Child Protection Policies
Rise Foundation will report any offences against children appropriately.
Forms of Offences
Physical:
Any direct acts of physical injury upon a child or a young person which are not the result of an accident. This can also include tasks which exceed the capacity of the child and which he/she cannot mange safely.
Sexual:
Includes all forms of sexual acts perpetrated upon a child by another person. This issue is more complex when the sexual act is perpetrated by an older child or of similar age groups. The essential issue Is of exploitation of a child and involves a misuse of power, services, age and authority. This can also Include exposure or failure to prevent the exposure of children to all forms of pornography and sexual acts.
Neglect:
This relates to the persistent failure to prevent the exposure of a child to danger or failure to carry out important aspects of care, nutrition, medical care which result in significant impairment of child’s health or development.
Emotional:
Persistent and psychological Ill treatment which impacts the child’s behavior and development. It involves a denial of normal respect, persistent personal criticism, humiliation or discrimination (gender, religion, region, caste, ethnic background),
Guiding Principles of Child Protection for Rise Foundation
Rise Foundation,
1.1. Believes that all children have a right to protection from abuse irrespective of race, social and economic background, age, gender, skin color, disability, religion, caste or beliefs.
1.2. Believes that offence against child, abuse and exploitation is not acceptable in any form. Keeping silent and inaction is also wrong, if it is known that a child is being abused or exploited.
1.3. Believes in the importance of child protection, so that not only are children protected from abuse by Rise Foundation team members, donors, and volunteers, but also that preventative measures can be taken to protect the team’s own integrity.
1.4. Believes that children have the right to participation through any form of expression (in accordance with their evolving capacities) and be heard. Therefore where possible children will also be included as stakeholders in research and other relevant reports/evaluations.
1.5. All committee (or board of directors) members, staff, and volunteers agree to this policy.
The Role and Duty of Rise Foundation team members in Child Protection
➤ Each team member of Rise Foundation by nature of their work with children is committed to protecting and ensuring child rights. They will be aware of sensitive information which maybe called upon child protection agencies.
➤The team member of Rise Foundation must be aware of violations of child rights in their area of work. Concerns must be immediately reported to the workers, line manger who in turn will report it to the Program Director of Rise Foundation.
➤ Confidentiality must be maintained of all child records coming to or generated from Rise Foundation.
➤ The workers of Rise Foundation must never act alone or make a decision alone where child abuse is suspected. Decisions are to be taken collectively or by those empowered to take specific decisions. The only exception is where there is an immediate threat to a child’s life and the worker can intervene without endangering his/her own life or the child’s. Always engage a trusted community member/stakeholder as a witness of our actions and intentions.
Guidelines for Activities
- Plan and organize the work and the workplace so as to minimize/reduce risks to children’s safety
- Be aware of the situations bearing potential risk to children and ensure these are supervised properly
- Ensure that a culture of openness exists within the team to enable any issues/concerns to be raise and addressed
- Ensure that children are able to get a platform to voice their concerns/ issues and these be addressed effectively
- Empower children to discuss their concerns, understand their rights, what is acceptable and what is not and what they can do in case of a problem
Inappropriate Behavior/Activities
➤Use of alcohol and intoxicants within the short stay home and/ or near the children
➤Involving children in work that hampers their overall physical and mental well being
➤ Spending excessive time alone with children
➤Assault and/or abuse children in any form
➤ Develop physical/sexual relationships with children
➤Place a child at risk of abuse
➤ Discriminate against children based on caste, gender, class, religion, colors or any other forms of exclusion
➤ Act in ways to humiliate, shame or degrade children or perpetrate any form of emotional abuse