FAQs
What is Child Protection?
Is a child protection policy really necessary?
What information is there to help with training for staff?
Does this matter in places in the world where just surviving is an issue?
What if I am working in a place where there is no child protection system?
How much of a problem is child abuse in the NGO sector?
Do police checks really help and what about countries where
we employ national staff?
Q What is Child Protection?
A Child protection is a broad term to describe philosophies, policies, standards, guidelines and procedures to protect children from both intentional and unintentional harm. This is usually achieved through the development of a Child Protection Policy and organizational practice in relation to:
- Creating a 'child safe' and 'child friendly' organization
- Prevention of abuse
- Guidelines for appropriate and inappropriate behaviour/attitude
- Personnel recruitment and training
- Recognising, reporting and reacting to allegations of abuse
- Guidelines for communications regarding children
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Q Is a child protection policy really necessary?
A Yes, it helps to make sure that everyone in the organisation knows what their responsibilities are, and how to report a concern if any problem arises. It formalises a process to make sure there is some consistency and accountability if a complaint is made.
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Q What information is there to help with training for staff?
A The Keeping Children Safe Toolkit includes a complete training pack, Tool 3. Tools 4 and 5 (DVD and CD-rom) will give you additional information and notes for trainers. Together these resources will help you in providing training on child protection to management and staff.
In addition, the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) www.nspcc.org.uk, based in the UK, has a lot of information and useful resources and also the NSPCC inform website can help answer queries and keep you updated on changes and new initiatives in the UK.
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Q Does this matter in places in the world where just surviving is an issue?
A Yes it does. We know from experience that children are particularly vulnerable to abuse and sexual exploitation in times of crisis and emergency. This is when children often rely on humanitarian organisations to ensure their safety and welfare. But whether we are providing humanitarian aid or working in other ways to realise the rights and potential of poor and marginalised children, we must make sure that those we entrust with their care do not abuse their positions of trust.
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Q What if I am working in a place where there is no child protection system?
A You have to start somewhere and often it may only be a raising of awareness and getting the subject of child protection and good practice on the agenda with local partners.
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Q How much of a problem is child abuse in the INGO / NGO sector?
A Like any sector that places itself in positions where it has access to the most vulnerable, there are a small minority of individuals who will seek to work in organisations where they can access children in order to abuse them. So whilst it has not emerged as a huge problem there are cases where children have been subject to abuse by those in the humanitarian sector.
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Q Do police checks really help and what about countries where we employ national staff?
A Yes on a number of levels. Firstly, there have been examples where previously unknown criminal offences against children by individuals employed with organisations have been identified. However, in general, police checks need to be part of a number of steps that an organisation takes to safeguard children. They give a clear message to others that you have high standards and they do identify individuals who may be unsuitable for posts.
Every attempt should be made whoever you employ (national, international, paid or volunteers) to ascertain who they are, what their qualifications are, what references they have and if possible whether they have a criminal record.
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