Privacy Policy

We are delighted about your interest in our foundation. Data protection is of particular importance to the team of the Scientific Endometriosis Foundation (SEF). The use of our websites is generally possible without the need for providing personal data. However, if an individual wishes to make use of specific services offered by our organization through our website, the processing of personal data may become necessary. If the processing of personal data is required and there is no legal basis for such processing, we generally seek the consent of the individual concerned.

The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, email address, or telephone number of an individual, always takes place in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and in compliance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to SEF. Through this privacy policy, our organization aims to inform the public about the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, use, and process. Furthermore, this privacy policy serves to enlighten individuals about their rights.

SEF, as the data controller, has implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure the most comprehensive protection of the personal data processed via its website. However, internet-based data transmissions may generally have vulnerabilities, so absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, individuals are free to transmit personal data to us through alternative means, such as by phone.

An overview of specific terms used in this privacy policy can be found at the end of the statement.

1. Name and Address of the Data Controller
The data controller, in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and other data protection laws applicable in the European Union member states and other regulations with data protection character, is:
Scientific Endometriosis Foundation
Lange Strasse 38
26655 Westerstede
Germany
Tel.: +49 4488 503230
Fax: +49 4488 503999
Website: www.endometriose-sef.de
The data protection officer of the data controller is:
Prof. Dr. med. K.-W. Schweppe, Lange Str. 38 in 26655 Westerstede
Any individual can contact our data protection officer directly with any questions or suggestions regarding data protection.

2. Cookies
The SEF website uses cookies. Cookies are text files that are stored on a computer system via an internet browser.
Many websites and servers use cookies. Many cookies contain a unique cookie ID, which is a string that allows websites and servers to identify the specific internet browser in which the cookie was stored. This enables visited websites and servers to distinguish the individual browser of the concerned person from other internet browsers that may contain different cookies. A specific internet browser can be recognized and identified by the unique cookie ID.
The use of cookies allows SEF to provide users of its website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without cookie setting. Cookies help optimize the information and offerings on our website for the user. Cookies allow us to recognize users of our website, making it easier for them to use the site. For example, a user of a website that uses cookies does not have to enter their access data again with each visit to the website, as this is taken over by the website and the cookie stored on the user’s computer system. Another example is the cookie of a shopping cart in an online shop. The online shop remembers the items a customer has placed in the virtual shopping cart through a cookie.
The concerned person can prevent the setting of cookies by our website at any time by adjusting the settings of the internet browser used and thus permanently objecting to the setting of cookies. Furthermore, already set cookies can be deleted at any time using an internet browser or other software programs. This is possible in all common internet browsers. If the concerned person deactivates the setting of cookies in the used internet browser, not all functions of our website may be fully usable.

3. Collection of General Data and Information
The SEF website collects a series of general data and information with each call to the website by an individual or an automated system. This general data and information are stored in the server’s log files. The following data can be collected:
(1) types and versions of browsers used,
(2) the operating system used by the accessing system,
(3) the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrers),
(4) the sub-websites accessed via an accessing system on our website,
(5) the date and time of access to the website,
(6) an internet protocol address (IP address),
(7) the internet service provider of the accessing system, and
(8) other similar data and information that serve to avert risks in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.
When using this general data and information, SEF does not draw conclusions about the individual. Instead, this information is needed to:
(1) deliver the content of our website correctly,
(2) optimize the content of our website and its advertising,
(3) ensure the permanent functionality of our information technology systems and the technology of our website, and
(4) provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for prosecution in the event of a cyberattack.
SEF evaluates these anonymously collected data and information statistically on the one hand and, on the other hand, with the aim of increasing data protection and data security within our organization, ultimately to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The anonymous data from the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by an individual.

4. Contact Option via the Website
The SEF website contains information, as required by law, that enables quick electronic contact with our organization and direct communication with us, including an email address. If an individual contacts the data controller via email or through a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the individual is automatically stored. Such personal data voluntarily provided by an individual to the data controller is stored for the purpose of processing or contacting the individual. There is no disclosure of this personal data to third parties.

