Welcome to the privacy policy and code of ethics of Equator vzw and www.myequator.net. Your privacy and humane treatment are of crucial importance to us.
Privacy.
· Equator respects your privacy when you use our website www.myequator.net and in our collaboration. We make every effort to protect the personal information you provide to us through this website.
In this privacy policy, we explain what information may be collected on our website, how we use this information and under what circumstances we may disclose the information to third parties.
This privacy policy applies only to information we collect through the website and does not apply to our collection of information from other sources.
This privacy policy, together with other conditions on this website, contains the general rules and policies that apply to your use of our website. Depending on your activities during your visit to our website, you may sometimes have to agree to additional terms and conditions that apply to your use.
Ethics.
· In this text, we simultaneously touch on aspects having to do with respect, integrity, responsibility and trust.
· These four elements form the basis of every ethical code, which is intended to regulate the relationships between people and organizations.
The values mentioned in the privacy policy come together at the end of this text in an ethical code for Equator and for the My Equator platform.
De facto, it is the ethical code itself that guides the privacy policy. Privacy policy and ethical code are therefore inextricably linked.
This website is the property of Equator.
Contact details:
Equator
Nierlenderstraat 16
2520 Broechem Belgium
E-mail: hello@myequator.net
By accessing and using the website, you expressly agree to the following general privacy terms and ethical aspects.
Intellectual property rights
The contents of this site, including brands, logos, drawings, data, product or company names, texts, images, etc. are protected by intellectual rights and belong to Equator or entitled third parties.
Limitation of liability
The information on the website is of a general nature. The information has not been adapted to personal or specific circumstances, and therefore cannot be considered as personal, professional or legal advice to the user.
Equator makes great efforts to ensure that the information provided is complete, correct, accurate and up-to-date. Despite these efforts, inaccuracies may occur in the information provided. If the information provided contains inaccuracies or if certain information on or via the site is unavailable, Equator will make every effort to rectify this as quickly as possible.
However, Equator cannot be held liable for direct or indirect damage resulting from the use of the information on this site, even if we try to avoid it.
If you should find any inaccuracies in the information provided through the site, you can contact the site administrator.
The content of the site (including links) can be adjusted, changed or expanded at any time without announcement or notification. Equator does not guarantee the proper functioning of the website and can in no way be held liable for a malfunction or temporary (un)availability of the website or for any form of damage, direct or indirect, that may result from access to or use of the website.
Equator cannot under any circumstances be held liable to anyone in any direct or indirect, manner for damages due to the use of this site or another, in particular as a result of links or hyperlinks, including, without limitation, all losses, work disruptions, damage to programs or other data on the computer system, equipment, software, or other property of the user.
The website may contain hyperlinks to websites or pages of third parties, or refer to them indirectly. The inclusion of links to these websites or pages in no way implies implicit approval of their content.
Equator expressly declares that it has no control over the content or other characteristics of these websites and can in no case be held liable for the content or features or for any other form of damage caused by its use.
Privacy policy
Equator values your privacy. Although most of the information on this site is available without having to provide personal details, it is possible that the user may be asked for personal information. This information will only be used in the context of Equator (e.g. for our customer management, to keep you informed of our activities, etc.). The user can, free of charge and upon request, always oppose the use of his data for direct marketing. To do so, he should contact Equator, Nierlenderstraat 16, Broechem or via hello@myequator.net. Your personal data will never be passed on to third parties (if this is done, please state to whom).
In accordance with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR - EUR 2016/679) of natural persons of April 27, 2016, and in force since May 25, 2018, and the Belgian legislation of July 30, 2018, concerning the protection of natural persons, the user has a legal right to access and, if necessary, correct their personal data. Subject to proof of identity (copy of identity card), you can obtain the written notification of your personal data free of charge by sending a written, dated and signed request to Equator, Nierlenderstraat 16, 2520 Ranst or via hello@myequator.net. If necessary, you can also request that any incorrect, incomplete or irrelevant data be corrected.
Equator can collect anonymous or aggregated data of a non-personal nature, such as browser type or IP address, the operating system you use or the domain name of the website you used to go to our website, or the one you used to leave it. This allows us to constantly optimize our website for users.
Use of cookies.
During a visit to the site, cookies may be placed on the hard disk of your computer for the sole purpose of better aligning the site with the needs of returning visitors. These mini files or cookies are not used to track the surfing behavior of visitors on other websites. Your internet browser allows you to prevent the use of cookies, to receive a warning when a cookie is installed or to remove the cookies from your hard disk afterwards. Consult the help function of your internet browser.
To enrich and perfect your online experience, Equator uses “cookies”, similar technologies and services provided by others to display personalized content, appropriate advertisements and store your preferences on your computer.
A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor's computer, and that the visitor's browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. Equator uses cookies to help Equator visitors identify and track Equator visitors, their usage of www.myequator.net, and their website access preferences. Equator visitors who do not want cookies to be placed on their computer should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using the Equator websites, with the disadvantage that certain functions of the Equator websites may not work properly without the aid of cookies. As a result, you may need to request permission again to access the protected content on the website.
By continuing to use our website without changing your cookie settings, you acknowledge and agree to Equator's use of cookies.
Sensitive content
We work with minors on our platform. To protect them, we apply strict conditions. That is why strict conditions are applied before you can register as a candidate user. Equator can verify that you are who you say you are via publicly accessible means such as social media. Equator can also make inquiries with the organization or agency in whose name you are registering, if Equator deems this necessary for the security of the information on the website.
