Peace of Art seeks to apply the following principles throughout its work:

Do No Harm

Our programs, communications and organizational practices should be designed and implemented in ways that seek to avoid creating unnecessary risks or causing foreseeable harm.

Dignity and Respect

Every person should be treated as a human being with dignity, agency and rights—not merely as a beneficiary, participant, case or image.

Non-Discrimination

We do not tolerate unjust discrimination, harassment or degrading treatment.

People should be treated fairly regardless of characteristics such as gender, age, disability, nationality, ethnic or social origin, language, religion or belief, or other status protected under applicable law.

Best Interests of the Child

Where children are involved, their safety, dignity and best interests are central considerations.

Participation

Where appropriate and safe, people affected by our programs should be able to express their views and concerns about activities that affect them.

Confidentiality

Safeguarding information should be shared only with people who have a legitimate reason to receive it.

Accountability

Concerns should not be ignored simply because they are uncomfortable, involve senior individuals or could affect the reputation of the organization.

Protecting people must take priority over protecting appearances.

Peace of Art works with children and young people through educational, cultural, artistic, sports, peacebuilding, community and other activities.

Children require particular protection.

For safeguarding purposes, Peace of Art generally considers a child to be any person under the age of 18, consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We seek to ensure that activities involving children are designed with appropriate consideration of:

• physical safety;

• emotional and psychological wellbeing;

• appropriate adult supervision;

• safe recruitment and assignment of personnel;

• appropriate adult-child boundaries;

• photography and media;

• online communication;

• transportation where relevant;

• parental or guardian involvement where appropriate;

• accessibility and inclusion;

• confidentiality; and

• mechanisms through which concerns can be reported.

Abuse, exploitation or inappropriate sexual conduct involving a child is incompatible with Peace of Art’s values and safeguarding standards.

People representing Peace of Art must maintain appropriate professional and safeguarding boundaries when interacting with children.

They must not:

• physically, sexually or emotionally abuse a child;

• exploit a child;

• engage in sexual activity with a person under 18 in connection with Peace of Art activities, irrespective of local differences concerning age of consent;

• use sexually suggestive, humiliating, degrading or abusive language toward children;

• deliberately expose children to inappropriate sexual content;

• use their position to manipulate or exploit a child;

• exchange money, employment, assistance, gifts or opportunities for sexual or exploitative purposes;

• deliberately place a child in an unnecessarily dangerous situation; or

• use photographs, personal stories or identifying information about children in ways that unnecessarily compromise their dignity, privacy or safety.

Personnel should avoid situations that could create unnecessary safeguarding risks or reasonable concerns about inappropriate conduct.

PSEAH

Peace of Art has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment connected with our organization, programs or representatives.

No person representing Peace of Art may use their position, authority, resources, assistance or influence to obtain sexual access, favors or relationships through exploitation or coercion.

This includes situations involving unequal power relationships.

Sexual exploitation may include actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power or trust for sexual purposes.

Sexual abuse includes actual or threatened sexual intrusion carried out by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or offensive environment.

Humanitarian assistance, participation in programs, employment, volunteer opportunities, recommendations, grants, training opportunities or other benefits must never be conditioned on sexual activity or sexual favors.

Peace of Art representatives must never suggest that access to organizational assistance or opportunities depends on a personal or sexual relationship.

Any such conduct should be reported immediately through the appropriate safeguarding mechanism.

Peace of Art recognizes that women, girls and other individuals can face heightened risks of sexual and gender-based violence.

Our programs should seek to avoid reinforcing harmful power structures and should consider the safety, dignity and meaningful participation of people who may face increased vulnerability.

Where Peace of Art activities address SGBV directly, they should be implemented with appropriate professional competence, confidentiality, survivor-centered principles and referral pathways.

Peace of Art personnel should not attempt to provide specialized medical, psychological or legal services beyond their professional competence.

Safeguarding must be inclusive.

Persons with disabilities may face additional barriers to participation, communication and reporting abuse.

Peace of Art therefore seeks to make its programs and complaint mechanisms reasonably accessible and to promote:

• dignity;

• inclusion;

• accessibility;

• meaningful participation;

• reasonable accommodation where possible;

• freedom from exploitation and discrimination; and

• equal opportunity to raise concerns.

