ABColombia Privacy Notice

What personal information does ABColombia collect and when?

On this website, ABColombia will only collect the personal information that you provide. We collect information from you when you register on our website, subscribe to the ABColombia newsletter or enter information on our site. When registering for the ABColombia Newsletter, you will be asked to provide your first name and email address.

You may also provide personal information when you contact ABColombia directly via emails, telephone or text message.

On the website, ABColombia tracks non-personal statistical information about visits to the site through a tracking programme that shows how many visits each page receives and other general information. We use this information to help us understand more about how our site is used and work on ways to improve it. This information is not linked to any personal details on the actual visitors. For more information see section below on Google Analytics.

ABColombia only provides articles and information and never asks for credit card numbers.

We may collect and process the following information about you:

What type of information we collectWhen we collect it
Personal Information, including contact detailsWhen you contact us via regular mail, email, telephone or via our website
The communications you exchange with usWhen you email us, write a letter or call us
We collect information indirectly from third parties such as event organisers, including Eventbrite. This could be when you register for an event organised or co-organised by ABColombia.When you provide your personal information to sign up for an event that is hosted, organised or co-organised by ABColombia. This includes the information you provide on a page such as Eventbrite where ABColombia is organising or co-organising an event. You may wish to check their privacy statement to find out more about how they will process your data.
We collect data such as IP addresses, details of web pages visited and files downloaded. Website usage information is collected using cookies. (Please see the section on cookies below.) When you use the ABColombia website or click on links in our newsletter.
Your posts and messages on social media directed to ABColombia. When you interact with ABColombia on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn.
Information about how our website is used, such as your searches for information, the country you are based in and the average time users spend on our website. When you navigate the ABColombia website.
We collect personal data as part of our staff, internships and volunteer recruitment processes.When you apply for a job, an internship or for volunteering opportunities with ABColombia.
As an advocacy organisation, we may collect personal data of politicians that are available in the public domain.When data is available publicly, for example contact details of Irish and UK parliamentarians, MEPs and UN and Government Officials. We will not publish this data on our website but may process and store it internally with restricted access.

How does ABColombia store the information it collects?

When ABColombia receives personal information from you via the website, email or other messenger services, it is legally obliged to keep this information up-to-date and secure. Within ABColombia, only designated employees who need the information to perform a specific job are granted access to personal information.

When ABColombia provides personal data to an external agency for a specific project such as the mailing out of our newsletter, this is done under strict agreements regarding the security and confidentiality of all personal data.

Unfortunately, despite all these measures, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while it strives to protect your personal information, ABColombia cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us, and you do so at your own risk.

How and why does ABColombia use your personal data?

ABColombia stores your details for internal monitoring purposes with restricted access. The purposes for which we process and hold information include accounting, billing and audit, safety, security and legal purposes, statistical analysis, maintenance and development.

ABColombia keeps information on its online subscribers to record their communication preferences and to stay in contact with them and answer their enquiries. Information may also be kept where it helps us to assess and monitor our performance. We will use the communications you exchange with us and the feedback you may provide to manage our relationship with you as a supporter of ABColombia and to improve our services and communications.

We will use your personal data if we contact you after you have sent us a request, filled in a web form through our website or contacted us on social media. We will not generally use your details to contact you via electronic mail unless you request communications from us, for example by subscribing to the ABColombia Newsletter. We will always give you the opportunity of unsubscribing from the newsletter.

We may use your personal data to adjust our communications to your needs and preferences and to provide you with a more relevant experience, for example, by sending you communications on topics you have shown an interest in. We may use the information you provide when you register for an event or sign up for our newsletter, respond to a survey or other communication.

We need to process and keep some personal information in order to recruit and manage people that volunteer or do an internship with ABColombia.

Please note that CCTV systems are used on the Romero House premises, where ABColombia’s office space is based, for the prevention of crime. These are not controlled by ABColombia.

If you wish to amend or review the ABColombia communications you receive at any time, please call us on +44 (0) 207 870 2217 or email abcolombia@abcolombia.org.uk.

Legal basis for processing your personal data

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires organisations to consider the legal basis on which they process personal data. ABColombia will process personal data in line with the following principles:

  • Where it is necessary for us to fulfil a contract with you.
  • With your consent.
  • When it is in our legitimate interest to do so.
  • When it is a legal requirement to do so.

How do we protect your information?

We are committed to taking appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data. When you provide your personal data through our website, this information is transmitted across the internet securely using high-grade encryption.

Your personal information is stored behind secured networks and is only accessible by a limited number of persons who have special access rights to such systems and are required to keep the information confidential.

ABColombia uses regular malware scanning to protect personal data stored or transmitted against accidental or unlawful destruction, accidental loss or alteration, and unauthorised or unlawful storage, processing, access or disclosure.

As described elsewhere in this Privacy Notice, we may in some instances transfer your personal data to third-party service providers. Where ABColombia transfers your personal data to a third party, we require that third party to have appropriate technical and organisational measures in place to protect your personal data. Where your personal data is transferred outside of the EEA, we require that appropriate safeguards are in place.

For how long will we store your information?

The maximum retention period for any personal data you provide is 10 years, depending on the type of data, unless consent is renewed or legal obligations require a longer retention period. However, your rights (see section “Your rights” below) will apply. Backups of data stored on our secure computer systems are kept for a minimum of four years. These computer systems are compliant with the UK Government approved Cyber Essentials Plus standard.

Does ABColombia use ‘cookies’?

Please refer to our Cookie Policy for detailed information on how ABColombia uses cookies.

The ABColombia website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google.