Persons who offer this sensitive information (film and photographic material) to Equator are expected to have taken all measures in advance that correspond to the legal privacy conditions in their own country.
Equator can request documents at any time that prove that the privacy regulations of the country of origin were respected. Journalists are expected to act in the highest possible deontological and ethically responsible manner when acquiring and processing the information and the visual material they collect.
Equator demands that the creator does not use the images created for other purposes and considers itself the owner of the products that are placed online by them based on the received images. This does not in any way relieve the responsibility that rests with the creator or collector of the original images.
Equator itself complies with the privacy legislation of Belgium and, by extension, of the European Community on this website.
We appreciate receiving information from users of the website if they suspect that this sensitive information is insufficiently protected, or if it appears that external parties could abuse the security we provide.
Website visitors
Like most website operators, Equator collects non-personally-identifiable information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. Our goal in collecting non-personally identifiable information is to better understand how Equator's visitors use the website. From time to time, Equator may disclose non-personally identifying information it has collected, for example by publishing a report on trends in the use of its website.
Equator also collects potentially personally identifying information like Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for logged in users and for users leaving comments on www.myequator.net. Equator only discloses logged in user and commenter IP addresses under the same circumstances as we use personally identifiable information as described below.
Security
The security of your personal information is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. We do everything we can to prevent abuse, including limiting access to the website to those who can use the content in a meaningful way. At the same time, we do our best to exclude dubious commercial means.
Links to external sites
Our website may contain links to external sites that are not managed by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the privacy policy and terms and conditions of every site you visit.
We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third-party sites, products or services.
www.myequator.net may use plug-ins (e.g. from Google) to promote the site via websites of visitors to our website. This may mean that we advertise to previous visitors who have not yet taken any real steps on our site, for example by using the contact form to submit a request. Targeted advertisements can then be placed through the owners of these plug-ins (e.g. Google) to invite these individuals to use the website. Of course, all collected data will be used in accordance with our own privacy policy and the privacy policy of the external plug-in owners, e.g. Google.
You can set your preferences for how these external organizations advertise to you.
Acquired data statistics
Equator may collect statistics about the behavior of visitors to its website. Equator may display this information publicly or provide it to others, but Equator does not disclose your personally identifiable information.
Privacy policy changes
Although most changes are likely to be minor, Equator may change its privacy policy from time to time, at its sole discretion. We encourage visitors to check this page regularly for changes to the privacy policy. Your continued use of this site following a change to this privacy policy will constitute your acceptance of this change.
Ethical aspects
All Equator employees and all users of the My Equator platform agree to uphold a number of values as follows. If these values are threatened, action will be taken and, in case of serious difficulties, these threats will be reported to the board of Equator VZW.
1. They will uphold universal human dignity in all circumstances. Prejudices and traditional behaviors that limit respect for and the equality of persons will not be tolerated.
2. They accept their responsibility for all parties involved in the collection and distribution of content on this platform, especially for all vulnerable parties such as children and young people, and people who may fear for their integrity due to their gender, beliefs, place of residence, culture and living conditions, ethnic origin and social class, etc.
3. They will act with integrity and will not be tempted by any form of gain, distortion of stories about the reality in which people live, and they will keep their promises.
4. They will treat in confidence any data and facts that they learn in confidence. On the other hand, when information reaches them in confidence but poses a danger to the integrity and dignity of persons, they will be obliged to discreetly inform those responsible in order to guarantee that action is taken if necessary.
5. We on the Equator platform applaud free speech. However, we reserve the right to remove videos from the platform if the rights, freedoms and safety of individuals and groups are threatened, if they deliberately incite aggression, if legitimate financial interests are harmed, if they cover up criminal offenses, violate medical confidentiality, jeopardize ongoing investigations, etc. In all our activities, we also respect freedom of speech.
6. Everyone will act in a respectful manner at all times. Racism, bullying, inappropriate sexual behavior, posting images on a web platform that create real opportunities for abuse... Everyone involved with Equator and the My Equator platform commits to exercising self-control if they have a tendency towards verbal and physical aggression. Under no circumstances may the platform encourage such behavior.
7. In financial matters, Equator will practice an open association culture, so that its policy is always open to scrutiny. The association will also always justify its actions honestly when awarding compensation, charging costs, and drawing up and collecting invoices.
8. Neutrality with regard to facts is of paramount importance to Equator. This neutrality should not lead to people being restricted in openly and constructively expressing their individuality, faith, culture, gender and origin. When a conflict of interest threatens, this will be approached in consultation and openness will be requested from all those involved.
9. Equator bears an important social responsibility through its method of operation and the exchange of stories. By increasing global citizenship and promoting international cooperation through exchange and mediation, the association prioritizes this social responsibility in its vision. Anyone who wants to participate as a user of the platform, sympathizer or partner is asked to put this first before any personal and organizational endeavors.
Anyone who observes violations of these codes is asked to report this to Equator, Nierlenderstraat 16, 2520 Ranst (Belgium) or via hello@myequator.net. In criminal circumstances, Equator will not hesitate to take legal action to have ethically unacceptable facts and behavior assessed and, if necessary, sanctioned.
Applicable law and competent courts.
Belgian law applies to this site. Complaints can be submitted to the Data Protection Authority (GBA, Federal Chamber of Representatives in Belgium) or directly to the Public Prosecutor or President of the Court of First Instance in Antwerp.