A person’s disability must never be used to justify exclusion, degrading treatment or unnecessary restriction of their autonomy.

Everyone representing Peace of Art is expected to behave professionally and responsibly.

This includes:

Respect
Treat people with dignity.

Integrity
Act honestly and avoid abusing organizational authority.

Professional boundaries
Maintain appropriate relationships with participants, particularly children and people in vulnerable situations.

Non-discrimination
Do not engage in discriminatory or degrading behavior.

Confidentiality
Protect information entrusted to you.

No exploitation
Never use Peace of Art’s name, resources, assistance or authority to exploit another person.

Conflict of interest
Disclose situations in which personal interests may improperly influence organizational decisions.

Responsible use of resources
Organizational funds, property, information and opportunities must be used responsibly.

Reporting
Serious safeguarding concerns or suspected misconduct should be reported through the appropriate channel.

Peace of Art does not accept harassment, bullying, intimidation or degrading treatment in its working and program environments.

This includes conduct occurring:

• in offices;

• during projects;

• at events;

• during travel;

• at training activities;

• through organizational communication channels; and

• through relevant online interactions.

Criticism, disagreement and professional performance management are not automatically harassment. However, organizational authority must not be used to humiliate, threaten, intimidate or retaliate against another person.

Anyone may raise a concern relating to Peace of Art.

This includes:

• participants;

• beneficiaries;

• children and their parents or guardians;

• community members;

• volunteers;

• employees;

• interns;

• consultants;

• partners;

• donors;

• suppliers;

• visitors; and

• members of the public.

You do not need to be employed by Peace of Art to make a complaint.

Concerns may include, for example:

• child safeguarding concerns;

• sexual exploitation or abuse;

• sexual harassment;

• gender-based violence connected to our activities;

• bullying or harassment;

• discrimination;

• abuse of authority;

• exploitation;

• serious breaches of the Code of Conduct;

• fraud or corruption;

• misuse of organizational funds or resources;

• conflicts of interest;

• serious privacy or confidentiality violations;

• retaliation against someone who raised a concern;

• unsafe program practices;

• unethical behavior;

• serious misconduct by a Peace of Art representative; or

• concerns about how a previous complaint was handled.

General feedback and suggestions are also welcome.

Concerns may be submitted to Peace of Art through our designated reporting channels.

General complaints and feedback

Email:
Safeguarding:
safeguarding@peaceofartinternational.org

Safeguarding concerns

Confidential safeguarding contact:
complain@peaceofartinternational.org

Serious organizational or ethical concerns

Where appropriate, concerns may also be directed to the responsible Peace of Art governing body.

The website should provide an accessible reporting form where possible.

When making a report, it is helpful to provide:

• what happened;

• approximately when it happened;

• where it happened;

• which Peace of Art activity or entity was involved;

• who was involved, if known;

• whether anyone may currently be at risk; and

• how we can contact you, if you wish to be contacted.

Please do not place yourself or another person at risk in order to obtain evidence.

Where technically and legally possible, Peace of Art may accept anonymous concerns.

However, anonymity can sometimes limit our ability to investigate, verify information or communicate the outcome.

A person who wishes to remain anonymous should provide as much factual information as safely possible.

We will not reject a serious safeguarding concern merely because the person reporting it does not wish to identify themselves.

Safeguarding and complaint information can be highly sensitive.

Peace of Art seeks to handle reports confidentially and to share information only on a need-to-know basis.

Absolute confidentiality cannot always be guaranteed.

Information may need to be disclosed where necessary to:

• protect a child or another person from serious harm;

• conduct a fair investigation;

• obtain specialist advice;

• comply with legal obligations;

• report suspected criminal conduct where required;

• cooperate with competent authorities; or

• ensure procedural fairness.

Where possible and appropriate, the person reporting a concern should be informed about relevant limitations on confidentiality.

Peace of Art does not tolerate retaliation against a person who raises a concern in good faith.

Retaliation may include:

• threats;

• intimidation;

• harassment;

• unjust exclusion;

• adverse treatment;

• interference with employment or volunteer opportunities;

• pressure to withdraw a complaint; or

• punishment for participating in an investigation.

A report does not need to ultimately be proven correct for the person making it to be protected when it was made honestly and in good faith.

Knowingly making malicious or deliberately false allegations may itself constitute misconduct.