Google Analytics uses cookies, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyse how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about aggregated use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.

Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.

You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser settings. Since browser is a little different, look at your browser’s Help Menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookies.

Please be aware that in most cases we will not be able to identify you from the information we collect using these technologies. ABColombia uses this information for statistical and monitoring purposes only.

If you turn cookies off, some of the features that make your site experience more efficient may not function properly. Please read our Cookie Policy for more information and advice.

In order for us to understand how our supporters interact with the electronic newsletter that we send, the email tools we use let us know if the newsletters we send are opened or links are clicked on. We use this information to make the content that we send as relevant to you as possible.

Further information on cookies can be found in ABColombia’s Cookie Policy.

Third-party processing

ABColombia does not sell or trade your personal data to third parties. We only pass on your data to specific agencies outside ABColombia who are working on our behalf, or when required to do so by law. This does not include website hosting partners and other parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or serving our users, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release information when this is required to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others’ rights, property or safety.

Agencies working on our behalf (for example mailing out newsletters or registration for events) do so under strict agreements regarding the security and confidentiality of all personal data. ABColombia monitors third-party email marketing services for compliance with data protection. Mailchimp’s Privacy Policy can be accessed here.

We will also let you know when we are working in partnership with other agencies on specific campaigns.

Third-party links

Occasionally, at our discretion, we may include or link to third-party platforms and websites on our website. These third-party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our site and welcome any feedback about these sites.

Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google.

Google Analytics uses cookies, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyse how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.

Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf.

Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.

By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

Opting out: Users can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Settings page. Alternatively, you can opt out by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative Opt-Out page or by using the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser add on.

How does the ABColombia website handle Do Not Track signals?

We honour Do Not Track signals and do not track, plant cookies, or use advertising when a Do Not Track (DNT) browser mechanism is in place. For more information, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

Does our site allow third-party behavioural tracking?

ABColombia does not allow third-party behavioural tracking that goes beyond Google Analytics as described above. Please also refer to our Cookie Policy.

Your rights

ABColombia actively supports the principle of “fair and transparent” processing of your personal information. We support your rights in relation to your personal information under the General Data Protection Regulation, including the following rights:

  1. Right to be informed

You are informed about ABColombia’s data protection policy via this Privacy Notice. Should you have any questions about this, you can contact ABColombia (contact details below).

2. Right to access your information

Our Privacy Policy describes what data we collect and how we use it. It is your right to see all the information which ABColombia currently holds about you.

If you would like to request to access the information that ABColombia holds about you, or if you have any questions in relation to your personal data and/or your rights, please contact us in writing at ABColombia, Romero House, 55 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7JB or via email at abcolombia@abcolombia.org.uk

3. Right to be forgotten and right to rectification of personal data

Individuals may request to access, correct, amend or delete information ABColombia holds about them by submitting a written request. Our contact information is available at the end of this Privacy Statement and on the “Contact” page of our website.

After verifying the user’s identity, we will correct., amend or delete the information as requested.

At the end of every ABColombia newsletter, there is an option to unsubscribe from the ABColombia mailing lists. If you unsubscribe, your personal data will be deleted within 72 hours.

4. Right to restrict processing

You can make a request for restriction verbally or in writing. “Restriction” means that ABColombia would be permitted to store your personal data, but not use it. If you request the restriction or suppression of your personal data, we will respond within one month.

5. Right to object

You have the right to object to future contact from ABColombia. Should you wish to exercise this right, please contact us in writing at ABColombia, Romero House, 55 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7JB or via email at abcolombia@abcolombia.org.uk.

6. Rights related to automated decision-making, including profiling

ABColombia does not process personal data for the purpose of automated decision-making or profiling.

Contacting Mailchimp directly to exercise your rights

You may contact MailChimp directly to access, correct, and/or delete information that MailChimp may hold about you based on your subscription to the ABColombia newsletter.

What if a data breach occurs?

Should a data breach occur, we will notify subscribers via email within 7 working days.

How long do we keep personal data?

We will keep your personal data only for as long as we consider it necessary to carry out each processing activity. We maintain internal data retention criteria to help implement this. This takes account of our monitoring, legal and accounting obligations, balancing this with what would be considered reasonable.

Children and vulnerable people

ABColombia’s work does not specifically target underage people. However, we are committed to protecting the privacy of the young people who engage with us through our website and at events. If you are under 16 and would like to get involved with ABColombia’s work, for example by signing up to the ABColombia newsletter or to an event, please ensure you have consent from a parent or guardian before giving us your personal information.

ABColombia agrees to the following:

  • Not to use false or misleading subjects or email addresses.
  • Include the physical address of our offices.
  • Monitor third-party email marketing services for compliance.
  • Honour opt-out/ unsubscribe requests quickly.
  • Allow users to unsubscribe by using the link at the bottom of each newsletter.

Changes to this Policy

We may make changes to this Privacy Notice from time to time, including as part of the new European data protection legislation, which will come into force on 25 May 2018. We will update the Privacy Notice as and when required and we will publish any new version of this Privacy Notice on our website.

Contacting Us

If you have any questions regarding this privacy policy, you may contact us using the information below.

ABColombia, Romero House, London SE17JB (United Kingdom)

Last edited on 18 July 2018 (Retention schedule for backups added).

Previous edits:

  • 30 May 2018 (References to Google Display Network Impression Reporting and Demographics and Interests Reporting were removed, because not applicable on this website)
  • 24 May 2018 (information about retention periods added to version of 27 April 2018).

If you have questions about the edits, please contact us at abcolombia[at]abcolombia.org.uk