Chapter 1: General Provisions

§ 1.

1. The Standards for the Protection of Minors at the Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo, hereinafter referred to as the Standards, have been developed in connection with the obligations imposed by the amendment to the Act of May 13, 2016, on counteracting threats of crimes of a sexual nature and the protection of minors (consolidated text: Journal of Laws of 2024, item 560) arising from the Act of July 28, 2023, amending the Act – Family and Guardianship Code and certain other acts (Journal of Laws of 2023, item 1606).

2. Whenever the Standards refer to:

1. Museum – this is understood as the Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo. German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1939–1945),
2. Director – this is understood as the Director of the Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo. German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1939–1945),
3. Museum personnel – this is understood as all employees of the Museum and other individuals performing paid work who have contact with minors through their involvement in the Museum’s activities,
4. Harm to a Minor – this is understood as the commission of a prohibited act or an offense against a minor by any person, including Museum personnel, or any threat to the welfare of a minor, including neglect,
5. Minor – this is understood as any person under the age of 18,
6. Guardian of a Minor – this is understood as a person authorized to represent and make decisions regarding a minor, particularly their legal representative,
7. Responsible Person – this is understood as a person designated by the Director to oversee the implementation of these Standards,
8. Register – this is understood as the Register of Sexual Offenders. 

Chapter 2: Principles Ensuring Safe Relationships Between Minors and Museum Personnel

§ 2.

1. The Director is responsible for preparing and implementing the Standards in the Museum.

2. The Director familiarizes the Museum personnel with the Standards and collects a statement from them confirming they have read and understood the Standards. A template for this statement is provided in Appendix No. 1 to these Standards.

§ 3.

1. Before allowing Museum personnel to engage in activities involving education with Minors, the Director checks the personnel against the Register. This verification also applies to individuals under 18 years of age.
2. Any person listed in the Register may not be permitted to engage in the activities specified in paragraph 1.
3. To monitor safety within the Museum, in addition to fulfilling the obligation specified in paragraph 1, the Director conducts an annual verification of whether Museum personnel permitted to engage in the activities described in paragraph 1 are listed in the Register.
4. Beyond the verification in the Register, each individual over 17 years of age who is part of the Museum personnel authorized to engage in the activities described in paragraph 1 must sign a statement, the template for which is provided in Appendix No. 2 to these Standards.
5. If information is received that criminal proceedings have been initiated against any member of the Museum personnel for a crime against sexual freedom or a crime against a Minor, the Director immediately removes that individual from all forms of contact with Minors.

§ 4.

1. The fundamental principle guiding the actions of Museum personnel in their interactions with Minors is acting in the best interest of the Minor.
2. Museum personnel are required to maintain a professional relationship with Minors and to consistently evaluate whether their reactions, messages, or actions toward Minors are appropriate to the situation, safe, and justified.
3. If instances of violence between Minors are observed, every Museum staff member is obliged to respond immediately and intervene appropriately to prevent the escalation of conflict and prohibited behaviors.
4. Decisions regarding a specific Minor must also take into account the safety of other Minors.
5. Museum personnel monitor the situation and well-being of Minors and pay attention to the appropriateness and correctness of relationships between staff and Minors, as well as among the Minors themselves.
6. In dealing with a Minor who has experienced harm, such as physical or psychological abuse or sexual exploitation, Museum personnel must exercise particular caution, demonstrating understanding and sensitivity in their interactions.

§ 5.

1. In their interactions with Minors, Museum personnel:

1. Treat Minors with respect,
2. Listen to Minors and strive to provide responses appropriate to their age and the situation,
3. Do not shame Minors,
4. Do not yell, unless required by a dangerous situation (e.g., issuing a warning).

2. Any form of violence against Minors is strictly prohibited. Violent behavior toward a Minor in any form is unacceptable.

3. Museum personnel must not touch Minors in ways that could be misinterpreted.

4. In justified cases, physical contact between Museum personnel and a Minor is permissible. Such cases include:

1. Assisting a Minor with disabilities in hygiene activities, eating, or mobility, if the nature of the disability requires it and the Minor or their guardian has given consent.
2. Participating in lawful activities where such contact is customary (e.g., play).

§ 6.

Museum personnel must not use private communication channels to contact Minors without the knowledge of their guardians.

Chapter 3: Principles and Procedures for Intervention in Cases of Suspected Harm or Knowledge of Harm to a Minor.

§ 7.

1. Museum personnel are attentive to risk factors and symptoms indicating potential harm to Minors.
2. If Museum personnel suspect that a Minor is being harmed, they are obligated to report their suspicions to the Responsible Person.
3. Interventions are initiated by the Director upon the recommendation of the Responsible Person. The Director may designate a specific individual to handle such interventions. If such a person is designated, their details (name, surname, email, phone number) will be communicated to the Museum personnel.
4. If the harm is reported to involve the person designated to conduct interventions, the intervention will instead be managed by the Director.
5. Wherever possible, specialists, particularly psychologists and educators, may be involved in the intervention process to assist in communicating with the Minor about difficult experiences.

§ 8.

