- Purpose and commitment
Balkans Beyond Borders (BBB) is a cultural organisation working across the Balkans and Europe at the intersection of film, arts, culture, education, youth participation and community engagement.
Through the Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival and its educational, artistic and community-based activities, BBB creates spaces in which young people can encounter film and artistic expression, participate in workshops and discussions, develop creative skills, engage with social and cultural issues, and interact with artists, facilitators, cultural professionals and their peers.
Some of these activities directly involve children and young people under the age of 18. BBB therefore has a responsibility to ensure that all children participating in, attending or otherwise coming into contact with its activities are treated with dignity and respect and are protected from harm.
This Child Safeguarding & Protection Policy establishes the principles, responsibilities and procedures through which BBB seeks to prevent harm, create safe environments for children and respond appropriately to any safeguarding concern.
- Scope
This Policy applies to all BBB activities involving or potentially involving children, whether organised directly by BBB or implemented in collaboration with partners.
These may include, among others:
- the Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival;
- film screenings and audience activities;
- filmmaking, storytelling, audiovisual, artistic and educational workshops;
- youth and community engagement activities;
- activities implemented in schools or other educational settings;
- festivals, cultural events and public-space activities;
- local and international projects;
- online or hybrid activities;
- photography, filming, interviews and other forms of audiovisual documentation;
- communication and dissemination activities involving children.
The Policy applies to BBB staff and members, volunteers, interns, facilitators, artists, trainers, photographers, filmmakers, contractors and other professionals engaged by BBB, as well as partner organisations and collaborators acting on behalf of BBB.
All persons working directly with children within a BBB activity are expected to understand and comply with this Policy.
- Definition of a child
For the purposes of this Policy, a child is any person under the age of 18, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Guiding principles
BBB’s approach to child safeguarding is based on the following principles:
Best interests of the child.
The safety, dignity, wellbeing and best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in decisions concerning their participation in BBB activities.
Children as rights-holders.
Children have the right to protection, participation, expression and to have their views heard and taken seriously according to their age and maturity.
Zero tolerance of abuse and exploitation.
BBB does not tolerate physical, emotional or sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect, bullying, harassment, grooming, discrimination or any other form of violence against children.
Equality and inclusion.
All children shall be treated with dignity and without discrimination on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, nationality, migration or refugee status, religion, socioeconomic background or any other characteristic.
Meaningful and voluntary participation.
Children’s participation should be age-appropriate, informed and respectful of their right not to participate or to withdraw from an activity when appropriate.
Do no harm.
Artistic, educational and participatory activities must be designed and implemented in ways that minimise physical, emotional, social and digital risks to children.
Shared responsibility.
Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone representing BBB and cannot be delegated exclusively to one individual or role.
- Safe participation in BBB activities
BBB recognises that safeguarding requirements differ depending on the nature of an activity. A film screening attended by families, for example, does not create the same safeguarding risks as a multi-day filmmaking workshop involving direct and sustained interaction with children.
For activities directly involving children, BBB will therefore conduct a proportionate safeguarding assessment during the planning stage.
Depending on the activity, this should consider:
- the age and number of participating children;
- the nature and duration of their participation;
- the venue and accessibility of the space;
- adult supervision;
- one-to-one interactions;
- potentially sensitive themes or artistic material;
- photography, filming or interviews;
- digital communication and online participation;
- travel or activities away from the child’s usual environment;
- specific accessibility or support needs;
- the role of external artists, facilitators, partners or service providers.
Appropriate preventive measures shall be put in place before the activity begins.
Parents or legal guardians shall receive appropriate information and provide consent where required. Children themselves should also receive information about the activity in language appropriate to their age and should be able to express concerns or indicate that they do not wish to participate in a particular element of an activity.
