PAD

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURE

June,2019

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

 ACRONYMS

HVC Highly Vulnerable Children

PAD Positive Action for Development

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SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION AND KEY BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1.1 Introduction

The purpose of this policy is to prevent any and all forms of child abuse by PAD staff, partners
and volunteers and to provide timely and effective assistance to the child in cases where abuse
has occurred. Our efforts to prevent and respond to abuse cases will contribute to the
Government of Ethiopia’s desired outcome for child protection as set forth in the GoE OVC
Service Standards: “Child receives legal information and access to legal services as needed,
including birth registration, will writing, property inheritance, and is protected from all forms of
abuse and neglect.”

PAD believes that the welfare of children is always the most important consideration. We are
committed to providing children with care and protection and believe in the right of all children to
be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, as set forth in the UN
Convention of the Rights of the Child:

“States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational
measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse,
neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse.1”

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child identifies some of the problems

children face:

“Noting, with concern, that the situation of most African children remains critical due to
the unique factors of their socio-economic, cultural, traditional and developmental
circumstances, natural disasters, armed conflicts, exploitation and hunger, and, on account,
of the child's physical and mental immaturity he/she needs special safeguards and care2”

With guidance from these documents, PAD will: Work within the legal framework of Ethiopia and

contribute to national efforts to protect children.

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Collaboration with relevant government agencies/ officials at all levels through strengthening child
protection welfare systems (e.g. referral systems) and enhancing the capacity of key stakeholders
to protect children (e.g. providing training). Collaborate with caregivers and traditional community
leadership to protect children within their homes and communities PAD’s child protection efforts
will adhere to the Model Child Protection Policy and Guidelines of the African Child Policy Forum
(endorsed by Ethiopia in 2010) and the Strategy and Operational Plan for Integrated &
Multi-Sectoral Response to Violence Against Women and Children and Child Justice in Ethiopia
(Federal Ministry of Justice, 2010)

1.2 Definitions of Key Terminology

a. Child

For the purposes of this policy, a child is defined as anyone under 18-years-old, in line with the UN
Conventions on the Rights of the Child and the Government of Ethiopia.

b. Child Abuse

According to the World Health Organization, child abuse constitutes, “all forms of physical and/or
emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other
exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or
dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.”

A person may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm.
Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional (e.g. school) or community setting; by
individuals known to them, or more rarely, by a stranger.

There are four main categories of abuse:

Physical abuse: Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or
scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child, including by
fabricating the symptoms of, or deliberately causing, ill health to a child.

Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such as to
cause severe and adverse effects on a child’s emotional development~ It may involve: conveying to
children that they are worthless or unloved; inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the
needs of another person; age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on
children; causing children frequently to feel frightened; or the exploitation or corruption of
children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill-treatment of a child, though it
may occur alone.

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Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities,
whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact,
including penetrative (i.e. rape) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities,
such as involving children in production or viewing of pornographic material or encouraging children
to behave in sexually inappropriate ways. Children involved in commercial sex work are victims of
sexual abuse, whether they perceive themselves as victims or not.

Neglect: Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical or emotional needs,
likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development, such as failing to
provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, or failure to provide affection, nurturance, stimulation
and encouragement.

c. Child Protection

Child protection is a broad term to describe philosophies, policies, standards, guidelines and
procedures to protect children from both intentional and unintentional harm.

d. Child Protection Policy

A child protection policy is a statement of intent that demonstrates a commitment to protecting

children from harm and makes clear to all what is required in relation to the protection of children.
It helps to create a safe and positive environment for children and to show that the organization is
taking seriously its duty and responsibility to protect children.

d. Duty of Care

The term ‘duty of care’ identifies the moral and legal responsibility that all organizations working
with children, either directly or indirectly, have to protect children within their care from both
intentional and unintentional harm. This responsibility to protect includes preventing abuse from
happening by creating child-safe environments which minimize the risk of abuse, and responding
immediately and appropriately where abuse does happen.

e. Staff

The term “staff” is used broadly and includes employees, trustees, interns, volunteers, and
consultants~ Employee: A person who works for a salary
Trustee: A member of a board who has been elected or appointed to direct the funds and policy of
an NGO
Intern: A person who works for a specific amount of time as an apprentice or trainee to gain
vocational experience
Volunteer: A person who works for no salary
Consultant: An expert who offers their skills and experience for a specific task and during a

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limited amount of time.

