Code of Conduct

Welcome to the IACN Community

The India Alternative Care Network (IACN) is a dedicated community of practitioners, academics, care leavers, organizations, and advocates working together to strengthen alternative care and protect children without parental care or at risk of separation across India.

To ensure that our digital platforms, discussion forums, learning exchanges, and virtual spaces remain safe, respectful, collaborative, and trauma-informed, all members are required to uphold these Community Rules and Code of Conduct upon joining and participating in IACN spaces.

1. Safeguarding and Protection (Utmost Priority)

Safeguarding children, young people, care leavers, and vulnerable individuals is fundamental to the ethos of IACN. By joining and participating in this platform, you agree to adhere to IACN’s Safeguarding and Protection Principles:

• Commitment to Child Rights: All members commit to upholding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, Mission Vatsalya, and applicable child protection frameworks.
• Identity and Dignity Protection: Any narrative, case example, or media depicting children, families, or care leavers must protect their identity and privacy, preserve their dignity, and be accurate, balanced, and fair. You agree to follow IACN’s photography guidelines.
• Informed & Verifiable Consent: Informed, written, or documented consent (and child assent where applicable) must be secured prior to sharing any personal stories, quotes, photos, or audio-visual media.You agree to follow IACN’s photography guidelines.
• Safe Space for Lived Experience and Human Rights Defenders: Special care and consideration must be extended to care-experienced individuals, youth advocates, and human rights defenders who may face heightened risks of stigma, retaliation, or harm.
• Age Requirement: Users must be 18 years of age or older to join this platform, unless specific prior authorization and verified parental/guardian or CWC consent has been coordinated with the IACN Secretariat.
• Protection of Personal Contact Information: Members are strongly advised not to publicly share personal contact details (e.g., personal phone numbers, addresses, personal email addresses) on public discussion boards. Please use platform-embedded messaging channels or coordinate via the Secretariat.
• Zero-Tolerance Policy: Any content, media, or activity that infringes on a child's or individual's rights, privacy, or safety will be removed immediately.

Reporting Safeguarding Concerns:

If you observe any content, message, or behavior that violates safeguarding standards or compromises the safety of a child or community member, please report it immediately through the platform's reporting feature or email the Secretariat at: iacnsecretariat@iacn.in.

2. Knowledge Sharing and Resource Terms

IACN thrives on peer learning, research, and resource exchange. When uploading or sharing materials:

• Ownership and Authorization: You warrant that any resource, paper, toolkit, or document you upload can be freely shared, adapted, or used in accordance with IACN’s resource-sharing terms.
• Copyright and Attribution: Always credit original authors, organizations, research bodies, or care-experienced contributors. Do not post copyrighted or proprietary content without explicit authorization.
• Evidence-Based and Ethical Sharing: Shared resources should contribute positively to the body of research and evidence on alternative care and child protection in India.

3. Mutual Respect, Kindness, and Cultural Mindfulness

IACN brings together members from diverse geographic regions, academic backgrounds, practice settings, and lived experiences across India and internationally.

• Be Respectful and Kind: Engage with empathy, understanding, and open-mindedness.
• Constructive and Healthy Debate: Professional disagreement and intellectual debate are welcomed and encouraged, provided they are conducted constructively and without personal attacks or condescension.
• Cultural and Contextual Sensitivity: Respect the socio-cultural diversity, regional nuances, and varied field realities of child protection practices across different Indian states and communities.

4. Zero Tolerance for Discrimination, Bullying, and Hate Speech

IACN is an inclusive space that celebrates diversity and works toward equitable child care systems.

• Prohibited Conduct: Bullying, harassment, ad hominem attacks, degrading comments, or discriminatory remarks based on caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic status, care status, or region will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
• Trauma-Informed Discourse: Avoid triggering, stigmatizing, or invalidating language, especially when discussing alternative care, institutionalization, or family separation.

5. No Promotions, Commercialization, or Spam

To preserve the focus and quality of learning across the network:

• Keep Content Relevant: Post updates, events, publications, job opportunities, or queries directly related to alternative care, child protection, family-based care, and child rights.
• No Commercial Solicitations: Promotional spam, commercial advertising, product sales, or unrelated fundraising campaigns are prohibited.

6. Respect Confidentiality and Member Privacy

Trust is the foundation of the IACN community.

• Confidentiality of Discussions: Sensitive case discussions, peer-to-peer reflections, or internal working group deliberations held within this group must not be shared, posted, or quoted outside this platform without explicit prior permission from the contributors.
• Data Privacy: Refrain from collecting, scraping, or exporting personal details or contact rosters of other IACN members for unauthorized external mailings or commercial outreach.

7. Governance, Violations, and Enforcement

IACN reserves the right to maintain the integrity and safety of its digital platforms and community spaces.

Compliance Enforcement Process:

1. Content Removal: Posts or uploads violating these rules will be removed without prior notice.
2. Warnings & Account Suspension: Users who breach these rules may receive a formal warning from the Secretariat or have their platform account temporarily suspended or permanently blocked.
3. Governance Escalation: Repeated or severe violations by committee members, working group leads, or organizational representatives will be escalated to the Core Committee and Steering Committee for review under the network's terms of reference.
4. Legal / Regulatory Referral: Where a violation involves child abuse, severe privacy breaches, or illegal activity under Indian law (e.g., POCSO Act, JJ Act, Information Technology Act), IACN will report the matter directly to the appropriate law enforcement and child welfare authorities.

Contact and Feedback

For queries regarding these Community Rules, platform guidance, or assistance with reporting an issue, please reach out to:

Email: iacnsecretariat@iacn.in