- Standards of conduct
Anyone representing BBB in an activity involving children must:
- treat children with dignity, equality and respect;
- use age-appropriate and respectful language and behaviour;
- respect children’s personal and bodily boundaries;
- create environments where children feel able to express disagreement or discomfort;
- avoid unnecessary one-to-one situations with a child and, whenever possible, ensure that interactions are observable by others;
- avoid unnecessary or inappropriate physical contact;
- never engage in sexualised behaviour, comments, jokes, communication or conduct towards a child;
- never develop secret, exclusive, exploitative or emotionally dependent relationships with children;
- never use humiliating, intimidating, discriminatory or degrading language or behaviour;
- never exchange personal contact information, gifts or money with children outside the framework and knowledge of the organisation;
- never use alcohol or other substances in a manner that compromises their ability to supervise or interact responsibly with children;
- immediately raise any safeguarding concern according to the procedure described in this Policy.
BBB personnel and collaborators should never use their professional, artistic or organisational position to pressure a child to disclose personal experiences or participate in artistic or public activities with which they are uncomfortable.
- Artistic expression and sensitive subjects
BBB’s work frequently engages with film, storytelling and artistic expression addressing social, political, cultural and personal issues.
BBB recognises the value of enabling young people to explore complex subjects creatively while also recognising that artistic processes may involve sensitive experiences or emotions.
When working with children, facilitators should therefore:
- clearly explain the nature and purpose of an activity;
- avoid pressuring children to disclose personal or traumatic experiences;
- allow participants to choose how and whether they wish to contribute;
- provide alternatives where a child does not wish to engage with particular material;
- consider the age-appropriateness of films, images, discussions and other content;
- respond sensitively if personal or potentially concerning information emerges during an artistic process.
Creative freedom should never override the safety, dignity or wellbeing of a child.
- Photography, film and representation of children
Because film, audiovisual communication and visual storytelling are central to BBB’s work, the representation of children requires particular attention.
Before photographing, filming, recording or interviewing a child for communication, documentation or artistic purposes, BBB must ensure that appropriate information and consent procedures have been followed.
Where required, consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian. Children should also be informed, in an age-appropriate way, that they are being photographed, filmed or recorded and how the material may be used.
A child’s objection to being photographed or filmed should be respected, even where general parental or guardian consent has been obtained.
BBB will seek to ensure that images and audiovisual material:
- portray children respectfully and with dignity;
- do not sexualise, stigmatise, stereotype or sensationalise children;
- do not present children primarily through vulnerability or victimhood;
- do not reveal unnecessary personal information;
- do not expose a child to foreseeable harm, embarrassment, discrimination or unwanted attention.
Particular caution must be exercised when documenting children in vulnerable situations or when the content relates to migration, displacement, poverty, violence, discrimination, disability, family circumstances or other sensitive personal experiences.
Consent to participate in an activity does not automatically constitute consent to photography, filming or public dissemination.
Where material is intended for public communication, social media, publications, festival promotion or other dissemination, the intended use should be clearly communicated through the relevant consent process.
- Digital safeguarding and communication
Communication with children in the context of BBB activities should normally take place through official or specifically authorised communication channels.
BBB representatives should not establish private or secret communication with minors through personal social media accounts or messaging applications.
Where direct digital communication with a child is necessary for the implementation of an activity, it should be transparent, limited to legitimate programme purposes and, where appropriate, include or be known to a parent, guardian or another responsible adult.
Online activities involving children should use appropriately moderated environments and should avoid unnecessary collection or disclosure of personal information.
- Partners, artists and external collaborators
BBB frequently works through collaborations with cultural organisations, festivals, artists, filmmakers, educators, facilitators and local partners.
Where a partner or external professional will work directly with children as part of a BBB activity, safeguarding responsibilities should be communicated before the activity begins.
Depending on the nature and level of contact with children, BBB may require:
- confirmation of relevant professional experience;
- references;
- safeguarding declarations;
- criminal record or other background checks where legally appropriate and proportionate;
- acknowledgement of this Policy and relevant standards of conduct.
When activities are implemented jointly with another organisation, the partners should clarify in advance which safeguarding procedures and reporting mechanisms apply.
BBB retains responsibility for taking reasonable safeguarding measures in activities implemented under its name or direct responsibility.
