Whistleblowing at SOS Children's Villages International
Protecting children and young people is our highest responsibility. A strong and trusted whistleblowing system is essential to fulfilling that commitment. Whistleblowing empowers anyone connected to our organization, including children and young people, as well as staff members, caregivers, community members and partners, to speak up when something is not right.
“SpeakUp” whistleblower system
Effective whistleblowing helps us identify concerns early, respond quickly, strengthen our practices, and build a culture grounded in safety, transparency and accountability. The SpeakUp whistleblower system is an online, dedicated channel that allows individuals to report concerns safely, confidentially, and impartially. It can be used to report potential violations of laws, regulations, internal policies, or ethical standards.
Who can report
Anyone connected to SOS Children's Villages International, including staff members, caregivers, community members, partners or children and young people participating in our programmes can report any concerns they have.
When to report
The whistleblower system exists to keep everyone in SOS Children’s Villages safe, supported, and protected. If you see, hear, or experience something that does not feel right, we encourage you to speak up. Your report helps us act quickly, prevent harm, and uphold the highest standards of care and integrity.
What you can report
You can use the system to report concerns such as:
- Safeguarding concerns involving children, young people and adults connected with our programmes.
- Any form of corruption or financial misconduct as defined in the Anti-Corruption Regulation, including fraud, bribery, or the misappropriation of assets.
- Workplace misconduct, such as bullying, harassment, or abuse of authority.
- Data protection or privacy breaches.
- Other matters which may cause financial loss to SOS Children’s Villages, damage its reputation, or be otherwise detrimental to its interests.
- General complaints to help us improve our work.
If you are uncertain whether to report a concern, we encourage you to share it anyway.
How to report
When reporting a concern, you can provide your name and contact details to help us follow up, or report anonymously if you prefer. Please include as much information as possible, such as:
- What happened and who was involved.
- When and where it happened.
- How often it happened and whether the concern is urgent.
- Any evidence, documents, or witnesses, and policies or laws you think were broken.
Please keep in mind that our case managers who read your concern may not be familiar with your local context or national laws, so providing as much detail as possible is helpful.
Confidential, safe and protected
Your safety and privacy are a priority. All reports are treated with strict confidentiality, and the system allows you to report anonymously. We strictly prohibit retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith. You will be kept informed about the progress of your report in line with legal requirements and internal procedures.
How to access the whistleblower system
The SpeakUp whistleblower system is available at any time and from any location in 100+ languages.