1. A record of every intervention is documented in an intervention report, the template for which is provided in Appendix No. 3 to these Standards.
2. Museum personnel possessing knowledge of harm to a Minor, or information related to such harm, are required to keep this information confidential, except when sharing it with the Director or authorized institutions as part of the intervention process.
3. If a suspicion regarding the safety of a Minor is reported by the Minor’s Guardians but is not confirmed, the Guardians must be informed of this outcome in writing, and an intervention report must be completed.

§ 9.

1. If a report is made that a Minor has been harmed by a member of the Museum personnel, the individual in question is immediately removed from all forms of contact with Minors until the matter is resolved.
2. The Director conducts an interview with the Minor and other individuals who have or may have knowledge of the incident and the Minor’s personal circumstances (family or health-related), particularly with the Minor’s Guardian. The Director seeks to determine the course of events and their impact on the Minor’s mental and physical well-being. These findings are documented in an intervention report.
3. The Director organizes meetings with the Minor’s Guardians to provide them with information about the incident and the need or possibility of seeking specialist support, including from other organizations or services.
4. If a member of the Museum personnel has harmed the Minor in a way other than committing a criminal offense against them, the Director should investigate all the circumstances of the case, particularly by hearing the testimony of the Museum personnel member suspected of harming the Minor and other individuals with knowledge of the incident. If the harm caused to the Minor is significant, particularly if it involves discrimination or a violation of dignity, the possibility of implementing appropriate disciplinary measures should be considered.

§ 10.

1. If a report is made that a Minor has been harmed by someone who is not a member of the Museum personnel, the Director conducts an interview with the Minor and other individuals who have or may have knowledge of the incident and the Minor’s personal circumstances (family or health-related), particularly with the Minor’s Guardian. The Director seeks to determine the course of events as well as their impact on the Minor’s mental and physical well-being. These findings are documented in an intervention report.
2. The Director organizes meetings with the Minor’s Guardians to provide them with information about the incident and the need or possibility of seeking specialist support, including from other organizations or services.
3. If the findings indicate that the Minor’s Guardian neglects their psychophysical needs or the family is unable to provide proper care (e.g., the Minor is repeatedly dressed inadequately for the weather or leaves home without adult supervision), or if the family is abusive towards the Minor, the appropriate social welfare center should be informed about the need for family assistance, especially if the unmet needs stem from poverty. In cases of abuse or neglect, the initiation of the Blue Card procedure should also be considered.

§ 11.

1. In cases of suspected harm to a Minor by another Minor (e.g., in group activities), a conversation should be conducted with the Minor suspected of causing harm and their Guardian, as well as separately with the Minor who is being harmed and their Guardian. Additionally, conversations should be held with other individuals who may have knowledge of the incident. During the conversations, efforts should be made to establish the course of events and the impact of the incident on the mental and physical well-being of the harmed Minor. The findings should be documented in the intervention report.
2. During the conversations, it should be ensured that the Minor suspected of harming another Minor is not being harmed by their Guardian or other individuals.

Chapter 4: Principles for Updating the Standards and the Scope of Competence of the Responsible Persons for Preparing Museum Personnel to Apply the Standards.

§ 12.

The Director is obligated to assess the Standards at least once every two years to ensure they are aligned with current needs and in compliance with applicable regulations. The conclusions from the evaluation should be documented in writing.

§ 13.

1. The Director appoints a Responsible Person to prepare Museum personnel for applying the Standards, hereinafter referred to as the Responsible Person.
2. The Responsible Person monitors the implementation of the Standards, responds to any violations, and coordinates changes to the Standards, while also maintaining a register of reports and proposed amendments.
3. Museum personnel may provide feedback, propose changes to the regulations contained in the Standards, and report incidents of violations of the Standards to the Responsible Person.
4. Any feedback, proposed changes, and incidents of violations of the Standards should be forwarded by the Responsible Person to the Director.
5. The Director makes decisions regarding incidents of violations of the Standards, as well as any feedback and proposed changes to the Standards.

Chapter 5: Principles for Making the Standards Available

§ 14.

1. The Standards are publicly available, especially for Museum personnel, Minors, and their Guardians.
2. Guardians of Minors are made aware of the Standards. Guardians must sign a statement confirming that they have read the Standards. The template for the statement is provided in Appendix No. 4 to these Standards.

Chapter 6: Principles for the Use of Electronic Devices with Internet Access and Procedures for Protecting Minors from Harmful Content and Online Threats, as well as Content Recorded in Other Forms

§ 15.

The Museum, as far as possible, provides Minors with access to electronic devices with Internet access and takes measures to protect Minors from content that may pose a threat to their proper development.

Chapter 7: Principles for Protecting the Image of the Minor

§ 16.

1. Museum personnel, recognizing the Minor’s right to privacy and protection of personal rights, ensure the protection of the Minor’s image.
2. The public disclosure of a Minor’s image, captured in any form (e.g., photograph, audio or video recording), requires the written consent of the Minor’s Guardian.
3. If the image is only a detail of a larger whole, such as a gathering, landscape, or public event, the Guardian’s consent for capturing the Minor’s image is not required.

Chapter 8: Final Provisions

§ 17.

1. The Standards come into effect on the day they are announced.
2. The Standards will be published on the Museum’s website.
3. The Standards are available at:
   • the Museum’s Secretariat,
   • the Visitor Service Office,
   • Educational Rooms.