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Youth Participation Policy

Youth Participation Policy for Diamond Voices

Last Updated: October 2026

1. Purpose

Diamond Voices believes that young people play an essential role in building stronger communities through music, culture, creativity, education, and intercultural dialogue.

This Youth Participation Policy establishes the principles, safeguards, rights, and responsibilities governing the participation of minors and young people in activities organized, promoted, or facilitated by Diamond Voices.

This Policy applies to:

  • The website www.diamondvoices.org

  • Podcasts

  • Music projects

  • Educational activities

  • Community events

  • Workshops

  • Livestreams

  • Social media initiatives

  • Volunteer activities

  • Artistic collaborations
     

This Policy is intended to comply with Belgian law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and applicable child protection legislation.

2. Guiding Principles

Diamond Voices is committed to ensuring that all youth participation is:

  • Voluntary

  • Respectful

  • Inclusive

  • Safe

  • Age-appropriate

  • Non-discriminatory

  • Educational and constructive
     

Young people should be empowered to contribute their ideas, creativity, and talents in a manner consistent with their age, maturity, and well-being.

3. Definition of a Minor

For the purposes of this Policy, a minor is any individual under the age of 18 years.
Additional safeguards may apply to younger participants depending on the nature of the activity.

4. Eligibility to Participate

Youth may participate in Diamond Voices activities where:

  • Participation is lawful under Belgian law.

  • The activity is suitable for the participant's age.

  • Appropriate parental or legal guardian consent has been obtained where required.

  • Participation does not place the minor at risk.
     

Diamond Voices reserves the right to establish age restrictions for specific activities.

5. Parental and Guardian Consent

Where required by law or where Diamond Voices reasonably considers it necessary,participation by minors shall require the prior consent of a parent or legal guardian.
 

Consent may be requested for:

  • Podcast participation.

  • Music recordings.

  • Video recordings.

  • Photography.

  • Interviews.

  • Public performances.

  • Online activities.

  • Publication of creative works.
     

Diamond Voices reserves the right to verify parental or guardian authorization before allowing participation.

6. Protection of Young Participants

Diamond Voices is committed to safeguarding all young participants.
 

No activity shall be organized in a manner that may reasonably expose minors to:

  • Abuse.

  • Harassment.

  • Bullying.

  • Exploitation.

  • Grooming.

  • Discrimination.

  • Neglect.

  • Intimidation.

  • Dangerous situations.
     

All participants are expected to contribute to a safe and respectful environment.

7. Online Safety

Young participants must use online communication channels responsibly.

Users may not:

  • Share personal information of minors without authorization.

  • Contact minors for inappropriate purposes.

  • Circumvent parental supervision measures.

  • Share harmful or illegal content.

  • Encourage self-harm, dangerous conduct, or illegal activity.
     

Diamond Voices reserves the right to remove content and restrict participants where necessary to protect the safety of minors.

8. Media Participation

Young people may be featured in:

  • Podcasts.

  • Music productions.

  • Interviews.

  • Videos.

  • Educational materials.

  • Promotional campaigns.
     

Where legally required, the publication of identifiable images, recordings, or audiovisual content involving minors shall require parental or guardian consent.

Diamond Voices may decline to publish content involving a minor if doing so would not be in the best interests of the participant.

9. Educational and Cultural Opportunities

Diamond Voices encourages youth participation through:

  • Music creation.

  • Storytelling.

  • Cultural exchange.

  • Creative expression.

  • Community engagement.

  • Skills development.

  • Artistic collaboration.
     

Participation does not create any employment relationship unless separately agreed in writing and compliant with applicable Belgian labour regulations.

10. Youth Volunteers

Where youth volunteers participate in Diamond Voices activities:

  • Participation must remain voluntary.

  • Activities must be age-appropriate.

  • Applicable Belgian volunteer legislation shall be respected.

  • Health, safety, and safeguarding measures shall be implemented where appropriate.
     

Diamond Voices reserves the right to refuse volunteer participation where adequate safeguards cannot be ensured.

11. Data Protection and Privacy

The personal data of minors receives enhanced protection under Belgian and European law.

Diamond Voices will process the personal data of minors only where:

  • A lawful basis exists under GDPR.

  • Required consent has been obtained.

  • Processing is necessary for participation.

  • The interests and rights of the minor are adequately protected.
     

The processing of personal data is governed by the Diamond Voices Privacy Policy.

12. Reporting Concerns

Anyone who becomes aware of conduct that may place a young participant at risk should immediately report the matter.

Reports may be submitted to:

Child Safety Contact:  info@diamondvoices.org

Reports will be handled confidentially to the extent permitted by law.

13. Zero-Tolerance Policy

Diamond Voices maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding:

  • Child exploitation.

  • Child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

  • Grooming.

  • Harassment of minors.

  • Bullying.

  • Human trafficking.

  • Sexual exploitation.

  • Violence against children.

  • Any illegal conduct involving minors.
     

Any suspected violation may result in:

  • Immediate removal from activities.

  • Permanent exclusion from the community.

  • Referral to competent authorities.

  • Preservation of evidence where legally required.

14. Rights of Young Participants

Young participants have the right to:

  • Be treated with dignity and respect.

  • Participate in a safe environment.

  • Be heard and valued.

  • Decline participation at any time.

  • Raise concerns without fear of retaliation.

  • Receive age-appropriate information.

  • Have their privacy respected.
     

Diamond Voices recognizes the evolving capacities and rights of children and young people under
Belgian and international law.

15. Limitation of Responsibility

Parents and legal guardians remain responsible for supervising minors where appropriate.


Diamond Voices will implement reasonable safeguarding measures but cannot replace parental responsibility or supervision.


Nothing in this Policy shall limit mandatory obligations imposed by Belgian law.

16. Compliance with Belgian Law

This Policy shall be interpreted in accordance with:

  • The Belgian Civil Code.

  • The Belgian Code of Economic Law.

  • The Belgian Act of 30 July 2018 on the Protection of Natural Persons with regard to the Processing of Personal Data.

  • The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  • The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

  • Applicable Belgian child protection legislation.

17. Contact Information

For youth participation, safeguarding, or child protection matters, please contact:

Diamond Voices
Website: www.diamondvoices.org

Child Safety e-mail: info@diamondvoices.org

Registered Address: [pending]
Enterprise Number: [pending]
 

By participating in any Diamond Voices activity, participants and, where applicable, their parents or legal guardians acknowledge that they have read and understood this Youth Participation Policy.

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