Be Safe during JOTA-JOTI
As a JOTA-JOTI participant, I will...
... inform and involve an adult in my JOTA-JOTI experience.
... behave as a good Scout, respecting my Promise and the Law.
... report any hurtful or suspicious activity that concerns me or that I have witnessed to safejotajoti@scout.org.
... be respectful and friendly to those I meet online.
... keep my passwords and personal information private.
... never participate in or encourage speech that is hurtful, hateful, demeaning or judgmental of others.
... have fun and make new Scout friends!
Breaking the pledge
If any rules from the Safe JOTA-JOTI pledge (above) are broken by any participant, a range of actions may be taken against the offending account(s), such as suspending or deleting the account, or being contacted by the Safe From Harm team for further investigation.
Participants must be 13 years or older to sign up for JOTA-JOTI. To ensure everyone's safety and well-being, all participants between the ages of 13 and 18 are expected to inform and involve a parent or guardian in their JOTA-JOTI experience, including reviewing this page together.
The adults involved are responsible for supervising children’s online activities. A parent or guardian can register on behalf of a child younger than 13 years old and is asked to participate with them for the duration of the event.
With all of its opportunities and enriching content, using the Internet also comes with many risks, including threats to personal data, wellbeing or safety.
As participants you are required to take our Be Safe Online e-learning course to learn more about online safety and to be fully prepared for JOTA-JOTI and other online activities.
All adults taking part in JOTA JOTI as participants or part of the organising team are required to complete the Be Safe Online (Adults in Scouting) e-learning course.
Amateur Radio is used by licensed operators who supervise young people using their radios. The licensed operators are aware of the safeguarding procedures of the event. They monitor the conversations on the radio and ensure that there are no inappropriate conversations.
Remember: Radio conversations are not private. Personal contact information should never be shared over airwaves. Read more about the Amateur Radio Code of Conduct.
If you are facing a situation during JOTA-JOTI which makes you feel uncomfortable, scared, hurt or threatened, please speak up. Here are 3 different ways you can get help:
- Tell a trusted adult about your concern, such as a parent, guardian, or Scout Leader.
- Ask for support from a Listening Ear.
- Report the incident to the Safe From Harm team.
We always encourage Scouts to have meaningful discussions and dialogue. When we engage in conversations with new people, it's possible that we find we have different experiences and opinions. It can be valuable to hear about other perspectives.
Just like in Scout meetings, online Scout spaces are safe spaces. During JOTI chats, our moderators will ensure that conversations are respectful and that we all follow the Scout Law & Promise. Sharing different opinions is welcome, however, promoting hate or violence is never okay. Moderators will remove spam and messages promoting violence, abuse, violence or doxing. They will also block the users who publish them.
In their own events, we encourage Scout Leaders to follow these guidelines as well, and to introduce the Principles of Dialogue to their units to help promote respectful and meaningful discussions, even on difficult topics.
Safe From Harm is a priority programme for World Scouting, with actions and procedures designed to help keep all our members safe. The World Safe From Harm policy is implemented alongside the WOSM Code of Conduct, to outline to WOSM volunteers, staff and partners how they are expected to behave with others.
Abuse, harassment and bullying are completely unacceptable within Scouting. That is why having a Safe From Harm procedure is mandatory for all world, regional and national Scout events. This includes mandatory Safe From Harm training for all WOSM staff and volunteers.
Throughout JOTA-JOTI, we aim to protect young people and to provide valuable information to adult leaders, parents and volunteers on our safeguarding approach.
We are committed to our responsibility to ensure that each participant’s experience of the JOTA-JOTI is as safe as possible as they network and make new friends across the world.
Need Listening Ears support?
You can now book a 20-minute session in any of our supported languages (English, Arabic, Spanish and French)!
When to Use a Listening Ears Encounter during JOTA-JOTI:
- During moments of emotional distress or when someone feels overwhelmed by the virtual event experience.
- If a participant experiences or witnesses behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or excluded.
- When someone simply needs a safe, confidential space to talk and feel heard without judgment.
- If there are personal concerns that may not be directly related to the event, but are affecting the participant's well-being.
Please remember:
Listening Ears is a safe and supportive space. To ensure it remains available for those who truly need it, we kindly ask that it be used thoughtfully and respectfully.