Regulations

Standards for the Protection of Minors

Minor Protection Standards at Aparthotel Riverside in Kraków

Preamble

Taking into account the guidelines of the United Nations on business and human rights, recognizing the important role of business in ensuring respect for the rights of children—particularly their right to the protection of dignity and freedom from all forms of harm—and pursuant to the Act of 28 July 2023 amending the Family and Guardianship Code and certain other acts, APARTHOTEL RIVERSIDE in Kraków hereby adopts this document as the principles and procedures to be followed in the event of suspected harm to a child staying at APARTHOTEL RIVERSIDE in Kraków, as well as to prevent such risks.

The child protection policy at APARTHOTEL RIVERSIDE in Kraków shall be implemented through the following principles.

1. General Principles

APARTHOTEL RIVERSIDE in Kraków conducts its operations with the utmost respect for human rights, especially the rights of children as persons particularly vulnerable to harm.
APARTHOTEL RIVERSIDE in Kraków recognizes its role in conducting socially responsible business and promoting desirable social attitudes.
The Aparthotel emphasizes the legal and social obligation to report to law enforcement any suspicion of a crime committed against a child and commits to training its staff in this regard.
The Aparthotel commits to educating its staff on the signs that may indicate a child staying at the property is being harmed, and the methods of responding quickly and appropriately to such situations.
The manager of each organizational unit of the Aparthotel (e.g., reception, housekeeping, office) is responsible for training their subordinates in the protection of minors on the premises of APARTHOTEL RIVERSIDE in Kraków.
Every newly hired employee is required to undergo introductory training on the protection of minors as described in this document, confirmed by a signed statement acknowledging familiarity with these principles (Appendix No. 4).
One of the effective ways to prevent the harm of children is the identification of a child staying at the property and their relationship to the accompanying adult. Staff shall undertake all possible steps to identify the child and their relationship with the adult accompanying them.

2. Procedures During Guest Check-In When Accompanied by Minors

Each adult checking in with a minor must complete a statement identifying the child and specifying their relationship to the child, using a form provided by the reception staff (Appendix No. 3).
Every employee must pay particular attention to the relationship between the minor and the accompanying adult, including the child’s behavior (e.g., anxious, distressed, avoiding eye contact), their appearance, and the adult’s behavior toward the child.
If the adult refuses to complete the statement or if there are reasonable doubts regarding the safety of the child, the “procedure for suspected child harm” must be initiated.

3. Procedure in Case of Suspected Child Harm

Identification of the child and their relationship with the accompanying adult should be carried out whenever possible.
In unusual and/or suspicious circumstances suggesting a risk of harm, identification must be conducted by reception staff. Examples are listed in Appendix No. 1.
To identify the child and their relationship to the adult:
- Ask about the child’s identity and relationship to the adult; request the child’s ID or other document confirming the adult’s right to care for the child. If no document is available, ask for the child's personal details.
- If no documentation is available, ask both the adult and the child about their relationship (model conversation in Appendix No. 2).
- If the adult is not a parent/legal guardian, request written consent from the parents for the trip or ask for their phone number to verify consent.
If the adult resists, explain that the procedure exists to ensure the safety of children staying at APARTHOTEL RIVERSIDE and was developed in cooperation with NGOs.
After clarification, thank the adult and reiterate the safety purpose of the procedure.
If doubts remain, discreetly notify the supervisor and security staff. Ensure that neither the child nor the adult is left unsupervised.
The supervisor decides whether to notify the police or to continue the conversation for clarification.
If the suspicion is confirmed, the supervisor notifies the police and proceeds according to Section IV.
Employees from other departments must immediately report suspicious situations to their supervisors.
The supervisor determines the validity of the suspicion and takes appropriate measures or contacts the police.

4. Procedure When Circumstances Indicate a Child Has Been Harmed

If there is reasonable suspicion that a child is being harmed, immediately notify the police at 112 and describe the situation.
Reasonable suspicion includes:
- the child discloses harm,
- an employee witnesses harm,
- the child has visible injuries, behaves inconsistently or nervously, or other circumstances indicating harm (e.g., finding child sexual material in the adult’s room).
Prevent the child and the suspected adult from leaving the property.
If necessary, perform a citizen’s arrest and supervise the suspect in a separate room until police arrive.
Ensure the child’s safety; keep them under staff care until police arrival.
If biological evidence may be relevant, prevent the child from washing or eating/drinking until police arrive.
Secure surveillance footage and other evidence and provide copies to law enforcement upon request.
Document the incident in the incident log.

5. Principles for Safe Relationships Between Minors and Staff

These rules apply to all hotel employees and any adults interacting with children on the premises with the hotel’s consent.
The guiding principle is to treat the child with respect, acknowledging their dignity and needs.
Any form of violence toward a child is strictly prohibited.

Staff Conduct Toward Children

Personnel must maintain a professional relationship with children, ensuring that every action is appropriate, justified, transparent, and minimizes the risk of misinterpretation.

Expected Behaviors

Communicate with patience and respect.
Listen carefully and respond appropriately for the child’s age.
Position yourself at the child’s eye level when speaking.
Respect the child’s privacy.
Inform the child where they can find the child-friendly version of these standards.
Treat all children equally regardless of gender, orientation, ability, ethnicity, religion, or background.
If a child is found unattended in a potentially unsafe situation, take steps to locate the parent/guardian.

Prohibited Behaviors

Shaming, humiliating, belittling, or shouting at a child.
Disclosing sensitive information to unauthorized persons.
Acting inappropriately in the presence of children.
Romantic or sexual relationships or propositions; sexual comments, jokes, gestures, or sharing explicit content.
Recording images or audio of a child without the consent of the child and their parents/guardians.
Offering or using alcohol, tobacco, or illegal substances in the presence of children.
Physical aggression of any kind unless needed to prevent imminent harm.
Private communication with children through personal devices or social media.
Touching a child in any way they do not consent to or that could be considered inappropriate.

If any employee witnesses such behavior, they must report it to the person responsible for implementing the Minor Protection Standards or their direct supervisor.

Glossary

Aparthotel – APARTHOTEL RIVERSIDE in Kraków, ul. Antoniego Józefa Madalińskiego 7, owned by EPOL HOLDING sp. z o.o.
Child – any person under 18 years of age.
Unrelated adult – any person over 18 who is not the child’s parent or legal guardian.
Child harm – committing a crime to the detriment of a child.
Crime against a child – includes all crimes applicable to adults, as well as crimes specific to minors (e.g., sexual exploitation under Article 200 of the Penal Code).