Statement on Child Safeguarding and Reporting

SOS Children’s Villages operates in 135 countries and territories including societies devastated by war, political unrest, epidemics or natural disasters. It is set up as a Federation of independent national member associations employing 40,000 local staff member globally. At any one time we provide a family home, education and healthcare to over 84,500 children and young people to which SOS Children’s Villages is either a guardian or child care practitioner. Additionally, over 500,000 children are supported by our family strengthening and emergency response programs.

Children in SOS Children’s Villages’ care are those who have lost parental care or are at risk of losing it. Often they have experienced violence in their past lives, either at the hands of their families, previous care placements or communities. As an unfortunate consequence, some children in our care can be more easily victimized by further violence. The care we provide is also unique in its model – it is night-and- day, long-term in nature and this creates a close, family-like setting for the children. The bonds developed between child and caregiver allow for a vulnerable child to heal, to grow and to forge his/her own future in a stable, reliable and loving environment.

There is no doubt, however, that the intense proximity of our care combined with the challenging needs of the children and the difficult circumstances in which we operate means there is greater child safeguarding risk in our work.

In recognition of this inherent risk, we chose to create our own reporting and record-keeping system for child safeguarding in 2008. Our child safeguarding policies are universal. Both children and staff are trained to report any concerns, safeguarding issues and corruption via a range of reporting mechanisms. All trigger dedicated responding and reporting procedures. SOS Children’s Villages annually records all child safeguarding incidents, with special management and monitoring of those deemed critical.

In 2016, we confirmed 21 cases of sexual coercion and abuse across our federation. These were all cases in which a child or young person was compelled to participate in or interact with a sexual activity by an SOS Children’s Villages staff member. No Canadian or Canada based staff member has been involved. In order to protect the children and young people subjected to these traumatic events we will not comment on individual cases.

As we work on a basis of absolute zero tolerance for child abuse, when any allegation is reported, we investigate and if an allegation is of a criminal nature we immediately refer cases to relevant competent local authorities. We also inform governments and statutory donors according to their requirements. The protection of the children and young people in our care is central to all that we do. Therefore we do not hesitate to suspend staff right away during the period of investigation, and then terminate contracts if sexual abuse allegations are confirmed.

Our approach has proven effective. In September 2017, following an assessment of current child safeguarding practices, SOS Children’s Villages became one of only four organizations in the child care sector globally to be granted Level 1 Certification by Keeping Children Safe (KCS), a well-respected international child safeguarding organization that developed the International Child Safeguarding Standards.

Notes to editors:

Critical child safeguarding cases: We define critical child safeguarding cases as those situations that require disciplinary action, including dismissal, as well as criminal actions that must be reported to competent local authorities.

Reporting to national and statutory authorities: At all times, SOS Children’s Villages’ member associations operate in compliance with the national law. (Our only Canadian village in Surrey, BC, is in full compliance with all provincial regulations and in most cases the systems exceed requirements.) Following an internal or third-party investigation, if an allegation of a criminal nature is confirmed, it is the policy of SOS Children’s Villages to immediately report it to the appropriate enforcement authorities and provide support if an investigation is launched.

Keeping Children Safe (KCS) Level One Certification: Level 1 Certification means that the organisation has developed a child safeguarding framework that, when implemented, protects children from harm and if a child safeguarding incident should occur SOS Children’s Villages has the appropriate response mechanisms in place. Our Child Protection Policy implementation is monitored on annual basis by an assessment tool developed by KCS based on five criteria: the policy in practice, staff compliance, risk assessment and planning for child safeguarding, implementing, monitoring and review.

Reporting: Our child safeguarding policies are universal. Both children and adults are trained to report any concerns, safeguarding issues and corruption via a range of reporting mechanisms. We have a rigorous whistle blower policy that ensures that these mechanisms provide for safety via anonymity and are easily accessible to children and all other stakeholders. Children are also made aware of a dedicated child safeguarding focal person in their location.

Whistleblowing: To ensure accessibility and confidentiality of reporting – especially for children – an easy to use and secure whistleblowing channel was launched on SOS Children’s Villages International website. This channel can be used to report child safeguarding or corruption concerns. These are then managed by our specialist departments for Care and Child Safeguarding and Integrity, Compliance and Legal.

Media contact for English language:
Kristina Ver Foley, International Director of Communications & Brand
phone: +43 (0)512 3310 5685
mobile: +43 (0)676 4568425
[email protected]  
www.sos-childrensvillages.org