The Video Volunteers Network exists to amplify the voices of marginalized communities. That work depends on the safety and trust of the people who make it possible — our Community Correspondents, our staff, and the communities we work with.

This page describes how we safeguard the network, how we hold ourselves accountable to our primary constituents, and what we have learned from the most difficult period in our history. The full safeguarding report — covering the ICC, board oversight, field practice, and accountability mechanisms — is available here. Updated April 2026.

Safeguarding

The safety and security of all network members — and especially those at the field level — is the responsibility of a group of senior colleagues with experience in the practice of documentary filmmaking, journalism and community mobilization in difficult environments.

Our Safeguarding Policy protects people, including children and at-risk adults, from any harm that might arise from their contact with Video Volunteers, the conduct of personnel associated with the network, or the design and implementation of our programmes. The Policy is underpinned by the core values of the network and includes:

• Code of Ethics and Whistle Blower Policy

• Child Protection Policy

• Policy on Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace

• Policy on Prevention of Bullying

• Grievance Redressal Policy

• Information Technology and Acceptable Use Policy

The full Safeguarding Policy is available on request — write to info@videovolunteers.org. Anyone with a concern about a possible breach should write to board@videovolunteers.org.

For a detailed account of how the Internal Complaints Committee operates, board oversight, staff wellbeing systems, and accountability mechanisms, please see our Safeguarding at Video Volunteers report, most recently updated April 2026.

 

The 2018 case

In 2018, allegations of sexual harassment were made against our co-founder Stalin K. Two independent processes followed: an external investigation commissioned by the Board, and an inquiry by the Local Complaints Committee at the Office of the Collector, North Goa, under India’s POSH Act. Both processes concluded that the allegations did not constitute sexual harassment. Both the investigations found no evidence of inappropriate acts or sexual harassment, coercion or intimidation on his part. The Board’s full statement is available here.

The network’s Advisory Council, Community Content Creators (CCs) and various associates of the network have also issued a statement, available here.

Since 2018, the network has strengthened its safeguarding systems, conducts regular trainings, proactively informs new joiners about the case and the findings, and continues to review and improve its processes. The details of what we have done is in the Safeguarding report.

The VV Council

The Video Volunteers Network works to enable marginalized communities to assert their voice in multiple spheres — the mainstream media, their own communities, their local institutions of power — as well as within the network itself.

We recognize that we must first centre community voices in the decision-making of our own organization before we can credibly urge powerful institutions to do the same. Anything else would be hypocritical.

The VV Council is a collective decision-making body within the Video Volunteers Network, created in 2019 to ensure that we remain accountable to our primary constituents, our CCs. The Council is made up primarily of CCs, with a smaller number of staff and board members who play a supporting role. It deliberates on organizational priorities, puts forward proposals related to welfare and wellbeing, assesses prospective employees, designs feedback loops between the field and the office, and measures the organization’s accountability through periodic surveys.

The Council has met in person several times and works through permanent and ad hoc committees — including welfare, research, communications, safety and security, activation, and impacts. Through regular online and in-person meetings, the Council is moving forward on a collaborative leadership journey to build a movement for the right to voice that is led by underprivileged communities themselves.

Mitigating power dynamics

We understand that advisory councils can be used by organizations as window dressing. An executive team or a board has the power to choose when to consult — and when not to consult — such a body. The challenge is to recognize this dynamic openly and to mitigate it.

The Council operates on several principles designed to do exactly that:

• The directors can be asked to exit certain discussions, and this does happen.

• In 2022, the Council moved to a structure that distinguishes three types of membership — CC members, staff members, and director-level members — each of whom can discuss issues within their own circles before bringing them to the full Council.

• The Council has geographic diversity, so that CCs from different regions have someone on the Council whom they know and trust.

• The Council is exploring a model of 100% consensus for certain decisions.

Email info@videovolunteers.org for a copy of the Council’s Terms of Reference.

Contact us

If you have a concern, a question, or feedback:

• The Internal Complaints Committee: ICC@voicelogue.in

• The VV Board: board@videovolunteers.org

• The VV Council: info@videovolunteers.org attn: Council

We are happy to share any of our policies with anyone who would like to read them.