Depending on the nature and seriousness of a complaint, Peace of Art seeks to follow an appropriate process.

This may include:

1. Receipt and acknowledgement

The concern is received and, where contact information is available, acknowledged.

2. Immediate safety assessment

We consider whether a child or another person may face an immediate safeguarding risk.

3. Conflict-of-interest assessment

The complaint should not be handled by someone directly implicated in the allegation.

4. Classification and referral

The matter is assessed to determine whether it concerns safeguarding, HR, financial misconduct, data protection, program quality, governance or another issue.

5. Investigation or review

Where appropriate, the organization may conduct or commission a proportionate and impartial investigation.

6. Action

Appropriate corrective, disciplinary, safeguarding, referral or organizational measures may be taken depending on the findings.

7. Communication

Where appropriate and legally possible, the person who raised the concern may be informed that the matter has been reviewed and whether appropriate action has been taken.

8. Learning

Peace of Art should use complaints and safeguarding incidents to identify weaknesses and improve its systems.

Our complaint mechanism is not an emergency service.

If you or another person is in immediate danger, contact the appropriate local emergency service, police, child-protection authority or other competent authority.

A report to Peace of Art should not delay emergency assistance.

Where Peace of Art becomes aware of an immediate risk of serious harm, we will seek to take appropriate protective action within our responsibilities and applicable law.

Safeguarding requires protecting people who report harm while also maintaining fair procedures.

An allegation does not automatically establish that misconduct occurred.

Peace of Art seeks to assess concerns objectively, protect relevant confidentiality and provide an appropriate opportunity for people affected by allegations to respond, except where doing so would create an unacceptable safeguarding risk or conflict with legal requirements.

Investigations should be impartial and proportionate to the seriousness of the allegation.

No person should investigate or decide a complaint in which they have a significant personal conflict of interest.

Where a complaint concerns:

• a senior staff member;

• a board member;

• the head of an entity;

• a safeguarding focal point; or

• the person normally responsible for complaints,

the concern should be escalated to another appropriate and independent level within the organization.

Where necessary, external expertise or independent investigation may be used.

Peace of Art encourages responsible reporting of serious organizational wrongdoing.

Whistleblowing concerns may include:

• fraud;

• corruption;

• serious misuse of funds;

• serious safeguarding failures;

• serious legal violations;

• deliberate concealment of wrongdoing; or

• other serious threats to organizational integrity.

Reports made in good faith should be handled seriously and without retaliation.

Where applicable whistleblower-protection laws provide additional rights or reporting mechanisms, those legal protections remain unaffected by this policy.

Peace of Art expects organizational resources to be used exclusively for legitimate purposes.

Fraud, bribery, corruption, theft, falsification of records, diversion of aid and deliberate misuse of organizational resources are unacceptable.

Concerns regarding financial misconduct may be reported through the complaint or whistleblowing mechanism.

Where allegations involve organizational funds, donors or grant agreements, Peace of Art may also have obligations to inform auditors, donors, governing bodies or competent authorities.

Peace of Art works with civil society organizations, public institutions, educational institutions, networks and other partners.

Partnership does not remove safeguarding responsibilities.

Where appropriate to the nature of the cooperation, Peace of Art may expect partners to:

• maintain appropriate safeguarding standards;

• prohibit sexual exploitation and abuse;

• protect children;

• provide reporting mechanisms;

• report serious safeguarding incidents connected with joint activities;

• cooperate with appropriate investigations; and

• take corrective action when serious misconduct is established.

Safeguarding requirements should be proportionate to the nature and risk of the partnership.

Safeguarding begins before a person starts working with communities.

Depending on the responsibilities and risks associated with a position, Peace of Art may use measures such as:

• application screening;

• interviews;

• references;

• identity verification;

• criminal-record or background checks where appropriate and legally permissible;

• safeguarding declarations;

• Code of Conduct acknowledgement;

• safeguarding training;

• probation or supervision; and

• role-based access restrictions.

Positions involving direct responsibility for children or vulnerable persons may require enhanced safeguarding measures.

Policies alone do not create safe organizations.

Peace of Art seeks to strengthen safeguarding awareness among people who represent the organization.

