CHILD SAFEGUARDING & MINOR PROTECTION POLICY

Issued by ASSPATU  |  Effective: Season 2, 2026 

1. PREAMBLE & LEGAL BASIS

Stage Dreams is a national music competition open to all High School students in Uganda, all of whom are minors or young persons under the protection of Ugandan and international law. This Child Safeguarding Policy (“the Policy”) establishes the binding codes of conduct, protective procedures, and duty-of-care obligations that govern every person, organiser, judge, teacher, volunteer, media partner, or adult supporter who interacts with contestants in any capacity during Season 2.

This Policy is grounded in and fully compliant with:

1. The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995
2. The Children Act (Cap. 59), Uganda — as amended
3. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Content Standards for minors
4. The Ministry of Education and Sports guidelines on student welfare
5. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), to which Uganda is a signatory
6. The ASSPATU Code of Ethics for Performing Arts Educators

2. CORE SAFEGUARDING PRINCIPLES

The following non-negotiable principles underpin every aspect of the Competition:

3. CODES OF CONDUCT

3.1  Code for Organisers, Staff & Volunteers

1. Treat all contestants with dignity, regardless of age, gender, school, background, or performance level.
2. Never photograph, film, or record a contestant outside of official Competition activities without written parental consent.
3. Never communicate with a minor contestant on personal social media or private messaging apps.
4. Never offer gifts, money, private favors, or special treatment to any contestant.
5. Immediately report any safeguarding concern to the designated Safeguarding Officer (see Section 5).

3.2  Code for Judges

1. Judging interactions with contestants must occur only in the presence of other officials. No private feedback sessions with minors.
2. Judges must declare any personal relationship with a contestant or school before scoring. Undisclosed relationships will void scores.
3. Scores and commentary must be professional, constructive, and free from personal, sexual, or discriminatory remarks.
4. Judges must not share contestant contact details or personal information with third parties.

3.3  Code for Teachers / Supervising Facilitators

1. The supervising teacher is the official duty-of-care holder for their student(s) at all Competition events.
2. Teachers must ensure students are not left unsupervised at any event venue, transport point, or accommodation.
3. Teachers must immediately report any welfare concern — including behaviour of other adults — to the Safeguarding Officer.
4. Teachers must not use students’ Competition participation for personal commercial gain, including social media monetisation.

3.4  Code for Parents, Guardians & Fan Representatives

1. Parents/guardians must not pressurise, intimidate, or verbally abuse contestants, judges, or officials.
2. Fan representatives must remain in designated public areas. Access backstage or to performance areas is strictly controlled.
3. Parents must not approach judges before, during, or after a performance to discuss scores or outcomes.
4. Any adult who harasses, intimidates, or endangers a minor at a Competition event will be removed and reported.

3.5  Code for Media & Photography Partners

1. Official media partners must sign ASSPATU’s Minor Media Release Agreement before any filming or photography.
2. Images or footage of contestants must not be used in any sexualised, demeaning, or exploitative context.
3. Audience members may not live-stream contestants’ performances for commercial purposes without ASSPATU’s written permission.
4. All raw footage involving minors must be stored securely and deleted within 12 months of the Grand Finale unless otherwise agreed in writing.

4. SPECIFIC PROTECTIONS FOR MINOR CONTESTANTS

5. REPORTING A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN

Any person — contestant, teacher, parent, judge, volunteer, or audience member — who witnesses or suspects a safeguarding concern must act immediately using the following procedure:

1. Do not confront the suspected perpetrator directly.
2. Remove the affected student from any immediate risk if it is safe to do so.
3. Report immediately to the Competition’s Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO), identified at each event by a red lanyard or DSO badge.
4. If the DSO is unavailable or implicated, report directly to the ASSPATU Director via asspatuug@gmail.com or +256 779 210 693.
5. For criminal matters or immediate danger, contact the Uganda Police (999) or Kampala Metropolitan Police without delay.
6. All reports will be treated confidentially. Persons reporting in good faith will be protected from retaliation.

6. BREACHES & CONSEQUENCES

Breaches of this Policy are taken with the utmost seriousness. Consequences include:

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & ACCEPTANCE

Submission of a competition entry by a school or student constitutes full acceptance of this Child Safeguarding Policy by the contestant, their supervising teacher, and their parent or legal guardian. Judges, volunteers, media partners, and sponsors must sign a separate Safeguarding Acknowledgement Form provided by ASSPATU before participation.

“Your Stage. Your Dream. Your Moment. — And Your Safety.”