Safeguarding

The welfare of every student comes first. Every child and young person has the right to take part in AOC activities free from harm, abuse, harassment and discrimination, whatever their age, gender, religion, ethnicity, disability or background.

• This policy applies to everyone who works with students on behalf of AOC: leadership, the academic committee, mentors, invigilators, team leaders and volunteers.
• Every concern is taken seriously, acted on promptly and shared only with the people who need to know.
• We work in partnership with parents and guardians and keep them informed about their child's participation.
• Where a student may be at risk of harm, we refer the matter to the relevant authorities.

• Students under 18 need signed consent from a parent or guardian to register, to be recorded during the national-round test, and to attend any camp or international event.
• The consent form is submitted with the registration, together with proof of age (B-Form, CNIC or passport) and verification of current student status from the school.
• Separate consent is requested for photography and for international travel.
• Parents and guardians can withdraw consent at any time by contacting us. Withdrawing consent for the test or for travel also withdraws the student from that stage of selection.

• The national round is a remote, recorded test. Recordings are used only to check that the test was taken fairly and to handle appeals.
• The camera should show only the student and their workspace. Please make sure other family members are not in view.
• Recordings are never published, shared on social media or used for publicity.
• Only the invigilators and the academic committee members reviewing a paper or an appeal can view a recording.
• Recordings are deleted 90 days after the appeals window closes.

• We collect only the information needed to confirm eligibility, run the national round, and contact the student and their family.
• Identity documents are used only to confirm age and eligibility, and access to them is restricted to the registration team.
• Results are published by candidate number, not by name, unless the student and their parent or guardian agree to their name being shown.
• We never sell or share personal information with tuition centres, consultancies or advertisers.
• Information we pass to an international olympiad's organisers, such as the team list, is limited to what they require for participation.

• Photos and videos may be taken at camps, award ceremonies and international events to celebrate students' achievements.
• We publish images of a student under 18 only with written consent from their parent or guardian.
• We do not publish a student's personal details, such as their home address, phone number or social media accounts.
• Images show students appropriately dressed and in a group or activity setting.
• If you would like a photo of your child removed from our website or social channels, contact us and we will take it down promptly.

• Mentors and staff contact students only through official AOC channels for training and administration.
• Group chats with students under 18 always include at least two adults from AOC, and parents or guardians are told which channels are being used.
• Adults working for AOC must not hold private one-to-one conversations with students on personal social media or messaging accounts, or ask students for personal contact details.
• Online sessions are held in group settings wherever possible. One-to-one sessions take place only with a parent or guardian's knowledge.
• Students should never share passwords, intimate images or personal information online, and should tell a parent or AOC if anyone makes them feel uncomfortable.

• Students at camps and international events are supervised by AOC team leaders at all times during the official programme.
• Accommodation is arranged so that students do not share rooms with adults, and boys and girls are housed separately.
• Parents and guardians receive the itinerary, accommodation details and emergency contact numbers before travel.
• Team leaders hold each student's medical information and emergency contacts, and families are contacted immediately if anything goes wrong.
• Students are expected to follow the event's code of conduct and their team leaders' instructions throughout the trip.

Everyone working with students on behalf of AOC must:

• Treat every student with respect, fairness and dignity.
• Avoid being alone with a student out of sight of others wherever possible.
• Never use physical punishment, humiliating language or inappropriate physical contact.
• Never give gifts, money or special favours to individual students.
• Report any concern about a student's safety, or about another adult's behaviour, without delay.

If you are worried about a student's safety or wellbeing, or about how an adult involved with AOC has behaved, contact our safeguarding team. You do not need proof: tell us what you have seen or heard and we will take it from there.

1. Write down what happened, when and who was involved, in your own words.
2. Do not confront the person you are concerned about or investigate yourself.
3. Contact the AOC safeguarding team using the details below. We will respond as soon as possible and keep the matter confidential.
4. Where a child may be at risk of harm, we will refer the matter to the child protection authorities or the police.

You can also contact these services directly:

Police emergency

15

Rescue (emergency services)

1122

Child Protection & Welfare Bureau Punjab

Child Helpline 1121: report abuse, neglect or exploitation of a child

National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency

Helpline 1799, or complaint.nccia.gov.pk: report online harassment, blackmail or abuse

Sharing, possessing or producing sexual images of anyone under 18 is a serious criminal offence under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016. Do not forward such material, even to report it; report it to the NCCIA instead.

Email

support@academicolympiadcouncil.org

Phone

+92 327 9443646

Please write “Safeguarding” in the subject line so your message reaches the right person quickly.