordance with changes in legislation or guidance on the protection of children, or following changes within Hidak Ifjúsági Alapítvány.

    • Following any issues or concerns raised about the protection of children within the organisation.

    • In all other circumstances, at least every three years. This full policy review is separate from the annual review of implementation.

National legislation and external reporting

Act XXXI of 1997 on the protection of children and the administration of guardianship, particularly Section 17 on reporting and cooperation. Hungarian legal text

External reporting: the competent family and child welfare service, guardianship authority and police, as appropriate. Emergency assistance: 112.

Contact person on child protection matters

Csenge Kolozsvári, President of the Board of Trustees

info@youthbridgesbudapest.org

Alternative reporting contacts: Éva Melinda Mészáros or Szandra Varju, provided the trustee is uninvolved in the concern. Their direct contact details must be provided to participants and persons working with children before activities begin.