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1.3 Our Beliefs, Objectives, and Goal

a. Beliefs

We have developed this policy because we believe that:

Child abuse is never acceptable.
All children have equal (opportunity) rights to protection from abuse regardless of race, religion,
language, culture, political persuasion, social group, disability, medical or psychiatric condition,
gender or sexual orientation.
Everyone has a responsibility to protect and promote the welfare of children (even those who do
not work directly with children).
We have a duty of care for the children we serve.
Children have the right to have their views and wishes taken into account in all matters affecting
them. The best interests of the child should always be the most important consideration.

b. Objectives

Overall Objective:

Work within the legal environment of Ethiopia and contribute to national efforts to protect
children

Specific Objectives:

• Raise awareness of child protection among staff, children, families and communities
• Support staff to undertake the care and protection of children and to set a good example to
others Prevent child abuse from happening by ensuring that PAD follow the set standards and
create child-safe environments
• Ensure that where child abuse does happen, damage to the child is minimized and appropriate
action is taken to care for and rehabilitate the child
c. Goal

To ensure that all children served by PAD are cared for in an environment where they are safe,
protected and where their developmental needs are appropriately addressed.

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SECTION 2: CHILD PROTECTION STANDARDS AND
STRATEGIES
These standards and strategies are designed to prevent child abuse by ensuring that PAD creates
child-safe environments for the children with whom it works:

2.1 Staff Awareness, Training, and Support

• PAD staff will be given a copy of the program’s child protection policy.

• Staffs who raise concerns regarding child abuse will be taken seriously and supported by senior
management~
• Emotional support and where possible, counseling, will be available to staf f who find the
subject of child abuse and protection particularly difficult, and to those who are
directly involved in a specific child protection case.
• PAD will provide ongoing staff training, learning opportunities and support as appropriate to
ensure staffs are able to uphold their commitment to child protection.
• PAD will incorporate child rights and raise child protection awareness into all program activities,
promoting its importance to the community wherever possible.

2.2 Management Structure

Management at all levels will show support for child protection issues and will make time for and
encourage communication and feedback in relation to child protection.
2.3 Code of Conduct

The following Code of Conduct clarifies what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior from
program staff towards children in order to protect children from abuse, and to protect staff from
unfounded accusations of child abuse. Staff should interpret this code in the spirit of transparency
and common sense, with the best interest of the child as the best consideration.

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NEVER:

¾Spend excessive time alone with children away from others

¾Have children with whom you are working to stay overnight at your home un
supervised ¾Sleep in the same bed as a child/children with whom you are working
¾Do things of a personal nature that a child can do for him/herself, including dressing
and bathing ¾Hit or otherwise physically assault or physically abuse children
¾Develop relationships with children which could in any way be deemed abusive or exploitative
¾Develop physical/sexual relationships with children (regardless of the age of majority or age
of consent locally)
¾Behave in a manner with children that is inappropriate or sexually provocative
¾Engage in or allow sexually provocative games with children to take place
¾Use language, make suggestions or offer advice which is inappropriate, offensive or abusive
¾Act in ways intended to humiliate, belittle or shame children, or otherwise perpetuate
any form of emotional abuse
¾Neglect children; failing to meet their needs through adequate care
¾Discriminate against, show differential treatment, or favor particular children to the
exclusion of others ¾Act in any way that may be abusive or may place a child at risk of abuse
¾Knowingly fail to protect a child from abuse
¾Fail to report any suspicions of child abuse to your CPO or a member of senior management

¾Condone or participate in behavior of children that is illegal or unsafe

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Note: This is not an exhaustive or exclusive list. The principle is that staff should avoid actions or
behavior which may constitute poor practice or potentially abusive behavior.

ALWAYS:
¾ Be aware of situations that may present risks to children (for example, situations where
children are particularly vulnerable to harm) and try to avoid them. If unavoidable, take
action to minimize the risks ¾ Plan and organize your work and workplace so that risks to
children are managed

¾ Empower children – discuss with them their rights, what is acceptable and unacceptable
and what they can do if there is a problem
¾ Be attentive to emotional, behavioral and medical indicators of child abuse
¾ Ensure that a culture of openness exists so that any issues or concerns children have can
be raised and discussed
¾ Ensure that a sense of accountability exists among staff so that poor practice or
potentially abusive behavior does not go unchallenged
¾ Involve children in decision-making, particularly where the decisions affect their lives
¾ Communicate with children in a way that is appropriate to their age, understanding and
preference ¾ Listen to children, take them seriously and treat them with sensitivity,
dignity and respect
¾ Be a positive role model for the children you work with and for the adults who see the
way in which you interact with children
¾ Guarantee that the best interests of each child are respected over any other
considerations, including the need for advocacy and the promotion of child rights.
¾ Work in partnership with parents/caregivers and other professionals to ensure the
protection of children

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TRY TO:
¾ Carry out work with children in a public environment in view of
others. ¾ Avoid situations where you and a child/children are
completely unobserved