5. Routine Erasure and Blocking of Personal Data
SEF processes and stores the personal data of an individual only for the period necessary to achieve the storage purpose or as provided for by laws or regulations. When the storage purpose ceases to apply or if a storage period prescribed by the European legislator or another competent legislator expires, the personal data is routinely blocked or deleted in accordance with legal regulations.

6. Rights of the Individual
a) Right to Confirmation
Every individual has the right to request confirmation from the data controller as to whether personal data concerning them is being processed.

b) Right to Information
Every individual has the right to obtain free information at any time from the data controller about the personal data stored about them and a copy of this information. Furthermore, the European legislator grants the individual the right to information about the following:
the purposes of processing,
the categories of personal data being processed,
the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data has been or will be disclosed, in particular for recipients in third countries or international organizations,
if possible, the planned duration for which the personal data will be stored or, if this is not possible, the criteria for determining this duration,
the existence of a right to correction or deletion of personal data concerning them or to restriction of processing by the data controller or a right to object to such processing,
if the personal data is not collected from the individual: all available information about the origin of the data,
the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, in accordance with Article 22(1) and (4) of the GDPR, and — at least in these cases — meaningful information about the involved logic, as well as the scope and intended impact of such processing on the individual concerned.

c) Right to Lodge a Complaint

If you believe that the processing of your personal data is unlawful, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority for data protection, which is responsible for the place of your residence or workplace or for the place of the alleged violation. For SEF, the competent authority is the Independent Data Protection Center:

Independent State Center for Data Protection Schleswig-Holstein
Kiel Holstenstrasse 98 · 24103 Kiel

d) Right to Correction

Every individual has the right to request the immediate correction of inaccurate personal data concerning them. Furthermore, the individual has the right, taking into account the purposes of processing, to request the completion of incomplete personal data – also by means of a supplementary declaration.

e) Right to Deletion (Right to Be Forgotten)

Every individual has the right to demand from the controller the immediate deletion of personal data concerning them, provided one of the following reasons applies and the processing is not necessary:

1. The personal data were collected or otherwise processed for purposes for which they are no longer necessary.
2. The individual withdraws their consent on which the processing is based according to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR, and there is no other legal basis for the processing.
3. The individual objects to the processing pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR, and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or the individual objects to the processing pursuant to Art. 21(2) GDPR.
4. The personal data have been unlawfully processed.
5. The deletion of personal data is required to fulfill a legal obligation under Union law or the law of the Member States to which the controller is subject.
6. The personal data have been collected in relation to the offer of information society services referred to in Art. 8(1) GDPR.

If one of the above reasons applies, and an individual wishes to request the deletion of personal data stored by SEF, they can contact an employee of the data controller at any time. The employee of SEF will arrange that the deletion request is complied with immediately. If SEF has made the personal data public and is obliged to delete the personal data in accordance with Art. 17(1) GDPR, SEF, taking into account available technology and implementation costs, will take appropriate measures, including technical measures, to inform other data controllers processing the published personal data that the individual has requested the deletion of all links to this personal data or copies or replications of this personal data, as far as processing is not required. The employee of SEF will arrange the necessary in individual cases.

f) Right to Restriction of Processing

Every individual has the right to request the controller to restrict processing if one of the following conditions is met:

1. The accuracy of the personal data is contested by the individual, for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data.
2. The processing is unlawful, and the individual opposes the erasure of the personal data and requests the restriction of their use instead.
3. The controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of the processing, but they are required by the individual for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.
4. The individual has objected to processing pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR pending the verification whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override those of the individual.

g) Right to Data Portability

Every individual affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European legislator, to receive the personal data concerning them, which was provided to a controller, in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. They also have the right to transmit this data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to which the personal data was provided, where the processing is based on consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR or on a contract pursuant to Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, and the processing is carried out by automated means, as long as the processing is not necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller. Furthermore, when exercising their right to data portability pursuant to Art. 20(1) GDPR, the individual has the right to have personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another, where technically feasible and when doing so does not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.

h) Right to Object

Every individual affected by the processing of personal data has the right to object, on grounds relating to their particular situation, at any time, to the processing of personal data concerning them, which is based on Art. 6(1)(e) or (f) GDPR. This also applies to profiling based on these provisions.

