Child Protection Policy
(Appendix A)

Introduction

ABROADER has a zero-tolerance approach to child exploitation or abuse. We take our duty of care seriously and endeavor to provide a safe environment for all. We recognize that it is a shared responsibility to prevent child exploitation and abuse. It is required that those with whom ABROADER collaborates take the necessary steps in safeguarding children, particularly where children are expected to be present in day-to-day operations. It is our responsibility to educate our various stakeholders on the expectations of our organization as well as the requirements of our institutional partners to ensure that all parties are compliant and adhering to all necessary policies of those partners and their respective funding bodies.

Purpose

This policy has been established to provide our staff and partners with a clear company policy in relation to Child Protection and the procedures to follow to help prevent and identify child abuse, as well as to establish clear channels where any concerns can be raised without prejudice. This policy advises on how ABROADER mitigates the risk of children being harmed within its operations and the steps to take in response to any incidents. ABROADER adheres to national, local, and international child protection laws, including those where ABROADER operates and those for whom our projects are facilitated.

Scope

The policy scope applies, but is not limited to:

• ABROADER staff
• External service providers, independent contractors, and accommodation providers
• ABROADER program participants, both staff and students
• ABROADER programs’ host organizations

All staff, service providers, contractors, and program participants are expected to comply with the principles and reporting requirements specified in this Policy. 

ABROADER students are reminded of other obligations that may apply to them i.e: program Code of Conduct.

Providers must also abide by their own relevant policies, international declarations, conventions, agreements, and domestic legal frameworks that relate to child protection. 

Through our partnership agreements, ABROADER will seek our best effort to ensure that Child Protection Policy is upheld in other organizations that we work with.

Principles

ABROADER will maintain the following key principles with regard to our Child Protection Policy:

• Maintain awareness of the laws and regulations of our partner’s locations and take the necessary steps as required by our various funding bodies to ensure compliance.
• Zero tolerance of child exploitation and abuse through training and awareness building. Ensuring anyone involved in ABROADER’s operations understands their duty of care towards child safety. 
• Assessing and managing the risk and impact on children involved in ABROADER’s operations. Ensuring anyone who poses a risk to children is not knowingly engaged directly or indirectly with ABROADER’s programs or operations 
• Ensuring partners and individuals always share responsibility for child protection when they are involved in relevant situations 
• Fairness, transparency, and confidentiality within procedures and decision-making processes in relation to concerns or allegations, regardless of any differences in nationality, beliefs, gender, etc. 
• Upholding the rights of the child and the best interests of the child are primary considerations.

Code of Conduct

BROADER expects all staff, partners, and individuals who are involved with the company’s business operations to maintain a professional role with children, including establishing and maintaining clear professional boundaries that serve to protect everyone from misunderstandings or violations. 

The following behavioral guidelines and expectations should be followed:

• Conduct oneself in a manner that is consistent with the values of ABROADER.

• Provide a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for all children and young people. Do not engage in behavior that is intended to shame, humiliate, belittle, degrade, or exploit children. This includes behavior that is inappropriate, such as harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, discriminatory, and culturally inappropriate.

• Do not smack, hit, or physically assault children, involve them in alcohol or drugs, or touch them in an inappropriate or unnecessary way. 

• Do not use technology or social media inappropriately or for the purpose of exploiting or harassing children. 

• Respect every child equally, regardless of their gender, race, etc. 

• When photographing or filming a child or using children’s images for business operations, obtain consent beforehand and provide an explanation of how the content will be used. 

• Encourage open communication between children, young people, participants, staff, and partners. 

• Immediately report any concerns as per this policy, disclosing all information available and to one’s knowledge.

• Stay accountable, and do not put oneself in uncompromising positions where allegations could be made. Ensure, where possible, another adult is present and does not invite unaccompanied children into a home/hotel or other private location unless there is an immediate risk of injury or physical danger to the child. 

• Comply with all local, national, and international child protection legislation, including labor laws.

• Be a positive role model to children.

Risk Assessment

ABROADER recognizes there may be enhanced risks to children in the delivery of certain programs. ABROADER staff and partners must proactively assess and manage risk to children in line with ABROADER’s risk and decision-making processes and documents to mitigate the potential for harm and wrongdoing. Activities and programs that specifically involve working directly with children on a day-to-day basis are considered a higher risk and therefore require more stringent child safeguarding procedures, such as individual background checks and working with children certificates.

Reporting

It is mandatory that all individuals within the scope of this policy report any witnessed, suspected, or alleged incidents of child exploitation or abuse, or any breach of this policy, immediately. All concerns or reports will be taken seriously and must be dealt with promptly in a confidential manner that does not harm the victim or the person reporting the abuse. Any incidents should be reported directly to a member of senior management. ABROADER will ensure that the correct local law enforcement channels are notified if a crime is involved in the incident, as well as insurance bodies to provide the individual with any necessary support.

Compliance and Assurance

ABROADER will monitor compliance through a range of approaches, including performance assessments, reviews, non-government organization accreditation processes, and due diligence checks in compliance with local practices and regulations.

Non-compliance with requirements may lead to suspending or terminating any active agreement with a partner.

Supporting Documentation

• ABROADER Program Policies
• ABROADER Agreement with Host Organization

Implementation and Date Effect

The Policy will be implemented incrementally starting on September 29, 2023. All employees are required to adhere to and support the implementation of the policy. All existing employees and partners of ABROADER will be informed about their role in the implementation of the policy. All new employees, partners, or individuals will be notified within their agreement signed with ABROADER.