¾ Be accompanied by a second adult when working with children wherever

possible ¾ Avoid holding hands and other physical contact with a child

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 2.1 Communications Guidelines

The following standards apply to any and all communications regarding children:

¾Children must be asked for their permission before photos are taken of them except in
exceptional circumstances. Where photographs may cause additional harm, there
shouldn’t be photographs at all (e.g. when children are being sexually exploited)
¾Permission of child/parent/caregiver/responsible NGO will be acquired before any images
of a child are used for publicity, fundraising or awareness campaigns.
¾In photographs and images, children will be appropriately clothed and not in sexually
provocative poses. ¾Children will be encouraged to give their own accounts as much as
possible rather than having others speaking on their behalf.
¾Children will be represented accurately with an emphasis on dignity; manipulation and
sensationalizing
images and text will be avoided. Degrading, victimizing or shaming images and text will
be avoided. ¾Images and text which make inaccurate generalizations and/or discriminate in
anyway will be avoided. ¾Information that identifies the location of a child and therefore
could put them at risk will not be put in
communications.
¾Visitors and consultants must be accompanied by a staff member.
¾Under no circumstances will the visitor or consultant be left alone with a child
or children. ¾Information on where to go for reporting an alleged act of
2.2 Confidentiality
violence against a child
¾will be made available to child beneficiaries, parents, legal guardians ,consultants,
individuals,
If a member of stafforganization(s)
is concerned or their
that representative(s)
a child Ensure
they are working that
with is parents or or
at risk of legal
is suffering
guardians are informed and give their authenticated written consent for the
from abuse, they must report this to PAD senior management staff. The management staff will collection
of information
then decide among
who else needs to children.
be informed on a strictly need to know basis in the best interests of
the child, in order to protect the child and their right to confidentiality. All parties making reports
on alleged act of violence against a child or their representatives are supported and protected
with complete confidentiality.
2.3 Consequences of Staff Misconduct

If any member of staff is suspected of violating PAD child protection policy in any way, they will
be suspended from all activities and association with the organization while an independent
investigation is carried out. The decision to suspend must be taken in combination by a senior
manager and is not open to challenge.

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If outcomes of the independent investigation determine that someone associated with PAD has
committed acts in regard to children (within or outside the context of PAD’s work) which are criminal
or contravene the principles and standards contained in this document, PAD will take immediate
disciplinary action(s). These may include:

¾ Staff: termination
¾ Trustees: termination of Board membership
¾ Volunteers and interns: terminating the relationship with PAD
¾ Consultants/ Contractors: termination of contract
¾ All: reporting /criminal prosecution
When investigating child protection violation concerns or complaints, the process should always be
fair and unbiased. Any adverse conclusions will be open to challenge through an appeals process.
This means that if a staff member, trustee, intern, volunteer, consultant or contractor has been
accused of violating the Child Protection Policy and the complaint has been upheld as a result of an
investigation, the accused has the right to appeal this decision. An appeal would mean that a second
party would re-examine the evidence to accept or reject the decision. The decision from the
appeals process would be considered final.

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SECTION 3: GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR
RESPONDING TO CHILD PROTECTION VIOLATIONS

These guidelines and procedures are designed to ensure that where child abuse does

happen, damage to the child is minimized and prompt and appropriate action is taken to

care for and rehabilitate the child. These guidelines and procedures must be followed

whenever: there is suspicion that a child is being abused :you identify emotional, behavioral

or physical indicators of abuse and/or you suspect the abuser an allegation is made that a

child is being abused: someone else tells you that a child is being abused and/or the abuser

admits abuse to you child abuse is witnessed: you witness abuse a child discloses abuse: the

child tells you s/he is being abused It is the duty and responsibility of any person who has

concerns about the safety of a child (even those who do not work directly with children, or

in the area of child protection) to report their concerns as soon as possible (and always

within 24 hours) so that further investigations can be made. In responding to child

protection violations it is essential that: Concerns raised regarding child abuse are

responded to immediately, professionally and appropriately. Positive steps to ensure the

protection of children who are the subject of any concerns are always taken. Children who

are the subject of any concerns are kept informed of any child protection measures that

may have to be taken and involved in the decision making process, according to their age,

level of maturity and capacities.

The child’s best interest is the most important factor when child protection measures are

considered. The identity of individuals who report cases of child abuse will be

temporarily protected, if needed.

