SafeGuarding Policy
AFRICA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Developed date: 15 December 2020
Approved date: 31 December 2020
Effective from: 1 January 2021
Review date: 1 January 2023
Table of Contents
African Youth Development Association (AYODA) was founded as a Non-Governmental Organization in January 1st 2003, by a group of youth in Borama Awdal region Somaliland. AYODA works in collaboration with the Somaliland government, UN, international agencies, and local organizations. AYODA believes that the communities can create sustainable solutions for the problem that they encounter. It is a registered by the Attorney General and Ministry of National Planning and Development.
The aim of the policy and procedure is to regulate how we work as an organisation so that the children with which we come in contact (either directly or indirectly) are safeguarded and havetheir well-being promoted, and that our actions ,while implementing programmes or institutional activities do not cause any harmto children.
2. Principles
This policy and the entire Safeguarding policy is guided by the following principles:
Safeguarding
All children have equal rights to protection and to have their wellbeing and participation promoted.
All actions regarding child safeguarding must be taken in the best interest of children. This includes an understanding that in all our pro-grammes and activities we must ensure that we respect children’s rights and do not cause harm
Everybody has a responsibility for safeguarding. This policy is mandatory for all those who work for or on behalf of AYODA , including staff, volunteers and partners. Although training, advice and support will be provided, everyone should actively participate so that they can carry out their responsibilities towards safeguardingchildren
We work in a transparent and open way where child safeguarding is made a priority, recognizing that situations of abuse and harm are able to flourish when staff, volunteers, partners, children, families and community members do not feel able to raise their concerns
All reports of concern regarding the safety and protection of a child will be taken seriously. Where necessary, appropriate steps will be taken to protect the child and to take action against the alleged perpetrator. This may include referrals to law enforcement and child protection agencies. In relation to allegations against staff, volunteers and partners, action may also include the suspension or termination of engagement or any type of cooperation
We maintain confidentiality and do not disclose personal details of those involved in child protection concerns,5 including the names of those raising concerns unless it is necessary to pass on information to ensure that a child is protected (for example where a child may need specialist services or where a criminal offence may have been committed).
For the PSEA policies and practices to be effective in reducing the risks to beneficiaries and communities, all at AYODA must share the responsibility for implementation and improvement. As such, a failure at one level of the organization constitutes a failure at all levels of the organization.
AYODA effectively communicates with all staff, associates, and partners in simple and accessible language to create a positive and accessible culture where responsibilities for PSEA are clear.
AYODA provides assessment, reflection and feedback mechanisms to inform the organisation of any improvements that can be made to policies andpractices.
These mechanisms include quarterly incident reviews, regular safeguarding audits, as well as regular policy review and refresher training.
AYODA creates a work environment where the principles of dignity and respect for all staff, associates, and partners, in all locations are at the heart of what the organisation does. Included in this are the principles of being non-judgemental when hearing the concerns and complaints of survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse.
AYODA has zero tolerance for any forms of sexual exploitation and abuse.
AYODA Is committed to confidentiality and information will not be shared outside of the Safeguarding Committee unless it is absolutely necessary, and the safety of the person involved is a concern.
The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly children, at risk adults and beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with Africa Youth Development Association (AYODA) African Youth Development Association does not allow any supplier, sub-contractor, agent, or any individual engaged by AYODA in any form of child abuse, maltreatment, or poor safeguard practice. A child is anyone underage of 18 and call children have an equal right to protection regardless of any personal characteristic including their age, gender, culture, racial origin, religious belief and sexual identity.
This policy applies to all persons workingfor us or on behalf in any capacity,including employees at alllevels
,board members,, volunteers ,internsagents ,contractors ,external consultants, third-party representatives
,suppliers and business partner.
Child abuse constitutes "all forms of physical/or emotional ill treatment, sexual abuse, neglect,negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity on the context of a relationship or responsibility, trust or power( World health organisation).
3. Definitions
Child safeguarding: measures taken by AYODA to ensure that children with whom the organisation comes into contact are not subjected to willful or intentional physical, sexual, emotional and verbal abuse, exploitation or neglect by the organization’s personnel. This involves proper risk assessment at project level and the putting in place of systematic preventative measures to reduce risk of harm to children.