- Reporting a concern
Any concern, suspicion, disclosure or allegation concerning the safety or wellbeing of a child involved in a BBB activity must be taken seriously.
A person receiving a disclosure from a child should:
- listen calmly and without judgement;
- avoid interrogating the child or asking unnecessary leading questions;
- not promise absolute confidentiality;
- reassure the child that the concern is being taken seriously;
- record the essential information accurately;
- report the concern without unnecessary delay to the designated BBB Safeguarding Lead.
BBB shall designate a Safeguarding Lead and an alternate contact person so that concerns can be raised even where the primary person is unavailable or involved in the concern.
Children participating directly in BBB programmes should be informed, in an age-appropriate manner, about whom they can approach if they feel unsafe, uncomfortable or concerned.
Where there is an immediate risk to a child’s safety, the protection of the child takes priority over ordinary organisational procedures.
- Responding to safeguarding concerns
Upon receiving a safeguarding concern, BBB will:
- prioritise the immediate safety and wellbeing of the child;
- listen to and take into account the child’s views according to their age and maturity;
- document the concern securely;
- limit information to those who need it for safeguarding purposes;
- assess whether immediate protective measures are necessary;
- determine whether the individual concerned should temporarily or permanently cease contact with children or participation in BBB activities;
- seek specialist advice where necessary;
- refer the matter to competent child protection or law enforcement authorities where required by law or where this is necessary to protect the child.
BBB does not expect staff, volunteers or cultural professionals to investigate allegations themselves.
Where allegations concern potentially criminal behaviour, sexual abuse, exploitation or serious risk to a child’s physical or psychological integrity, the matter shall be handled with particular urgency and referred to the appropriate authorities where necessary.
No child or person raising a safeguarding concern in good faith shall be subjected to retaliation or adverse treatment.
- Confidentiality and personal data
Information concerning child safeguarding shall be treated as sensitive and confidential.
Records should contain only information necessary for safeguarding purposes, be securely stored and be accessible only to authorised persons on a strict need-to-know basis.
Information may be shared with competent authorities or specialist services when necessary to protect a child or comply with legal obligations.
BBB will never publicly identify a child involved in a safeguarding incident.
Photography, video, contact information, consent forms and other personal data concerning children shall be collected, stored and used in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and BBB’s relevant privacy procedures.
- Breaches of this Policy
Failure to comply with this Policy may result in measures including:
- a warning or corrective action;
- removal from a specific activity;
- suspension or termination of collaboration;
- exclusion from future BBB activities;
- notification of a partner organisation;
- referral to competent authorities where appropriate.
The appropriate response will depend on the nature and seriousness of the breach and will always prioritise the safety and best interests of the child.
- Responsibilities and implementation
BBB’s governing and management structures hold overall responsibility for ensuring that child safeguarding is embedded in the organisation’s activities.
A designated BBB Safeguarding Lead is responsible for supporting implementation of this Policy, receiving safeguarding concerns and coordinating appropriate responses.
Project coordinators and activity leaders are responsible for identifying safeguarding considerations when designing activities involving children and for ensuring that facilitators, volunteers and external collaborators understand the applicable safeguards.
All persons representing BBB share responsibility for creating environments in which children are safe, respected and able to participate meaningfully.
- Review of the Policy
This Policy should be communicated to relevant BBB staff, members, volunteers and collaborators and made available to partners where activities involve children.
It should be reviewed periodically and whenever:
- BBB significantly changes the nature of its activities involving children;
- a safeguarding incident indicates that procedures need improvement;
- relevant legislation or safeguarding standards change.
Organisation: Balkans Beyond Borders
Policy: Child Safeguarding & Protection Policy
Version: 1.0
Adopted: [1/9/2026]
Safeguarding Lead: [Veroniki Krikoni / President / vera.krikoni@balkansbeyondborders.eu]
Alternative Safeguarding Contact: [Vasiliki Maltaasoglou / Festival Director / vaso.maltasoglou@balkansbeyondborders.eu]
General contact: [info@balkansbeyondborders.eu]