General terms and conditions

By using UNHCR’s Connecting Worlds mobile application (“the Connecting Worlds app”, “the application” or the “app”). and all content and functionality therein you enter into a binding legal agreement with UNHCR and agree to the following terms and conditions.

1. Use of UNHCR Connecting Worlds App

You agree to the following obligations:

• Do not use the app if you are under the age of 16
• As a user of the app you must never compromise the safety of the refugee family with whom you have been matched. All correspondence to the refugee family can only be made via the application.
• You must respect the privacy of the refugee family you are in communication with and ensure that you share nothing that could lead to the identification or location of a refugee family.
• Use first names only and do not disclose your exact whereabouts, locations or school names.
• Not to share any content received from refugee families. Refugee families only consent to their photo being seen by the donor with whom they have been expressly matched
• Not to share content from this application on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media or website
• Not to include any contact details when writing messages. Direct communication outside the application is prohibited.
• Not to misrepresent your relationship to another user
• Not to use the application to act in an unlawful, obscene, discriminatory or abusive manner or promote such actions
• Not to sell, rent, trade or monetize any feature of the application or any information accessed through it
• Not to collect use, copy, or transfer any information obtained from the application without UNHCR’s consent
• Not to use the application to violate the intellectual property rights of another persons or entities
• Not to use bots, scripts or any other automated method to access and collect information on the application
• Not to override any security feature of the application

UNHCR reserves the right to return messages which do not meet the above mentioned requirements as well as those set out in our Community Standards. By using the app you accept to be bound by these standards which are available here: www.unhcr.org/connectingworlds).

2. Denying Access

UNHCR reserves the right, at its own discretion and without notice, to (a) reject any messages which contravene our Community Standards (b) cancel a UNHCR supporter’s use of the app (c) deny access to the application if these Terms and Conditions are breached or for any other reason UNHCR feels the user’s involvement is detrimental to the safety or welfare of any refugee, donor or staff involved.

3. Disclaimer

The content in the application is provided on an “as is” basis, without warranty of any kind. UNHCR specifically does not make any warranties as to the appropriateness, quality, timeliness, accuracy or completeness of the information and services offered through this application. While UNHCR cannot guarantee that there are no errors in the information provided, it does endeavour to correct errors that are drawn to its attention.

The United Nations and UNHCR disclaim any liability or responsibility arising from the use of the UNHCR Connecting Worlds app. The United Nations, UNHCR, members of their staff, and their agents, shall not be liable for any financial or other consequences whatsoever arising from the use of the Content of the UNHCR Connecting Worlds app, including the inappropriate, improper, or fraudulent use of such content.

The mention of names of specific companies or commercial products or processes (whether or not indicated as registered) does not imply any intention to infringe proprietary rights, nor should it be construed as an endorsement or recommendation on the part of UNHCR.

UNHCR does not necessarily support policies and belief of organizations and individual mentioned in materials, applications or websites referred to in the app. UNHCR does not provide warranties and specifically disclaims any liability in connection with third party applications or websites. The inclusion of a link or reference in the app does not imply the endorsement of the linked application or site by UNHCR:

4. Boundaries and Geographic Names

The use of particular designations of countries or territories does not imply any judgment by UNHCR as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries.

5. Content from Third Parties and Services Providers

UNHCR does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information provided by any content providers, third parties in the application, any user of the app or any other person or entity. Reliance upon any such opinion, advice, statement, or other information shall be at your own risk.

While UNHCR has a strong interest in the integrity of its online service providers, it does not provide any warranties and specifically disclaims any liability of any nature for any loss or damage caused in connection with the use of any of the services.

6. Security Measures

UNHCR’s Connecting Worlds app has technologies and security measures in place to protect the information under its control from loss, alteration, misuse, unauthorized access or disclosure. UNHCR makes every effort to ensure the secure collection and transmission of sensitive user information, using industry accepted data collection and encryption methodologies.

Although UNHCR applies reasonable means to ensure the information you provide is not used by third parties for purposes other than that for which you accepted to provide it, UNHCR cannot guarantee that unauthorized third parties will never be able to defeat security measures or use your personal data for improper purposes. UNHCR shall not be responsible for any harm that users or any other person may suffer as a result of a breach of confidentiality in respect to the use of this app or any information transmitted to this app.

7. Virus, Malicious Code etc.

While UNHCR makes every effort to ensure that any software available to be downloaded is free of any software virus, it cannot guarantee that the material is free from any or all software viruses. UNHCR is not responsible for any loss or damage howsoever caused by the software and related codes, including viruses and worms.

8.& UNHCR Name and Emblem - Intellectual Property

UNHCR name and emblem are the exclusive property of UNHCR and cannot be reproduced without UNHCR’s permission.

All content of the UNHCR Connecting Worlds app is protected by law including, as applicable, copyright laws. The UNHCR Connecting Worlds app is made available by UNHCR for personal use and as a mediated peer-to-peer communication tool. Extracts of the materials and other information provided in this app may be viewed, downloaded, and printed for personal, non-commercial use only, but not to be shared publicly and without any right to sell, resell, or create derivative works therefrom. Any use of other purpose requires UNHCR prior written permission.

UNHCR reserves the right to seek all remedies available by law for any violation of these terms, including any violation of UNHCR’s rights in UNHCR name and emblem and its rights in connection with the information, artwork, text, video, audio, or pictures (together, the “content”) of the UNHCR Connecting World’s app.

9. Changes to the app and termination

The content of the UNHCR Connecting World’s app is selected on the basis of UNHCR’s own criteria and in its own sole discretion at any time, without notice. UNHCR reserves the exclusive right at any time to change or discontinue any aspect or feature of the UNHCR Connecting World’s app, including but not limited to these terms, hours of availability and equipment needed for use, and to suspend or terminate the app without notice at any time without giving any reason or explanation and without incurring any liability to the user for doing so.

10. Privileges and Immunities of UNHCR

Nothing in or relating to these terms and conditions (including the privacy policy) or the UNHCR Connecting World’s app shall be deemed a waiver of any of the privileges and immunities of UNHCR in conformity with national and international legal instruments.

11. Dispute settlement

Any and all disputes arising under these Terms and Conditions, including the Privacy Policy, that cannot be settled amicably shall be resolved in accordance with the following procedure:

• Pursuant to a notice of conciliation communicated by reasonable means by one Party to the other Party, the dispute shall be submitted to non-binding conciliation conducted in accordance with the Conciliation Rules then obtaining of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (“UNCITRAL”), or according to such other procedure as may be agreed between the Parties in writing. The language used in the conciliation proceedings shall be English unless otherwise agreed.
• If any such dispute has not been settled within 60 days following the date on which the notice of conciliation is provided by a Party to the other Party, the dispute shall be referred by either Party to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules then in force. The arbitral tribunal shall consist of a sole arbitrator and the language of the proceedings shall be English unless otherwise agreed. The place of arbitration shall be Geneva where UNHCR has its headquarters. The arbitral proceedings shall be conducted remotely (e.g., via telephone conference or written submissions) whenever practicable.

12. Contact

If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at [email protected]