PROTECTION POLICY Children and Vulnerable Adults
Version 1.0 October 2012
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Introduction Human Dignity Foundation (HDF) is a private foundation registered in Switzerland that works towards improvement in the lives of children and women. This Protection Policy has been developed as an important part of HDF’s ongoing risk management. It is based on a review of relevant international and national protection policies and related documents including
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Convention on the Rights of the Child Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, Ireland Keeping Children Safe: A Toolkit for Protection
In addition, the protection policies of several donors, international and national non-government organisations have been reviewed (for references see annex 5).
Goal and objectives HDF recognises the rights of children and vulnerable adults to be protected from any harm or abuse. The goal of HDF’s Protection Policy is to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable adults from any form of abuse (see Annex 1 for definitions of abuse) in the process of HDF’s work. The objectives of the policy are to ensure that:
Children and vulnerable adults who come in contact with HDF are protected from any form of abuse
HDF’s grantees and their partners are committed to protection of children and vulnerable adults and that their policies and behaviour reflect this commitment
HDF’s staff and board members are fully cognisant of protection issues
Relevant parties
HDF staff
HDF consultants
HDF grantees and their partners
HDF Board of Directors
Children and vulnerable adults
Guiding principles
Everyone has a right to freedom from abuse and exploitation
HDF does not accept any form of abuse or exploitation as defined in Annex 1
HDF is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable adults who come in contact with HDF and its grantees
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HDF will not fund, or engage in any type of collaboration with, organisations whose practices, or lack of them, endanger the well-being of children or vulnerable adults
Golden rules
Never abuse or exploit children and vulnerable adults or act in a way that places them at risk
Report any abuse or protection concerns to relevant authorities in accordance with relevant country legislation; this will likely require advice from a neutral party such as the embassy or a recommended lawyer
Cooperate fully and confidentially in any investigation of concerns or allegations
Preventive procedures Recruitment and selection HDF takes particular care in its recruitment practices to ensure that all staff members are committed to HDF’s Protection Policy. All potential staff undergo a thorough reference check including two written references with a clause stating that, to the best of the referees’ knowledge, the candidate has neither committed nor failed to disclose any abuse of children or vulnerable adults. All potential staff and contractors sign the following before commencing employment/contract: 1. Declaration of understanding and commitment to HDF’s Protection Policy (part of standard HR contract) 2. Code of Conduct (annex 2) 3. HDF’s Self-disclosure Form (annex 4)
Grant making HDF specifies the importance of protection in its application guidelines. As part of the grant assessment process HDF ensures that the applicant has formal or informal policies and procedures in place which safeguard children and vulnerable adults. Where an applicant works in partnership with other organisations, HDF ensures that this way of working is reflected in the applicant’s policies and procedures. HDF also reviews and responds to the information provided in the Grantees’ Self-assessment Tool (annex 3) submitted by potential grantees. Ensuring the implementation of grantees’, and their partner organisations’, policies and procedures is part of HDF’s grant monitoring process.
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Travel HDF recognises the protection risk associated with business travel of its staff, board members and contractors. Every non-staff member travelling on behalf of HDF must read the Travel Policy pre-departure and sign the External Travel Authorisation Form which includes a clause on HDF’s Protection Policy.
Communication Internal: HDF’s Protection Policy is widely available and easily accessible to all staff, contractors, board members and grantees. External: All HDF communications comply with the Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages (see Annex 5) and all staff/board/contractors are made aware of this code.
Data storage Pictures, materials and personal information regarding children and vulnerable adults will be held in a secure place, whether physical or online.
Reporting & Investigative procedures -
It is the responsibility of all relevant parties to report suspected or actual abuse of children and vulnerable adults
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When there is a suspicion/disclosure of an abuse committed by HDF’s staff/contractor, HDF will conduct an internal investigation and when suspicion is deemed to be valid it will be reported to relevant authorities; there will be a written record of actions taken.
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Suspicion of abuse noticed by HDF staff when overseas will be reported to the HDF Executive Director and to the most appropriate senior person in the grantee organisation; there will be a written record of actions taken.
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All allegations will be handled with due diligence irrespective of who they are made against.
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HDF will confidentially respond to all allegations of mistreatment and will, if requested, support grantees to do the same, according to national protection laws.
Implications of non-compliance -
Should any staff/contractor/board member of HDF be suspected of abuse s/he will be suspended from relevant duties pending investigation.
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Should any staff/contractor/board member be found guilty of abuse s/he will be subject to severe disciplinary action and/or censure by HDF.
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In accordance with Clause 9.1 of HDF’s Grant Agreement, HDF will discontinue all engagement with a grantee that does not deal with protection issues appropriately and efficiently.
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Data protection HDF will ensure that any records in relation to a referral are kept confidentially and in a secure place. Information in relation to protection concerns will be shared with the relevant authority. The issue of confidentiality is secondary to the need for protection of children and vulnerable adults.
