Summary / Purpose
As a national non-governmental development organisation, Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation (S-ILF) is working for the socio-economic rehabilitation of leprosy-affected persons and their families. One of the primes focuses in the organization is to improve the quality of life of the children residing in leprosy colonies through our various programs on education through after school centres, skill development training and scholarship programs.
A need was felt for a Child Protection Policy which would be a written document, well-defined and structured that would provide a framework of principles, standards and guidelines for individual and organizational practice while working either “directly” or “indirectly” with children.
S-ILF believes that all agencies working with vulnerable groups, particularly children, have a moral and legal responsibility to protect children within their care. Thus, the organization must be equipped with the necessary information, standardized behaviour guidelines and knowledge to give the child support, guidance and help needed at any particular time, especially in times of Crisis, keeping in mind the best interests of the child. The policy in turn will facilitate in reacting in an informed way and avoid accusations of biased response. As an organization working for marginalized and discriminated population, it is our duty to make certain that our promotion of rights includes specifically protecting children from accidental harm as well as deliberate abuse within organisations intended for their benefit. This policy will assist in fulfilling this duty. Further, the policies will fulfil desirable norms and thus enhance the credibility of our Organisation.
Therefore, the child protection policy would help to create a child-safe organisation where children feel safe, can speak out, are listened to and where children and staff are respected and empowered.
Vision
We aim to create ‘child safe’ environments, both internally and externally, where children are respected, protected, empowered and active in their own protection, and where staff are skilled, confident, competent and well supported in meeting their protection responsibilities.
Statement
S-ILF is committed to actively safeguarding children from harm and ensuring children’s rights to protection are fully realised. We take seriously our responsibility to promote child safe practices and protect children from harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation in any form. In addition, we will take positive action to prevent child abusers from becoming involved with S-ILF in any way and take stringent measures against any teachers/ staff who abuses a child. Our decisions and actions in response to child protection concerns will be guided by the principle of the best interests of the child.
Thus, CHILD PROTECTION POLICY is a statement of intent that demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding children from harm and makes clear to all what is required in relation to the protection of children. It helps to create a safe and positive environment for children and to ensure that the organisation is taking its duty of care seriously.
Definitions under Child Protection Policy
- A child is defined as any person under the age of 18 years.
- Child Abuse is defined as all forms of physical abuse, emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse and exploitation, neglect or negligent treatment, commercial or other exploitation of a child and includes any actions that result in actual or potential harm to a child. Child abuse may be a deliberate act or it may be failing to act to prevent harm.
- Child Protection within the scope of this policy is defined as the responsibilities, measures and activities that S-ILF undertakes to safeguard children from harm, both intentional and unintentional.
Scope of the Child Protection Policy
The Child Protection Policy applies to everyone working in our After School learning centres.
To whom does this policy apply?
The policy applies to:
- All staff (including permanent, fixed-term and short-term temporary appointments).
- Those who work with the organisation and are in contact with children eg. Teachers, Caretakers, Community mobilisers, Animators etc.
All those covered by the policy have a duty to do everything reasonable in their power to ensure the safety and welfare of children while they are in contact with the children and to act in accordance with the Guidelines.
Responsibilities under the Child Protection Policy
- Never abuse and/or exploit a child or act/behave in any way that places a child at risk of harm.
- Take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of any child in contact with our centres.
- Remember that children regard adults as their role models, so ensure your behaviour, language, gestures etc. are appropriate and above reproach.
- Report any child abuse and protection concerns.
- Respond to a child who may have been abused or exploited.
- Cooperate fully and confidentially, in any investigation of concerns and allegations.
- Contribute to an environment where children are respected and encouraged to discuss their concerns and rights.
- Always ask permission from children (or, in the case of young children, their parent or guardian) before taking images (e.g. photographs, videos) of them. Ensure that any images taken of children are respectful. Stories and images of children should be based on the child’s best interest.
- Be aware that where concerns exist about the conduct of teacher in relation to child protection and/or where there has been a breach of the Child Protection Policy, this will be investigated under this policy. This may result in disciplinary sanctions and/or dismissal for teachers.
Personal Conduct outside work
We are committed to ensuring that our teachers and representatives apply high standards of behaviour towards children within both their professional and their private lives.
Indicators of child abuse
All staff who work with children need to be familiar with the indicators of child abuse. The indicators given below are comprehensive but not an exhaustive list. It must be noted here that a child who is being abused may not show all these signs but still might be abused.
Sexual Abuse
- Being overly affectionate or knowledgeable in a sexual way inappropriate to the child’s age
- Medical problems such as chronic itching, pain in the genitals, venereal diseases
- Other extreme reactions, such as depression, self-mutilation, suicide attempts, running away, overdoses, anorexia
- Personality changes such as becoming insecure or clinging
- Regressing to younger behaviour patterns such as thumb sucking.
- Being isolated or withdrawn
- Inability to concentrate
- Lack of trust or fear of someone they know well, such as not wanting to be alone with a caregiver or a coaching teacher.
- Become worried about clothing being removed
- Suddenly drawing sexually explicit pictures
- Trying to be ‘ultra-good’ or perfect; overreacting to criticism
Physical Abuse
- Unexplained recurrent injuries or burns
- Improbable excuses or refusal to explain injuries
- Wearing clothes to cover injuries, even in hot weather.
- Bald patches
- Chronic running away
- Fear of medical help or examination
- Self-destructive tendencies
- Aggression towards others
- Fear of physical contact – shrinking back if touched
- Admitting that they are punished, but the punishment is excessive (such as a child being beaten every night to ‘make him study’)
- Fear of suspected abuser being contacted
Emotional Abuse
- Physical, mental and emotional development lags
- Sudden speech disorders
- Continual self-depreciation (‘I’m stupid, ugly, worthless, etc’)
- Overreaction to mistakes
- Extreme fear of any new situation
- Inappropriate response to pain (‘I deserve this’)
- Neurotic behaviour (rocking, hair twisting, self-mutilation)
- Extremes of passivity or aggression
Neglect
- Constant hunger
- Poor personal hygiene
- Constant tiredness
- Poor state of clothing
- Emancipation
- Untreated medical problems
- No social relationships
- Compulsive scavenging
- Destructive tendencies