Privacy, Security and Terms of Use  

This privacy and security statement explains how personal, payment or other information communicated by you on or through the website is collected, protected and managed by SOS Children's Villages. Respecting and protecting your privacy is also of utmost importance to us.

We encourage you to read through the complete privacy and security statement including the section on terms of use, which describes limitations placed on your use of information, images and technology provided on or through the website. These are issues of legal concern to us. YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE CONSTITUTES YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

Throughout this statement on our policies and terms, you will see the terms "SOS Children's Villages", "we", "our" and "us" - these terms refer here to SOS-Kinderdorf International, the umbrella organisation of SOS Children's Villages, located in Innsbruck, Austria, and the operator of this website. SOS-Kinderdorf International is a private, non-profit making, charitable, non-political and non-confessional organisation, which works on behalf of orphaned and destitute children worldwide. The terms "you", "your" and "yours" in this statement refer to visitors and users of our website.

OUR WEBSITE

1. What is the purpose of this website?

We maintain this website to provide you with information about SOS Children's Villages, and to offer you the opportunity to help children and youngsters in need. If you register on our website, you can obtain easy access to information about a specific area of our work. The website includes features, which make it possible to share something you have seen or read with a friend or acquaintance. You can also make a donation to SOS Children's Villages on both a regular and on a more spontaneous basis.

YOUR PRIVACY

2. Where and why does SOS Children's Villages collect information on or through the website?

We do not ask you for any personal information if you are just visiting our website. However, for you to take advantage of some of our services, we will ask for some personal information. Also in order to help us continually to learn and improve our content and services, data is collected in an anonymous and aggregated manner, for example the number of visitors to certain pages or the use of such features as e-cards and tell-a-friend.

Some personal data such as name, address and preferences are collected when you register on our website and when you sign up for a sponsorship. The data you provide enables us to give you information in a personalised manner. For example if you sign-up for our electronic sponsorship programme, which is a form of regular support of all SOS Children's Village activities in a specific town or village, you will receive news and stories. Registration and sign-up are completely voluntary. Completing the optional fields is your choice.

Data such as credit card numbers or other billing information are collected in order to process a donation. It is your decision whether you would like to store these payment details with us for a longer period than it takes to process the contribution. If you do, you will not have to re-enter all your details the next time you decide to make a donation or sponsorship payment.

3. Does SOS Children's Villages use cookie information?

A "cookie" is a small piece of data that is sent to your browser from our web server and stored on your computer's hard drive. SOS Children's Villages uses cookie information in order to provide better and more personalized content and services to the visitors of this website. For example, we may use the information for tracking which areas of our website you have visited, and how frequently. We may match information obtained from cookies with other data you provided in order to develop statistics.

Please check your computer or software manual for specifics on how cookies work on your computer. It is possible to block cookies from being loaded onto your computer. Please note, however, that blocking cookies can affect the performance of websites.

"Bättre regler för elektroniska kommunikationer Prop. 2010/11:115"
New cookie law in Sweden from 1st July 2011:
SOS Children´s Villages Sweden has chosen to wait with applying the new law that promotes visitors to a Swedish web site using cookies have to opt-in (samtyckeskrav), else they are denied access. As there are many different opinions in regards to how the law shall be applied with regards to pop-blockers, visitors own choice of visiting the website, etc. SOS Children’s Villages has decided to wait until the application of the law becomes clearer and follow the event closely before we develop a solution that manages this. If you wish to read more about the law, please refer to these documents:

Proposition (in Swedish):
http://www.riksdagen.se/webbnav/?nid=37&dok_id=GY03115

European Union directive:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2002:201:0037:0047:EN:PDF

European Union addition directive for "opt-in":
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:337:0011:0036:En:PDF

Any change of our policy concerning cookies will be communicated on our homepage and through a new version of this privacy statement.

4. Does SOS Children's Villages share information collected on the website with 3rd parties?

Personal data collected is not distributed, shared, rented or sold to companies or organisations that are not a part of the SOS Children's Villages' organisational structure. In the case that administrative services such as credit card processing are required from third parties, such services are acquired under the understanding that all personal information is treated confidentially and only for the purpose of SOS Children's Villages.

If compelled by law or some other regulatory authority, SOS Children's Villages may share personal information. This is also valid if we have good reason to believe that there has been an inappropriate interference with or use of our website. In such cases we maintain the right to disclose personal information as we deem appropriate, or as asked for by a legal or regulatory authority.

