At the British Council in Slovakia, we are committed to building connections, understanding, and trust between the people of the UK and Slovakia through the arts, education, and the English language. Safeguarding is a core part of that mission. We believe that everyone—children, young people, and adults—has the right to be safe, heard, and protected from harm in all contexts in which we operate.
Our Commitment: Safeguarding Policy
We recognise our duty to ensure a safe and protective environment for all. This includes both preventing harm and responding effectively when concerns arise. We uphold the highest standards, guided by UK legislation, British Council global safeguarding policies, and national laws in Slovakia, particularly:
- Act No. 305/2005 Coll. on Social and Legal Protection of Children and on Social Guardianship, which mandates the protection of children from threats to their healthy development;
- Act No. 36/2005 Coll. on Family, and
- The Criminal Code (Act No. 300/2005 Coll.), which outlines criminal offences against children and vulnerable individuals.In our safeguarding approach, we define a child as any person under the age of 18,in line with the UNCRC. We also recognise our responsibility to protect adults who may be at risk due to age, disability, or circumstances.Our Safeguarding Policy is mandatory for everyone representing the British Council in Slovakia—whether employed, contracted, or volunteering. This includes full-time and part-time staff, board members, contractors, consultants, volunteers, interns, and anyone acting on behalf of the organisation.
In Slovakia, the British Council commits to:
- Valuing, respecting, and listening to children, young people, and adults;
- Carrying out robust pre-employment checks for all personnel;
- Embedding safeguarding measures into programme design, delivery, and daily operations;
- Training staff and partners to understand safeguarding risks and responsibilities as part of our core professional standards;
- Sharing safeguarding information and guidance with participants, parents,carers, and community partners;
- Reporting concerns promptly to the relevant Slovak authorities;
- Ensuring effective supervision, clear reporting structures, and transparent decision-making.
We will provide the necessary resources to fully implement this policy and ensure that all staff and partners are aware of their responsibilities and equipped to act.This commitment is reviewed annually in light of evolving legislation, emerging risks,and best practice across both the UK and Slovakia. By embedding safeguarding in everything we do, we not only reduce risk, we increase trust, strengthen our cultural relations, and demonstrate the values we stand for.
Should you have any suggestions or require support, please contact our safeguarding focal point: katarina.kunova@britishcouncil.org