Code of Conduct Young Adults - International Youth Congress 2027

This code of conduct has been prepared so that all young adult delegates and team members can take responsibility for keeping everyone safe and managing expectations during International Youth Congress 2027.

It applies during the event, hotel accommodation, travel linked to the event, official activities, informal gatherings and online spaces.

As followers of Christ, we commit to creating a safe, welcoming and Christ-centred community where every person is treated with dignity, respect and care.

We are honoured to gather in Indonesia for International Youth Congress 2027. As guests, we will respect local customs, traditions, laws and cultural expectations. We recognise that Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country and commit to showing courtesy, humility and respect to the communities that welcome us.

We also recognise and respect our cultural differences among the global Salvation Army. When misunderstandings arise, assume good intentions, seek understanding and treat others with grace and respect.

Please read this carefully.

All delegates are expected to be aged 18 or over. This means everyone is responsible for their own behaviour, while leaders and event teams still have safeguarding responsibilities.

We ask all young adult delegates:

• To treat everyone involved in the event with dignity and respect at all times, regardless of culture, language, background, ability, role or territory.

• To follow the arrangements made for the event, obey signs and instructions, and follow guidance from event staff, leaders, volunteers, hotel staff and security.

• To respect the host country (Indonesia), local laws, venues, hotels, transport arrangements and the wider community in Indonesia.

• To show respect for property and accommodation by keeping hotel rooms and shared spaces clean, safe and tidy, and reporting any damage or concern firstly to your TYS who will then take  the necessary actions.

• To respect the privacy and property of others by not entering another person’s hotel room without invitation and permission.

• To use bedrooms, bathrooms, changing areas and other private spaces appropriately. You may take photos of your room, surroundings or personal experiences, but always respect the privacy of others. Never photograph or record people who are changing, sleeping, using bathroom facilities, or in any situation where they may feel vulnerable or exposed.

• To use phones, cameras and social media responsibly. Please ask permission before taking or posting photos or videos of others, and respect anyone who does not want to be photographed, filmed or tagged.

• To NOT use social media, messaging or online spaces to bully, shame, harass, pressure, intimidate or control another person.

• To respect one another and ensure that any relationship or interaction is based on mutual respect, consent and care.

• To avoid any relationship or behaviour where there is pressure, manipulation, exploitation or a significant power imbalance, including leadership, spiritual influence or dependency.

• To use language and behaviour that is kind, appropriate and respectful, and to avoid behaviour that excludes, humiliates, intimidates or harms others.

• To seek help if you feel unsafe, worried, pressured, overwhelmed, unwell or unsure about a situation.

• To report concerns about safety, wellbeing, harassment, abuse, misconduct, discrimination, spiritual abuse or harmful behaviour to the designated safeguarding or event contact as soon as possible.

Please understand the following:

• If a delegate’s behaviour places themselves or others at risk, the event team may take action. This may include support, challenge, restriction from activities, removal from accommodation, removal from the event, or referral to appropriate leaders or authorities.

• Behaviour that may require action includes bullying, harassment, violence, sexual misconduct, intimidation, illegal drug use, alcohol use during the event, gambling, pornography, exploitation, or behaviour that creates serious risk in community life.

• For the good of the whole Congress community, delegates must not bring, use or share alcohol, illegal drugs, pornographic material, or anything that may place themselves or others at risk.

• Any concern raised will be treated seriously and as confidentially as possible. Information may need to be shared where necessary to protect people, respond to risk, follow event procedures or comply with law.

• Retaliation, blame, intimidation, spiritual pressure or unfair treatment towards someone who raises a concern is not acceptable.

Leaders, staff and volunteers are also asked to follow safeguarding expectations for the event. For your information, this includes an agreement that:

• They will work according to the safeguarding arrangements for International Youth Congress 2027.

• They will promote a safe, respectful and Christ-centered environment for all delegates.

• They will respect appropriate boundaries and avoid private or secretive situations that could create risk or be misunderstood.

• They will not use role, rank, spiritual authority or influence to pressure, control, silence or exploit another person.

• They will report safeguarding, conduct or welfare concerns through the agreed event reporting process.

GENERAL DATA PROTECTION (GDPR) STATEMENT

The Salvation Army will hold your personal information in its legitimate interests in arranging your participation in International Youth Congress 2027. Your information will be held by the International Youth and Children Desk at International Headquarters, as well as your territorial youth department. We will not share this information with anyone outside The Salvation Army, or for purposes outside your involvement in International Youth Congress 2027, unless this is necessary for safeguarding, welfare, legal, emergency, security or event management reasons. You have the right to ask for a copy of the information held about you and, in some circumstances, to ask for it to be amended or deleted or to withdraw consent where consent is the basis for processing. For questions or concerns about how your information is handled, please contact the International Youth and Children Desk at International Headquarters. If you remain concerned, you may raise the matter through the relevant data protection route. For more information, please see The Salvation Army privacy policy. 

Before you begin filling out the application, please spend time in prayer.  If you are chosen, you will experience God and the world around you. This experience will stretch you and challenge you, but it will also change you, if your heart is open. We hope that you will choose to join us!