Aggregated, statistical and other non-personal information such as the number of visitors to our website and their use of certain features or services may be shared with third parties working with us, for example for the promotion of our website.

5. Does SOS Children's Villages use addresses collected on the website for sending additional information through e-mails, traditional mail or by other means?

SOS Children's Villages sends you additional information by e-mail or snail mail only when you have expressed an interest in this. On our website you can subscribe and unsubscribe to our electronic newsletter at any time, and it is also possible to request one of our offline sponsorships. These sponsorships for a specific child or SOS Children's Village are serviced by traditional snail mail and not over the Internet.

6. How can I opt-out of mailing lists for the newsletter, cancel my sponsorship etc.?

You are free at any time to unsubscribe from our newsletter, to deregister and to cancel an electronic sponsorship. Please contact us by completing the contact form on our website or writing to the e-mail address given at the bottom of this statement.


7. How can I access or correct information?

You can access or correct information by entering the menu option "Change my personal data". Under this option you can change personal data, password, preferences, payment method and the amount of your electronic sponsorship.


8. What rules apply if I "click" over to another website?

SOS Children's Villages may choose to link its website to the website of third parties in order to provide either a particular service or more in-depth information on a specific topic. However, our Privacy and Security statement no longer applies when you leave the website. It is not possible for us to control the information collected on you by externally linked websites, nor the use of this information. For the policies guiding these third party websites, please consult their respective privacy and security statements.

YOUR SECURITY

9. How does the website of SOS Children's Villages provide security and protect confidential information?

SOS Children's Villages uses well-recognised and proven technology for payments. Payment information is transferred by the use of an SSL connection which offers the highest degree of security that your browser is able to support.

Data on all on-line transactions are saved on a secure server hosted by an international, experienced and reputable company. Several layers of built-in security, including an advanced firewall system, encryption of credit card numbers, and use of passwords, protect the collected information.

OUR TERMS OF USE

10. May SOS Children's Villages change or discontinue any service or content offered?

SOS Children's Villages maintains the right to change or discontinue any content, aspect or feature, which receives too little interest. In the case that we should decide to discontinue a more permanent way to support SOS Children's Villages, all registered visitors with a valid and functional e-mail address will be notified.


11. Are there any limitations on how I can use the website including its texts, images and features?

WHEN YOU USE OUR WEBSITE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN THIS STATEMENT. THESE TERMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR YOUR PROTECTION, AS WELL AS OURS.

Much of the content, features and technology have been offered to us on condition that their ownership rights are respected. Other material and technology is owned by SOS Children's Villages.

Copy or use of texts, photos, graphical elements, features or technology for personal financial gain, commercial purposes or any inappropriate or unlawful activity will not be accepted. This includes use of material or technology for private interests or activities, which may harm SOS Children's Villages or is not related to our work. Photos and graphical images under "send an e-card", the galleries and photo albums are not excluded from these terms and conditions of use.

The name and logo of SOS Children's Villages are protected by law, and the use of these in any language is not permitted without the explicit and written approval of the International Office of SOS-Kinderdorf International located in Innsbruck, Austria.

IT IS IMPROPER, AND MAY BE A VIOLATION OF LAW, IF YOU POST OR DOWNLOAD ANY MATERIAL YOU DO NOT OWN OR FOR WHICH YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO USE. VIOLATION OF SOMEONE'S COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK OR OTHER PROPERTY RIGHTS MAY SUBJECT YOU TO CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

The above includes posting or storing any information on our website, which violates the law or third parties' rights (including, but not limited to copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, privacy and confidentiality).


12. Does SOS Children's Villages take responsibility for links and their content?

Our website may provide links to other websites or resources. As we have no control over these websites or resources, we cannot take responsibility for their availability. Nor can we endorse, take responsibility or liability for any content, advertising, products or other materials on or available from such websites or resources. Further we do not take responsibility or liability, direct or indirect, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on such content, goods or services available from externally linked websites or resources.


13. What is SOS Children's Villages' liability for the use of this website?

With regard to services provided on or through the website free of charge, SOS Children's Villages shall be liable only in cases of wilful misconduct or gross negligence by its legal representatives or any other employee when performing her or his duties for the organisation.

These limitations in terms of liability apply to all compensation claims for damages regardless of whether they are based on breach of contract, tort or any other reason.

Should any dispute arise concerning liability, the legal domicile would be Innsbruck, Austria, the location of the International Office of SOS-Kinderdorf International.