Effective: July 2025; Review Date: July 2028; Review Cycle: Triennial

1. Introduction

dance and the Child international (daCi) is committed to the safety, protection, and empowerment of all children and young people who participate in its global and national activities, events, and initiatives. The Child Safe Guidelines support daCi’s broader Safety Policy and reaffirms its dedication to fostering an environment where children can explore dance and cultural exchange safely, ethically, and inclusively.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

• Safeguard children and young people from harm, abuse, neglect, or exploitation in all daCi contexts.
• Establish clear standards of behaviour and responsibility for all adults working with or for daCi.
• Ensure that all concerns related to child safety are reported, recorded, and responded to appropriately.

3. Scope

These guidelines apply to all daCi personnel, including:

• Board members, staff, contractors, and consultants.
• Volunteers, chaperones, teaching artists, and workshop facilitators.
• Members, national coordinators, and partner organizations.

It covers all daCi-affiliated events, programs, conferences, online platforms, and communications involving children and young people (under 18 years of age).

4. Core Principles

These guidelines are grounded in the following principles:

• Best Interests of the Child: The wellbeing and development of children are central to all decision-making.
• Participation and Empowerment: Children have the right to express their views and be involved in decisions affecting them.
• Zero Tolerance: daCi does not tolerate any form of abuse, exploitation, neglect, or discrimination.
• Cultural Respect: All children have the right to express and celebrate their culture in a safe environment.
• Identity Respect: All children have the right to express and celebrate their identity in a safe environment.

5. Code of Conduct with Children

All adults representing daCi must:

• Treat children with dignity, equality, and respect at all times.
• Maintain appropriate physical and emotional boundaries.
• Obtain informed consent during registration process from parents/guardians before photographing or recording children.
• Use language and behaviour that is respectful and developmentally appropriate.
• Avoid being alone with a child in private or isolated settings.

Adults must not:

• Hit or physically harm a child.
• Engage in any form of sexual activity or exploitative behaviour.
• Shame, belittle, or verbally abuse a child.
• Share personal contact details or communicate with children outside of professional contexts including online.
• Take children alone to accommodation, transport, or venues without another adult present.
• Note: in the event of a medical emergency or other crisis situation, the discretion of the supervising adult will be paramount in dealing with the situation, and making a decision that is best for the child.

6. Child Safe Measures

a. Recruitment and Screening

• All staff, volunteers, and partners working directly with children must undergo appropriate background checks (e.g., criminal record checks or child protection clearances). This will be done in collaboration with the host country for the triennial conference, and according to the requirements of the individual countries attending the conference.
• References must be verified by the host country, particularly for any role involving regular child contact for example teachers leading workshops.

b. Supervision and Ratios

• Children must be supervised by qualified adults at all times during daCi events.
• Recommended adult-to-child supervision ratios should be followed based on age group and activity risk level.

7. Reporting and Responding

a. Reporting Concerns

Any suspicion, disclosure, or incident involving child harm must be reported immediately to a daCi Executive Committee member.

Reports should include:

• Name and contact of the reporter.
• Name of child(ren) involved.
• Description of concern or incident.
• Any action taken or witnessed.

b. Confidentiality

All reports will be handled confidentially and shared only on a need-to-know basis to ensure child safety and comply with legal obligations.

c. Response Protocol

Upon receiving a report:

1. The daCi Executive Committee will assess the risk to the child.

2. Immediate safety actions will be taken, including involving local child protection services or law enforcement if needed.

3. An internal review may follow to evaluate daCi’s response and adjust future practices.

8. Online Safety

Given daCi’s increasing online presence, specific measures are enforced:

• No one-on-one private communication between adults and children via digital platforms.
• All online daCi sessions involving children must be supervised and recorded (with prior consent).
• For internal use within daCi community only.

9. Anti-Discrimination and Inclusion

daCi values cultural and personal diversity and ensures child protection practices are equitable and inclusive. No child will be discriminated against on the basis of race, gender, disability, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religion, or cultural background.

Efforts will be made to:

• Provide safe spaces for marginalized groups.
• Respect diverse expressions of identity in dance practices.
• Adapt programs to meet accessibility needs.

10. Policy Implementation and Review

• The Child Safe Guidelines will be disseminated to all daCi members, affiliates, and national chapters.
• New members and staff must agree to uphold the policy.
• The Child Safe Guidelines will be reviewed every three years, or as needed based on legal or organizational developments.
• Feedback from children, parents, and stakeholders will inform revisions.

11. Contacts

daCi Chair

Emergency Response Contact (if applicable):

This will depend upon local context.

Members should contact Local Authorities or Helpline Information Relevant to Event Location

12. Conclusion

The Child Safe Guidelines are an essential part of daCi’s commitment to the health, dignity, and safety of children worldwide. It supports ethical engagement in dance education and artistic expression while upholding international child safety standards.

Approved by daCi Advisory Board, July 2025