Child Safeguarding Policy

1. Policy Statement

Sabeeli is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children who come into contact with our organization and our partner NGOs. This policy reflects our commitment to keeping children safe from harm and abuse.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• Sabeeli Staff: All employees, contractors, and consultants
• Partner NGOs: All organizations receiving funding through our platform
• Volunteers: Anyone volunteering with or on behalf of Sabeeli
• Visitors: Anyone visiting project sites or offices
• Third Parties: Suppliers, vendors, and service providers

3. Definitions

3.1 Child

Any person under the age of 18 years, regardless of the age of majority in their country.

3.2 Child Abuse

Any action or failure to act that results in harm to a child, including:

• Physical Abuse: Inflicting physical harm or injury
• Emotional Abuse: Persistent emotional ill-treatment
• Sexual Abuse: Any sexual activity with a child
• Neglect: Failure to provide for a child's basic needs
• Exploitation: Using a child for labor, trafficking, or other exploitative purposes

3.3 Safeguarding

Actions taken to protect children from abuse and promote their welfare and rights.

4. Safe Recruitment

All personnel who may have contact with children must undergo:

• Comprehensive background checks
• Verification of references
• Review of work history gaps
• Face-to-face interviews
• Signing of the Code of Conduct

Criminal record checks or equivalent clearances are required where legally available and appropriate.

5. Code of Conduct

All staff and partners must:

5.1 Always:

• Treat all children with respect
• Report any concerns immediately
• Be visible when working with children
• Follow the two-adult rule where possible
• Use appropriate language and behavior

5.2 Never:

• Be alone with a child in a private setting
• Use physical punishment or discipline
• Engage in sexual activity with anyone under 18
• Use inappropriate language around children
• Share sleeping accommodations with children
• Take photographs without proper consent
• Give personal contact details to children

6. Partner NGO Requirements

All NGO partners receiving funding through Sabeeli must:

• Have their own Child Safeguarding Policy in place
• Conduct background checks on staff working with children
• Provide safeguarding training to all staff
• Report any incidents to Sabeeli immediately
• Cooperate fully with any investigations
• Allow Sabeeli to conduct safeguarding audits

7. Reporting Procedures

Any concern about child safeguarding must be reported immediately, even if uncertain.

7.1 What to Report

• Direct disclosure from a child
• Observed signs of abuse
• Concerning behavior by an adult
• Allegations against staff or partners
• Any concerns about child welfare

7.2 Confidentiality

All reports are treated confidentially on a need-to-know basis. The identity of reporters is protected. However, if a child is at risk, authorities may need to be informed.

8. Response Protocols

Upon receiving a report:

1. Immediate Safety: Ensure the child's immediate safety
2. Documentation: Record all details accurately
3. Reporting: Inform designated safeguarding lead
4. Investigation: Conduct appropriate investigation
5. Action: Take necessary disciplinary/legal action
6. Support: Provide support to the child and family
7. Review: Learn from the incident to prevent recurrence

9. Images of Children

When using photographs or videos of children:

• Obtain informed consent from child and parent/guardian
• Use respectful, dignified images
• Never identify children by full name and location together
• Store images securely
• Do not use images that could be misused
• Ensure children are appropriately clothed

10. Monitoring & Review

This policy is reviewed annually and updated as needed. All staff and partners receive training on this policy upon joining and annually thereafter.

Safeguarding compliance is monitored through:

• Regular audits of partner organizations
• Incident tracking and analysis
• Staff training records
• Anonymous feedback mechanisms

11. Contact