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Annex 1. Definitions of abuse1 Abuse of Children2 Abuse or neglect of a child is caused by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting: by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Neglect is the persistent failure to meet basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of a child’s health or development. It may involve a parent or carer purposely failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, basic emotional needs. Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child or vulnerable adult such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the emotional development. It may involve conveying to people that they are worthless, inadequate, or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on a person. It may involve causing children or vulnerable adults frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children or vulnerable adults. Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape or buggery) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving a child in looking at, or the production of, pornographic material, or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Abuse of vulnerable adults3 Discriminatory abuse is treating people badly because of their race, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or religious belief; for example: verbal abuse, inappropriate use of language, slurs, harassment, deliberate exclusion Physical abuse is deliberately hurting someone; for example: hitting, pushing, scalding, shaking, kicking, pinching, hair pulling, inappropriate restraint or misusing medication Sexual abuse involves rape, sexual assault or pressuring someone into sexual acts they don't understand or feel powerless to refuse Psychological abuse includes using threats, humiliation, bullying, swearing and any other form of mental cruelty that results in distress. It also includes denying people basic rights such as choice, self-expression, privacy and dignity. Institutional abuse happens when an institution (such as a hospital, day service or care home) uses routines and systems that disregard the needs of the people it is there to support. 1
NSPCC, Child Abuse Fact Sheet, 2010 Child is a person below 18 years of age 3 Vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 or over who because of their gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, marital status or social position is exposed to abuse and is not able to protect her/himself 2
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Acts of omission and neglect occur when a vulnerable adult is deprived of assistance they need; for example: the withholding of food, shelter, clothing, heating, medical care, hygiene, personal care, or appropriate medication.
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Annex 2 - Code of Conduct As a member of HDF staff or HDF contractor (delete as appropriate) I agree to:
Be respectful of children’s and vulnerable adults’ rights, background, culture and beliefs
Conduct myself in a manner consistent with my role as a representative of the Human Dignity Foundation
Follow organisational policy and guidelines concerning the safety of children and vulnerable adults as outlined in HDF’s Protection Policy
Ensure that, in any dealing with children during the course of my work, I: o
Do not hit, physically harm or mistreat anyone
o
Refrain from any sexual act or behaviour towards children, young people and vulnerable adults, including using sexually suggestive language
o
Make every attempt not to spend unnecessary or excessive amounts of time alone with children or vulnerable adults
o
Refrain from inappropriate physical contact with children or vulnerable adults
Refrain from developing relationships with children or vulnerable adults that could be deemed exploitative or abusive in any way
Respect the confidentiality of a child’s or vulnerable adult’s personal information so that their dignity and safety is not compromised
Refrain from photographing children or vulnerable adults without permission
Refrain from using photographs for communication or other purposes unless they comply with the Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages
Never let allegations by a child or vulnerable adult go unchallenged or unrecorded
Report any possible or actual breaches of this Code of Conduct by HDF staff, representatives or associates to the Executive Director (or Chairman) as soon as I become aware of the situation
Signature: __________________________
Name:
__________________________
Date:
__________________________
Witness:
__________________________
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Annex 3 - Grantees’ self-assessment tool Only available to grantees
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Annex 4 - Self-disclosure form Name:
Address:
Have you ever been convicted of any offence overseas or in your home country?
YES / NO
If the answer is ‘yes’ please give details:
Have you ever been dismissed from employment or had any disciplinary action taken against you that may be related to work with a child/children under 18 years of age?
YES/NO
If the answer to this question is ‘Yes’ please give details below:
Signature:
Date:
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Annex 5 – Useful Resources
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=eng
Convention of the Rights of the Child http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm
Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, 2011, Ireland http://www.dcya.gov.ie/documents/child_welfare_protection/ChildrenFirst.pdf
Keeping Children Safe – A Toolkit for Child Protection:
http://www.keepingchildrensafe.org.uk/sites/default/files/KCSTool1-%20English.pdf
DFID, CSCF Child Protection Self Audit Tool:
http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB0QFjAA&url=http%3 A%2F%2Fwww.dfid.gov.uk%2FDocuments%2Ffunding%2FChild-Protection-SelfAudit.doc&ei=cPVzUOrlC5GChQf864HoCw&usg=AFQjCNFVQIl6fwOD8VKKwoM66J1unTqaIA&si g2=bdEdtLyzOMALqGAkXS72_Q
Dochas’
Code
of
Conduct
on
images
and
messages:
http://www.dochas.ie/Shared/Files/5/Images_and_Messages.pdf
InterAction, Step-by-step guide to addressing sexual exploitation and abuse:
NSPCC, Child Protection Fact Sheet, 2010:
http://cpwg.net/wpcontent/uploads/2012/01/InterAction-Step-by-Step-Guide-to-Addressing-Sexual-Exploitation-andAbuse-InterAction-2010.pdf http://www.nspcc.org.uk/inform/trainingandconsultancy/consultancy/helpandadvice/definitions_and _signs_of_child_abuse_pdf_wdf65412.pdf
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