keeping chilren safe

Keeping children safe Standards for child protection Keeping children safe Standards for child protection The wider picture “Child abuse is a global problem that is deeply rooted in cultural, economic and social practices.” (WHO 2002) • 13 million children are orphaned as a result of AIDS • 1 million children worldwide live in detention • 180 million children are engaged in the worst form of child labour • 1.2 million children are trafficked every year • 2 million children are exploited via prostitution and pornography • 2 million children are estimated to have died as a direct result of armed conflict since 1990 • 300’000 child soldiers at any one time (UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children 2004) Keeping children safe Standards for child protection Definitions Definition of Child abuse Child abuse is a general term used to describe where the child may experience harm, usually as a result of failure on the part of a parent/carer or organisation/ community to ensure a reasonable standard of care and protection or by the deliberate harmful acts. Research studies and inquiry reports have widened our awareness to the abuse of children by peers, siblings and those employed or entrusted with their care in both community and residential settings. The report into allegations that aid workers were sexually exploiting women and children has highlighted concern about child protection issues in developing countries and placed a duty of care to beneficiaries on humanitarian and other non-government organisations. Categories of child maltreatment or child abuse • Physical abuse or physical injury • Sexual abuse • Emotional abuse • Neglect and negligent treatment • Sexual and commercial exploitation Definition of Child protection Child protection in its widest sense is a term used to describe the actions that individuals, organisations, countries and communities take to protect children from acts of maltreatment (abuse) and exploitation, e.g., domestic violence, child labour, commercial and sexual exploitation and abuse, HIV, physical violence… It can also be used as a broad term to describe the work that organisations undertake in particular communities, environments or programmes that protect children from the risk of harm due to the situation in which they are living. Keeping children safe Standards for child protection Within our own organisations Standard 1 A written policy on keeping children safe Standard 2 Putting the policy into practice Standard 3 Preventing harm to children Standard 4 Written guidelines on behaviour towards children Standard 5 Meeting the standards in different locations Standard 6 Equal rights of all children to protection Standard 7 Communicating the ‘keep children safe’ message Standard 8 Education and training for keeping children safe Standard 9 Access to advice and support Standard 10 Implementation and monitoring of the standards Standard 11 Working with partners to meet the standards Overview of standards • To promote good practice, challenge practice that is abusive to children and ensure everyone works together to create a safe environment for children. • To protect children from abuse and exploitation including abuse by staff or other representatives. • To provide targets for agencies to aim at when assessing and developing their organisations internal child protection measures. Purpose of standards [...]... concerns about the safety a child The organisation is protected By implementing these standards, organisations make clear their commitment to keeping children safe The standards will help them to move towards best practice in this area and deter potential abusers from joining the organisation The keeping children safe standards for child protection A written policy on keeping children safe Putting the... policy on keeping children safe Why The policy communicates that the agency is committed to keeping children safe It makes clear to everyone that children must be protected, helps create a safe and positive environment for children, and shows that the organisation is taking its duty of care seriously Examples: Plan International; Tdh Foundation Standard 1 – a written policy on keeping children safe Plan... consultants Volunteers Intern Refugees Others (please name) Keeping children safe self - audit tool The self - audit tool is an ideal way to measure how far (or near!) your organisation is from meeting the standards on making children safe, and where you need to improve Keeping children safe Standards for child protection More on: www.keepingchildrensafe.org.uk ... children safe message Preventing harm to children Education and training for keeping children safe Written guidelines on behaviour towards children Access to advice and support Meeting the standards in different locations Implementation and monitoring of the standards Equal rights of all children to protection Working with partners to meet the standards Standard 1 – a written policy on keeping children safe . making children safe, and where you need to improve. Keeping children safe self - audit tool Keeping children safe Standards for child protection More on: www.keepingchildrensafe.org.uk . situation in which they are living. Keeping children safe Standards for child protection Within our own organisations Standard 1 A written policy on keeping children safe Standard 2 Putting the policy. written policy on keeping children safe What All agencies that work with directly or indirectly with people under the age of 18 should have a written policy on keeping children safe. Why The policy