Information about data protection
We take data protection and confidentiality very seriously.
Please read this information about data protection carefully before submitting a report.
Collection of personal data
If you submit a report to SOS Children's Villages International via this online whistleblowing channel, we collect the following personal data:
- The names and other personal data of persons that you mention in your report.
- Your name, if you reveal your identity.
Confidential processing of reports
The information you provide is only collected to process your report and will not be disclosed to any party not connected to this purpose except as required by law. The processing of your report takes place strictly confidentially. All reports are reviewed by specially trained staff of the Integrity, Compliance & Legal Team or of the Child Care and Safeguarding Team. Only these persons have access to the stored data and may communicate with you via your postbox. For the detailed investigation your data will be shared with other designated staff of SOS Children's Villages International or, if necessary, designated staff of our SOS Member Associations (e.g. if the report involves processes at a Member Association). Those may be registered in countries outside of the European Union or the European Economic Area, where different rules may apply to the protection of personal data. We may also involve external specialists such as attorneys, auditors or forensic experts who will investigate your reported incident on our behalf and who are bound by confidentiality obligations to keep confidential the information you provide. In any case, if you provide your name or information that could reveal your identity, this data will only be shared on a strict need-to-know basis with designated SOS staff or external specialists who need the data to carry out their duties. The information you report may also be used for anonymized statistical analyses.
Information of affected persons
Following the principle of fair trial and legal requirements, we inform affected persons about the possible improper conduct they engaged in, as soon as this information no longer endangers the investigation. To the extent allowed by law, your identity and personal information is not revealed.
Duration of retention
We keep reports as long as necessary for review, investigation and the completion of possible legal proceedings, or as long as we are obligated to do so by law. Reports are subsequently deleted or anonymised, so that any reference to your identity is irreversibly removed.
Competent department and data security
The Integrity, Compliance & Legal Department of SOS Children's Villages International, Hermann-Gmeiner-Str. 51, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria, is responsible for data protection in connection with this whistleblowing channel. The whistleblowing channel is operated in the name of and on behalf of SOS Children's Villages International by a company specialised in this service, EQS Group AG, Bayreuther Str. 35, 10789 Berlin, Germany. The data in the whistleblowing channel is protected by extensive technical and organisational measures. Amongst others, data is encrypted so that EQS Group AG cannot view the data. Only specially trained staff of the Integrity, Compliance & Legal Team or of the Child Care and Safeguarding Team of SOS Children's Villages International has access to the stored data. In order to maintain the connection between your computer and the whistleblowing channel, a cookie that merely contains a session ID is temporarily stored on your computer. This cookie is only valid until the end of your session and expires when you close your browser.
Thank you very much for your attention and for taking the time to submit a report!
SOS Children's Villages International
Integrity, Compliance & Legal department