SEF will no longer process the personal data in the event of the objection unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override the interests, rights, and freedoms of the individual, or the processing serves to assert, exercise, or defend legal claims.

If SEF processes personal data for direct marketing purposes, the individual has the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data for such marketing. This also applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If the individual objects to SEF processing for direct marketing purposes, SEF will no longer process the personal data for these purposes.

In addition, the individual has the right, on grounds relating to their particular situation, to object to the processing of personal data concerning them by SEF for scientific or historical research purposes, or for statistical purposes pursuant to Art. 89(1) GDPR, unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.

i) Automated Decisions Including Profiling

Every individual affected by the processing of personal data has the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning them or similarly significantly affects them, as long as the decision:

1. Is not necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the individual and the controller.
2. Is not authorized by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and which also lays down suitable measures to safeguard the individual’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, or
3. Is not based on the individual’s explicit consent.

If the decision:

1. Is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the individual and the controller,
2. Is based on the individual’s explicit consent, SEF shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the individual’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express their point of view and contest the decision.

j) Right to Withdraw Consent

Every individual affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European legislator, to withdraw consent to the processing of their personal data at any time.

If an individual wishes to exercise one or more of the above rights, such as:

a) the right to confirmation,
b) the right to information,
c) the right to lodge a complaint,
d) the right to correction,
e) the right to deletion,
f) the right to restriction of processing,
g) the right to data portability,
h) the right to object,
h) the right to object,
i) the rights related to automated decisions,
j) the right to withdraw consent,

they can do so at any time by contacting an employee of SEF or the data protection officer by phone, email, or post.

7. Data Protection in Applications and in the Application Process

The data controller collects and processes the personal data of applicants for the purpose of handling the application process. Processing may also be carried out electronically. This is particularly the case if an applicant submits corresponding application documents electronically, for example, by email or via a web form on the website. If the data controller concludes an employment contract with an applicant, the data transmitted will be stored for the purpose of processing the employment relationship in compliance with legal requirements. If the data controller does not conclude an employment contract with the applicant, the application documents will be automatically deleted two months after notification of the rejection decision, unless other legitimate interests of the data controller stand in the way of deletion. Other legitimate interest in this sense is, for example, a duty of proof in a proceeding under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG).

8. Legal Basis of Processing

Art. 6 I lit. a GDPR serves as the legal basis for processing operations in which we obtain consent for a specific processing purpose. If the processing of personal data is necessary for the performance of a contract, the contracting party of which is the data subject, as is the case, for example, in processing operations necessary for the delivery of goods or the provision of any other service or consideration, the processing is based on Art. 6 I lit. b GDPR. The same applies to processing operations that are necessary to carry out pre-contractual measures, such as in cases of inquiries about our products or services. If our company is subject to a legal obligation by which the processing of personal data is required, such as for the fulfillment of tax obligations, the processing is based on Art. 6 I lit. c GDPR. In rare cases, the processing of personal data may be necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person. This would be the case, for example, if a visitor to our premises were injured and his name, age, health insurance data, or other vital information had to be passed on to a doctor, hospital, or other third parties. Then the processing would be based on Art. 6 I lit. d GDPR. Ultimately, processing operations could be based on Art. 6 I lit. f GDPR. Processing operations that are not covered by any of the aforementioned legal bases are based on this legal basis if the processing is necessary to safeguard a legitimate interest of our company or a third party, provided that the interests, fundamental rights, and freedoms of the data subject do not prevail. Such processing operations are particularly permitted to us because they have been specifically mentioned by the European legislator. He took the view that a legitimate interest could be assumed if the data subject is a customer of the controller (Recital 47 Sentence 2 GDPR).

9. Legitimate Interests Pursued by the Controller or a Third Party

If the processing of personal data is based on Article 6 I lit. f GDPR, our legitimate interest is the conduct of our business activities for the benefit of the well-being of all our employees and shareholders.

10. Duration for Which the Personal Data is Stored

The criterion for the duration of the storage of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. After the expiration of the period, the corresponding data is routinely deleted, provided it is no longer necessary for the fulfillment of the contract or the initiation of a contract.

