Biedrība (BDR): “MIHI ” Reģistrācijas numurs: 40008288264
Language: English
Last update: April 2023
Applicable to All MIHI’s staff, volunteers, visitors, and associates.
Contact: Ibrahim Elrefaei, Director-Ibrahim@mihiyouth.org
Introduction
As a non-governmental organisation working with children and youth, we must do all we can to make sure that the safety and protection of children who engage with us are protected and promoted at all times. The following Child Protection Policy has been produced to ensure that no child is harmed or placed at risk of harm during their involvement with MIHI’s activities and projects. This document has been approved by MIHI’s management and outlines the legal framework, the principles, actions, and code of conduct MIHI works with in order to prevent risks to children’s safety. MIHI would like to acknowledge the guidance and materials offered by Save the Children and The Network for Children’s Rights in developing this Child Protection Policy. Glossary of Key Terms Child: According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is any person below the age of 18 years. Abuse: children and young people should be kept safe from: all forms of exploitation, sexual abuse, neglect, exposure to accidents, and violent images. Staff: Any individual employed by or working on behalf of MIHI , including full- time, part-time, temporary, and contract employees, as well as volunteers and interns.
Legal framework
The following Child Protection Policy has been developed on the basis of law, policy, and guidance that seek to protect children, namely:
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols;
Latvian law
Issuer: Saeima
Adoption: 19.06.1998 Entry into force: 22.07.1998.regarding child protection and promotion of children’s rights.
Application
MIHI’s Child Protection Policy applies to:
- All members of staff and volunteers;
- All those acting on behalf of MIHI, such as consultants or trainers;
- Staff members and representatives from partner Organisations involved in the delivery of MIHI’s programmes;
- All adults involved in any activities organised by MIHI for children, including journalists, donors, and policy-makers
Our principles
- All child abuse involves the abuse of children’s rights.
- All children have equal rights to protection from abuse and exploitation.
- The situation of all children must be improved through the promotion of their rights as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This includes the right to freedom from abuse and exploitation.
- Child abuse is never acceptable.
- We have a commitment to protecting children with/ for whom we work.
- When we work through partners, they have a responsibility to meet minimum standards of protection for children in their programmes.
Our actions
We will meet our commitment to protect children from abuse through the following means:
Awareness: we will ensure that all staff and others are aware of the problem of child abuse and the risks to children.
Prevention: we will ensure, through awareness and good practice, that staff and others minimise the risks to children. All staff and volunteers will have access to a copy of the child protection policy. Recruitment procedures will include checks on suitability for working with young people. The induction will include a briefing on child protection issues.
Reporting: we will ensure that staff and others are clear what steps to take where concerns arise regarding the safety of children. All staff, volunteers, and associates of MIHI should be aware of the appropriate procedures to report a child safeguarding concern, guided by the safety of the child as the paramount consideration. Reporting and responding to child safeguarding concerns should be taken very seriously with a focus on ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information.
Responding: we will ensure that action is taken to support and protect children where concerns arise regarding possible abuse.
In order that the above standards of reporting and responding are met, members of MIHI will also ensure that they:
- take seriously any concerns raised
- take positive steps to ensure the protection of children who are the subject of any concerns
- support children, staff or other adults who raise concerns or who are the subject of concerns
- act appropriately and effectively in instigating or co-operating with any subsequent process of investigation
- are guided through the child protection process by the principle of ‘best interests of the child’
- listen to and takes seriously the views and wishes of children
- work in partnership with parents/carers and/or other professionals to ensure the protection of children.
ensuring equipment is used safely and for its intended purpose
having good awareness of issues to do with safeguarding and child and protection and taking action when appropriate.
- following our principles, policies and procedures
including our policies and procedures for safeguarding and child protection, whistleblowing and online safety
- staying within the law at all times
- modelling good behaviour for children and young people to follow
- challenging all inappropriate behaviour and reporting any breaches of the
- behaviour code to [Ibrahim Elrefaei/ MIHIDirector]
- reporting all concerns about abusive behaviour, following our safeguarding and
- child protection procedures
- this includes inappropriate behaviour displayed by an adult or child and
- directed at anybody of any age.
Data Protection and Informed Consent
MIHI will adhere to data protection procedures, ensuring that any personal
information about children is stored securely and confidentially. Informed consent will be obtained from children and their guardians before collecting, using, or sharing private information or images.
Procedures for External Staff
When external staff, such as photographers or filmmakers, are invited by the
organization to conduct activities with children, they will be briefed on MIHI’s
Child Protection Policy and are required to adhere to the policy
Safer recruitment
MIHI will make sure to recruit staff and volunteers who are suitable to work with children. The recruitment process will include background checks, Self-disclosure forms, Criminal records checks, and references.
MIHI will provide online and face-to-face entry training courses for anyone invited to work with children in our organization.
Policy Review and Update
MIHI’s Child Protection Policy will be reviewed and updated every three years or sooner if significant changes in the organization’s operations or legal requirements exist.
Code of conduct
Staff and others must never:
- hit or otherwise physically assault or physically abuse children develop physical/sexual relationships with children
- develop relationships with children which could in any way be deemed exploitative or abusive
- act in ways that may be abusive or may place a child at risk of abuse.
- use language, make suggestions or offer advice which is inappropriate, offensive or abusive
- behave physically in a manner which is inappropriate or sexually provocative
- have a child/children with whom they are working to stay overnight at their home unsupervised
- sleep in the same room or bed as a child with whom they are working
- do things for children of a personal nature that they can do for themselves
- condone, or participate in, behaviour of children which is illegal, unsafe or abusive
- act in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade children, or otherwise perpetrate any form of emotional abuse
- Discriminate against, show differential treatment, or favour particular children to the exclusion of others.
- This is not an exhaustive or exclusive list. The principle is that staff should avoid actions or behaviour which may constitute poor practice or potentially abusive behaviour.
Article 72. 19.06.1998
Responsibility of employees of children’s institutions and organizers of events
(1) Managers and employees of child care and upbringing, education, health care, social assistance and other institutions where children stay, and organizers of children’s events are responsible for ensuring that the child is safe, that he is provided with qualified services and that other his rights.
(2) The persons mentioned in the first part of this Article shall be held liable for disciplinary or other legal liability for the violations committed.
(3) Persons who:
1) committed violations of this law and other normative acts for the protection of children’s rights;
2) committed immoral behaviour at work or outside of work;
3) punished for crimes related to violence against a person.
(4) When hiring the persons mentioned in the first part of this section, information about their previous activity, competence and experience shall be requested.
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