Training and orientation may cover:

• recognizing safeguarding concerns;

• professional boundaries;

• child safeguarding;

• PSEAH;

• reporting obligations;

• confidentiality;

• appropriate communication;

• photography and media;

• online safeguarding; and

• responding appropriately when someone discloses harm.

Training requirements may differ according to a person’s role and level of safeguarding responsibility.

Peace of Art uses art, photography, film and storytelling as part of its programs and communications.

These tools must be used responsibly.

People should be represented with dignity rather than through imagery or narratives that unnecessarily exploit suffering, vulnerability or stereotypes.

Particular care is required when photographing or interviewing:

• children;

• survivors of violence;

• refugees or displaced persons;

• persons with disabilities;

• recipients of humanitarian assistance; and

• people whose identity could create security risks.

Where consent is required, it should be meaningful and appropriate to the circumstances.

Participation in a Peace of Art program should not automatically be treated as consent to unrestricted use of a person’s image or story.

Safeguarding responsibilities also apply online.

People representing Peace of Art should use organizational digital communication channels responsibly.

Particular care is required when communicating digitally with children.

Personnel should avoid inappropriate private communications, sexual or discriminatory content, harassment, unauthorized sharing of personal information and other conduct that could create safeguarding risks.

Images, contact information and personal stories obtained through Peace of Art activities must not be shared through personal social-media accounts without appropriate authorization.

Safeguarding information often contains highly sensitive personal data.

Such information should therefore be handled with particular care.

Access to safeguarding records should be restricted.

Information should not be circulated through broad mailing lists, open folders or unnecessary communication channels.

At the same time, data protection must not be misused as a reason to ignore or conceal a serious safeguarding risk.

Where disclosure is necessary to protect a person or comply with law, information should be shared appropriately and proportionately.

For further information concerning personal data, please see:

Legal & Privacy / Rechtliches & Datenschutz

Where a person reports sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment or gender-based violence, Peace of Art seeks to respond in a manner that respects their dignity, safety, privacy and choices.

Where appropriate, this means:

Safety — considering immediate risks.

Respect — listening without blame or unnecessary judgment.

Confidentiality — limiting disclosure to those who need the information.

Non-discrimination — providing respectful treatment regardless of identity or circumstances.

Informed choice — explaining available options where possible.

Peace of Art personnel should not promise outcomes they cannot guarantee.

Our accountability mechanisms must also apply to leadership.

Board members, directors and senior representatives are not exempt from safeguarding or ethical standards.

If a complaint concerns a person in senior leadership, the complaint should be referred to an appropriate independent person, governing body or alternative reporting channel rather than being handled solely by the person concerned.

Where necessary, external professional assistance may be sought.

Some safeguarding concerns may involve suspected criminal conduct or mandatory reporting requirements.

Peace of Art may refer matters to police, child-protection services, regulators or other competent authorities where required by law or necessary to address serious risks.

Because Peace of Art operates internationally, applicable reporting requirements may differ between Germany, Lebanon, the United States and other countries in which activities take place.

Our internal complaint process does not replace the authority of law-enforcement agencies, courts or statutory protection services.

Peace of Art’s safeguarding approach is informed by internationally recognized human-rights and humanitarian principles, including, where relevant:

• the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child;

• principles concerning protection from sexual exploitation and abuse;

• the UN Secretary-General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse;

• internationally recognized safeguarding principles;

• applicable national child-protection requirements;

• applicable employment and anti-discrimination legislation;

• applicable whistleblower protections; and

• relevant donor and partner safeguarding requirements.

Because Peace of Art operates internationally, specific legal requirements may differ between countries.

Where national law establishes stronger or additional protection, the applicable legal requirements must be respected.

A responsible organization does not simply record complaints.

It learns from them.

Peace of Art seeks to use feedback, complaints, incidents and safeguarding reviews to identify:

• recurring risks;

• weaknesses in procedures;

• training needs;

• accessibility barriers;

• program-design problems;

• weaknesses in supervision;

• partnership risks; and

• opportunities to improve organizational culture.

Where appropriate, corrective measures should be incorporated into future policies, training and program design.

You have the right to tell us when something has gone wrong.

You have the right to raise a safeguarding concern.

You have the right to make a complaint about our work.

You have the right to question how decisions affecting you have been made.

And you have the right to do so without being punished simply for speaking up in good faith.

We ask our staff, volunteers, leadership and partners to take these concerns seriously.