What is child and adults-at-risk Safeguarding?

A set of organizational policies, procedures and practices designed to ensure that no harm comes to people as a result of contact with an organization’s programs, operations or people. This also means that any incidents of harm are addressed appropriately.

Child and adult Protection

• Programs, projects and advocacy measures designed to prevent and respond to abuse, exploitation, neglect and violence.

• It generally focuses on risks and issues caused externally to an organization.

Child Safeguarding & Child Protection Safeguarding

INTERNAL child abuse or neglect by organizations – lack of staff training, organisation policies, behaviour codes…Protection

EXTERNAL child abuse

Safeguarding -It’s the Focus/Scope

 Safeguarding means we protect children and adults from being harmed by us internally (our people and programs). Safeguarding is done by internal, controllable factors e.g. staff sensitisation, risk assessments included in program design…

* Protection means prevention and response to abuse from externally factors e.g. responding to child trafficking on the streets or abuse in homes… All organisations are mandated to safeguard but only specialist organisations get into protection programming e.g Plan International, World Vision, government line ministries, Police…

What is safeguarding of children and adults-at-risk? 

A set of organisational policies, procedures and practices designed to ensure that no harm comes to people as a result of contact with an organisation’s programs, operations or people Safeguarding also means that any incidents of harm are addressed appropriately Child Safeguarding Implementation

What do you safeguarding from?

1. Emotional abuse,

2. physical abuse,

3. Negligence/Neglect,

4. sexual abuse,

5. Violence or any form of exploitation and harm from within our programs, operations and people (staff, contractors, consultants, volunteers, official visitors, interns), Child Safeguarding Implementation.

WHAT SPECIFIC RISKS OF ABUSE DO GIRLS AND BOYS WITH DISABILITIES FACE?

Child Safeguarding Implementation Specific protection Risks for children with disabilities

* Are 3-4 times more likely to experience physical and sexual violence (UNICEF 2006).

* Persons with intellectual disability are more at risk of sexual abuse – especially girls and women (GSDRC).

* 3-4 Times more likely to be neglected (UNICEF 2006)

Child Safeguarding Implementation Protection Risks to Children with Disabilities

* Girl children disproportionately affected

* Face greater barriers in reporting e.g communication barriers, reduced or lack of privacy yet issues may be sensitive…

* Boys and men too need protection – even from sexual abuse Child Safeguarding Implementation

* We interact closely with girls and boys with disabilities (who statistically have a higher vulnerability to experience abuse, neglect & exploitation).

Why Do we take Safeguarding Seriously?

** We are guided by the humanitarian principle to ‘do no harm’