Child Protection: procedures put in place to respond to all allegations and/or suspicions of child abuse. The protection and safety of the child is the paramount concern. is committed to taking whatever action is necessary to ensure that children receive the highest standard of care available.
Personnel: includes all staff (those with contracts, interns and volunteers), Board members, consultants doing work on behalf of AYODA, as well as any other person AYOD considers to be legally recruited by the organization. It also refers to sub-contracted staff from other agencies (including volunteers) and members of the refugee community who are hired (paid or voluntarily) to work with AYODA.
Child Abuse and Exploitation: the use of one’s position of power, authority, office or trust to profit from children by means of coercion, threats, force, inducement or other similar methods, with or without promises of assistance to them or their families/caregivers.
Physical Abuse: consists of actions that intentionally inflictinjury on a child’s body, such as hitting, beating, kicking, pinching, burning etc.
Sexual Abuse – includes the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, including inappropriate touching, use of verbal sexual innuendos, using force or coercion to solicit sexual acts. Note: consent given by a child is not a defense.
Sexual Exploitation – is the abuse of a child through the use of one’s position of power or trust to profit sexually from a child, sometimes in exchange for or with promises to provide them with any type of assistance. In this case, the child feels that he or she is powerless and has no other choice but to agree. It also refers to the soliciting of children to others for the purpose of commercial gain.
Note: consent given by a child is not a defense
Emotional and Verbal Abuse – includes verbal insults, intimidation, threats, bullying and any actions of a discriminatory nature.
Neglect – occurs when a child suffers significant harm or injury because AYODA personnel willfully omit to perform their duty or because of their position in office, they use their power to withhold rightful assistance to them.
4. What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing, and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.
In our sector, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at-risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our staff or programmes. Further definitions relating to safeguarding are provided below.
5. AYODA Minimum Standards and Guidelines for Child Safeguarding
AYODA acknowledges that the issue of Child Safeguarding is a global challenge. This policy provides minimum standards and best practice guidelines that should be adhered to by AYODA personnel globally, to ensure that children are safe within all activities undertaken by the organisation.
This policy shall be implemented in compliance with the national laws of the country of operation, the AYODA Code of Conduct and the AYODA Human Resources Policy. All AYODA personnel will be required to sign and adhere to this policy.
6. Procedures for Responding to Allegations
The AYODA Child Safeguarding Officer (Board member) will be the focal persons for receiving reports and responding to any complaints related to child safeguarding issues. Human Resources Policy and in compliance with the national laws of the country of operation. In particular:
-Any allegations raised or reported must be forwarded directly to the Child Safeguarding Officer.
- The Child Safeguarding Officer will liaise with the board members on how to share this information, with whom it will be shared and the reporting procedures.
- Basic information is required to determine the exact nature of a concern or allegation and to make decisions on next steps. If this basic information is not available at the time the report is made, an initial ‘fact-finding’ exercise should be undertaken as a matter of urgency. The initial fact-finding exercise involves asking basic questions to establish what is being reported and gain a clear understanding of the complaint (as per details required in the Reporting Form). Although it is sometimes referred to as a preliminary investigation, it should not be confused with a formal investigation, which should only be carried out by the appropriate and trained authorities.
-Where it is established that the allegation constitutes a violation of the national laws (especially sexual offences), the matter must be immediately reported to the local authorities for further investigations.
-In addition, they will make an objective assessment on whether to involve other external agencies such as the local health officers, or appropriate agencies, to ensure that the best interests of the child/children involved are prioritized.
- It is important to reassure staff that no negative action will be taken against staff or volunteers who report, in good faith, information indicating perceived misconduct.
- Confidentialitymust be respected at all times during the process, in order to encourage a culture of good practice around reporting suspicions and concerns about child abuse. The accused must understand that they cannot request (or at least receive) the identity of the person raising the concern.
- All reports that are made to the Child Safeguarding Officer must be put in writing, including the dates, times and signed testimonies of all parties involved, and acted upon without delay until they are finalized.
(See AYODA Report Form – Appendix 1)