11. Legal or Contractual Provisions for the Provision of Personal Data; Necessity for the Conclusion of the Contract; Obligation of the Data Subject to Provide the Personal Data; Possible Consequences of Non-Provision

We inform you that the provision of personal data is partly required by law (e.g., tax regulations) or may also result from contractual provisions (e.g., information on the contractual partner). Occasionally, it may be necessary for a data subject to provide us with personal data that must subsequently be processed by us. The data subject, for example, is obliged to provide us with personal data when our company enters into a contract with him or her. The non-provision of the personal data would have the consequence that the contract with the data subject could not be concluded. Before personal data is provided by the data subject, the data subject must contact one of our employees. Our employee clarifies to the data subject whether the provision of the personal data is required by law or contract or is necessary for the conclusion of the contract, whether there is an obligation to provide the personal data, and the consequences of non-provision of the personal data.

12. Existence of Automated Decision-Making

As a responsible company, we refrain from automatic decision-making or profiling.

13. Use of Google Analytics with Anonymization Function

We use Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA, hereinafter referred to as „Google,“ on our website. Google Analytics uses so-called „cookies,“ text files that are stored on your computer and allow an analysis of your use of the website.

The information generated by these cookies, such as the time, place, and frequency of your website visit, including your IP address, is transmitted to Google in the USA and stored there.

We use Google Analytics on our website with the addition “ _gat._anonymizeIp“. In this case, your IP address will be shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area and thereby anonymized.

Google will use this information to evaluate your use of our site, to compile reports on website activity for us, and to provide other services related to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties if required by law or if third parties process this data on behalf of Google.

According to its own statements, Google will not associate your IP address with other data from Google under any circumstances. You can prevent the installation of cookies by setting your browser software accordingly; however, we would like to point out that in this case you may not be able to use all functions of our website to their full extent.

Furthermore, Google offers a deactivation add-on for the most common browsers, which gives you more control over which data Google collects from the websites you visit. The add-on informs Google Analytics‘ JavaScript (ga.js) that no information about your website visit should be transmitted to Google Analytics. However, the deactivation add-on for browsers from Google Analytics does not prevent information from being transmitted to us or to other web analysis services that we may use. Further information on installing the browser add-on can be found at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de

If you visit our site using a mobile device (smartphone or tablet), you must instead click this link to prevent tracking by Google Analytics on this website in the future. This is also an alternative to the above browser add-on. By clicking the link, an opt-out cookie is set in your browser that is only valid for this browser and this domain. If you delete the cookies in this browser, the opt-out cookie will also be deleted, so you will have to click the link again.

14. Definitions and Origin of this Declaration

This privacy statement was created by the data protection declaration generator of the external data protection officer in Kiel in cooperation with RC GmbH, which recycles used notebooks, and the file-sharing lawyers of WBS-LAW, and adapted to the specific implementation at SEF. The privacy statement of SEF is based on the terms used by the European legislator when adopting the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our privacy statement should be easy to read and understand for the public, as well as for our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to explain the terms used.

a) Personal Data: Personal data are all information that relates to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter „data subject“). An identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier, or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person.

b) Data Subject: Data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person, whose personal data is processed by the controller.

c) Processing: Processing is any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination, or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure, or destruction.

d) Restriction of Processing: Restriction of processing is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting their processing in the future.

e) Profiling: Profiling is any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyze or predict aspects concerning that natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location, or movements.

f) Pseudonymization: Pseudonymization is the processing of personal data in such a manner that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organizational measures to ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person.

g) Controller or Controller for Processing: Controller or controller for processing is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data; where the purposes and means of such processing are determined by Union or Member State law, the controller or the specific criteria for its nomination may be provided for by Union or Member State law.

h) Processor: Processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.

i) Recipient: Recipient is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or another body, to which the personal data are disclosed, whether a third party or not. However, public authorities which may receive personal data in the framework of a particular inquiry in accordance with Union or Member State law shall not be regarded as recipients; the processing of those data by those public authorities shall be in compliance with the applicable data protection rules according to the purposes of the processing.

j) Third Party: Third party is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or body other than the data subject, controller, processor, and persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorized to process personal data.

k) Consent: Consent of the data subject is any freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous indication of the data subject’s wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.