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3.1. How to respond to a Child’s Disclosure of abuse
Things to do:

Stop whatever you are doing and listen to the child attentively
Accept what the child says Keep calm and don’t panic
Do not appear shocked or surprised
Do not seek help while the child is talking to you
Look at the child directly
Assure the child that they are not to blame for the abuse
Be honest
Let the child know that you will have to tell someone, but reassure them that only those who need
to know will be told, and that it is in their best interest
Try not to repeat the same questions to the child
Never push for information
Never ask leading questions (questions which encourage a child to give one answer over
another) Do not fill in words, finish in sentences, or make assumptions
Be aware that the child may have been threatened
Make certain you distinguish between what the child has actually said and the inferences you may
have made. Accuracy is very important in this stage of the procedure
Do not permit personal doubt to prevent you from reporting the allegation to your organization’s
CPO Things to

say:

“I believe you~”
“I am going to try to help you~”
“I am glad that you told me~”
“It’s not your fault~” child can never be held responsible for being abused by others.

Things not to say:

“You should have told someone before~”

“I can’t believe it! I’m shocked!”
“No, not him/her, he/she is a friend of mine~”
“I won’t tell anyone else~”
“Why? When? How? Where? Who?”

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At the end of the disclosure:

Reassure the child that it was right to tell you

Let them know what you are going to do next, for example, that you will speak to the CPO as they
will know what to do to help the child in the best way
Immediately seek help, first from the designated CPO
Write down accurately what the young person has told you using the child protection reporting
form. Sign and date your notes. Keep all notes in a secure and confidential place for an indefinite
period. These are essential in helping your organization/other child protection organizations/the
police decide what is best for the child and as evidence as necessary
Seek help for yourself if you feel you need supp

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SECTION 4: MONITORING AND EVALUATING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

4.1. Monitoring

The implementation of the Child Protection Policy needs to be monitored and evaluated regularly

PAD management committee will monitor all reports of child abuse and subsequent child protection

cases that occur within its programs and projects. PAD’s monitoring of child abuse will be ongoing

and will include recording the scale of the problem, recognizing patterns and trends, identifying

particular risks to children, and most importantly, evaluating the effectiveness of its policy on child

protection.

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 ANNEX

Annex A: PAD Child Abuse Reporting Form

If you are worried that a child is being abused you must report your concerns directly to your

organization most appropriate person. You must also complete this form to the best of your

knowledge either before or after reporting the incident .This form will be kept in a secure and

confidential place and the information on it only shared with those who need to know based on the

best interests of the child.

Job Title: __________________________

Location: ___________________________ Your Contact Details: __________

Your relationship to the child, if relevant: ______________________________

About the child: Name:___________ Circle: Male Female Age: _____________

With whom does the child lives: ___________ Child’s addre ss: _______________

About your concern: Are you reporting your own concerns or passing on those of someone else?

If you are passing on the concerns of someone else, include their name and their

Please give a brief description of why you are concerned. Include dates, times and the location of

any specific incidents, name of any witnesses and names(s) of alleged abuser:

Have you spoken to the child? If so, what was said?

Where any relevant observations made (emotional, physical or behavioral indicators)?

Any other relevant information not previous covered?

Have you reported this concern to anyone else? If so, give details of who you have spoken or

reported to (name of person, name of organization, their contact details, date and time which you

spoke to them).

Is the child in immediate danger? Yes ~ No ~

Are you in immediate danger?

Does the child require medical attention? _____________________________

I confirm that they information I have given is true and complete to the best of my knowledge:

Signature: ________________________________ Date________________

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 For the PAD officer:
Outline the immediate action taken (e.g., parents or caregivers informed of the abuse, child
was moved from their home, given medical treatment, etc.). If further action was not
taken, you must state why.
Annex B: PAD Post-abuse Care Planning Form

If a it is confirmed that a child has been abused, they must decide on an appropriate

course of action that works towards the longer term rehabilitation of the child. This

course of action must be recorded on this form and the officer must oversee and monitor

the child’s progress~

About the child: Name: ______________ Circle: Male Female Age: _________

With whom does the child live: _______________Child’s address: __________

Outline the child’s current situation:

Outline what would help the child to recover from the abuse (e.g., medical
treatment, a new place to live, involvement in youth activities, counseling, etc.):

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Care Plan: List the actions you will take or oversee to support the child:

Action: By when: Key

person:

1.

3.

4.

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4.

Signatures of child, CPO and child’s parent/caregiver as app ropriate :( Sign and print

name)

Child: ___________________________ Date: ___________ Signature: ___________

CPO:____________________________ Date: ___________ Signature: ___________

Parent/caregiver: __________________________ Date:

Signature:

Signaturesofothersinvolvedinthechild’scareandrehabilitationasappropriate:

Name: _________________________ Signature: ___________ Date: ___________

Relationship to child: _____________________Name: _________________________

Name: _________________________ Signature: ___________ Date: ____________

Relationship to child: ___________________________________________________

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