Child Safeguarding

Ensuring children and young people feel safe and are protected is our primary concern

 

We are committed to making sure children are kept safe from both deliberate and accidental harm and abuse and that our staff and other representatives never exploit their position of trust.

 

SOS Children's Villages does not tolerate any form of child abuse, exploitation, neglect or violation of a child’s privacy and rights. We are committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment for all children, young people, and staff.

 

We work in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, which outline the fundamental rights of children, including the right to be protected. We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse and exploitation and require our staff to always act in the best interest of children.

 

books and colouring crayons

 

Our Safeguarding Policies:

 

Our Child Protection Policy focuses on four key action areas: awareness, prevention, reporting and responding. We place special emphasis on awareness and prevention to safeguard children and improve the quality of care they receive. Reported child safeguarding concerns are taken seriously and addressed without delay. This means that:

 

  • We build the capacities of staff, children, young people, and families to recognize signs of abuse – and how to prevent it.
  • We work to eliminate harmful cultural practices.
  • Any reported child safeguarding incident or concern is carefully assessed and concrete actions are decided and put in place.
  • We give caregivers tools on positive discipline

 

The SOS Children's Villages Canada Code of Conduct, outlines our fundamental duty of care towards children, and our responsibilities to keep children, young people, and staff safe in everything we do.

 

The SOS Children's Villages International Code of Conduct, which is binding for every employee, additionally defines appropriate and expected standards of behaviour towards children for all adults in our organization.

 

How to report misconduct:

 

If you have a safeguarding concern related to SOS Children’s Villages, our staff or representatives, or are concerned about a child’s safety, please click here to report it.

 

All complaints of sexual harassment, exploitation or abuse will be taken seriously and treated with respect. We strive to create an environment in which victims feel free to come forward to raise concerns and allegations. We follow up on concerns and allegations and ensure that the rights of victims, as well as those accused, shall be respected.