The public organisation Ukrainian Association of Persons with Disabilities “Group for Active Rehabilitation” (hereinafter referred to as GAR) is a non-governmental, non-profit public organisation registered in Ukraine. It is designed to implement measures to promote the active rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries who use wheelchairs and to satisfy and protect their legitimate social and professional interests.

This Safety Policy applies to everyone — the board, executive management, all employees (permanent and freelance), all volunteers, wherever they work, and all visitors, including consultants, journalists and related personnel.

The purpose of this policy is to protect various categories of people (staff and beneficiaries), especially children, vulnerable adults and recipients of assistance, from any harm that may be caused as a result of their interaction and contact with the GAR. Do not cause harm resulting from:

• the conduct of personnel (management, employees, remote consultants, first contact instructors, accountants, assistants, communicators, supervisors and other persons involved in the implementation of programmes, projects, volunteers, etc.; hereinafter referred to as ‘personnel’) associated with the GAR;
• the development and implementation of GAR programmes and activities.

The policy defines the obligations undertaken by GAR and informs staff of their responsibilities to protect and safeguard the beneficiaries of the organisation from harm.

Safety means taking all reasonable measures within the limits of Ukrainian law and the competence of the GAR to prevent any harm, in particular: sexual exploitation, violence and harassment, to protect children and vulnerable adults from such harm, as well as measures to respond appropriately if harm has been caused.

We understand safety as protecting different categories of people, including children and vulnerable adults, from harm resulting from contact with our staff or our work.

This Safety Policy applies consistently and without exception to all activities of GAR, its partners and staff. It requires active prevention, detection and protection against all risks of harm, exploitation and abuse, as well as transparent, accountable response, reporting and training systems in situations where such risks arise. These systems should be victim-centred and protect the accused until proven guilty.

The Safety Policy places beneficiaries and victims at the centre of all GAR activities.