Safeguarding Policy

1.0 POLICY STATEMENT

LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE will create a strong and effective enabling environment and a safeguarding culture to promote the rights and protection of beneficiaries, staff, or anyone else impacted by our work.
We firmly believe that no person should experience any form of harm, abuse, violence, neglect, exclusion and exploitation and especially of a sexual nature. LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE will investigate and, where appropriate, respond to any suspected breach of this policy, including taking disciplinary action.
2.0 APPLICATION

This policy applies to all employees of LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE, consultants, and others acting on behalf of LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE, including Board members and partners.


3.0 SAFEGUARDING POLICIES
This policy is meant to be read and applied in conjunction with the following policies of LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE: Mutual respect in the Workplace policy; Sexual exploitation and abuse policy; Whistle blowing policy; Gender equality an diversity policy; Child protection policy; Communications policy and Disability policy
3.1 Mutual Respect

LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE is a multicultural organization of diverse backgrounds, origins, political beliefs, gender, ages, sexual orientation and physical abilities. We are committed to preserving a workplace that is free of all forms of harassment, discrimination and violence, in which all individuals are valued, respected and treated with dignity.

3.2 Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE will ensure that all target groups including refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in its activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development. Sexual exploitation and abuse are acts of gross misconduct and represent grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

3.3 Prevention of Workplace Violence

LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE provides a workplace where violence or threat thereof is not tolerated and will be subject to discipline up to and including termination. The organization will take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent reprisals, threats of reprisal, or further violence against individuals, acting in good faith, who report incidents of workplace violence or act as witnesses.

3.4 Gender Equality and Social Inclusion LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE is committed to provision of equitable access to opportunities and advancement for all peoples regardless of their sex, gender, ability, refugee status or location, ethnicity, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or other identity factors. The organization is committed to achieving gender equality and social inclusion in all of its programming. Gender equality and social inclusion therefore form an essential component in the planning, design, selection, implementation and evaluation of all aspects of LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE programming.

3.5 Children Protection Policy LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE is committed to ensuring that all children, regardless of gender, culture, religion and socio-economic background, have the right to grow up in a safe environment. The organization is committed to safeguarding children from harm or from any form of cruelty.

3.6 Disability Mainstreaming in the Workplace Policy The organization recognizes that individuals with a disability have the right to participate in workplace activities and be accorded the same level of respect, safety and dignity given to all other staff. LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE will reasonably ensure that steps to accommodate disabled candidates and staff in their pursuit, ensuring fair treatment, treatment with dignity and respect. All staff are responsible for creating a non-discriminatory work environment and LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE will take seriously and investigate any claim of discrimination and/or harassment.

4.0 SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS All people leaders across the organization will ensure that LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE will:
4.1 Standards:
Incorporate this policy in induction for employees, consultants, partners and others acting on behalf of LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE. Employees will be required to sign a declaration stating that they have read and understood this policy.
4.2 Awareness and training: Create and maintain mechanisms to systematically make LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE employees, trustees, consultants, partners and others acting on our behalf as well as the communities we serve, aware of measures to prevent and respond to exploitation and abuse (both sexual and otherwise). Training should make employees aware of appropriate behaviors expected and develop their understanding on how to safeguard vulnerable young persons and others.
4.3 Reporting mechanisms: Establish and ensure that mechanisms for reporting sexual exploitation and abuse are accessible, particularly to beneficiaries (young persons) of LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE programs.

4.4 Recruitment:

Aim to prevent people who are deemed unsuitable to work with the vulnerable (youth and children) from gaining access to them through their work. In compliance with applicable laws and to the best of our abilities, we will prevent perpetrators of sexual exploitation and abuse from being employed at or engaged by LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE. We will do this by referencing our commitment to Safeguarding in job adverts and, wherever possible, by undertaking appropriate background and criminal reference checks.

When relevant to the job, interview questions will include specific questions about the candidate’s awareness of safeguarding.

4.5 Community awareness: Ensure measures are taken so that all beneficiaries of LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE programs are made aware of their right to safeguarding, and how to, report any complaints and concerns.

4.6 Partnership:

a) Ensure that when establishing partnerships and contracts, to incorporate this Policy as an attachment and provide a link to it;
b) Include the appropriate language requiring such contracting entities and individuals, and their employees and volunteers to comply with this Policy;

4.7 Representation:

Ensure that all representation of beneficiaries conforms to LIGHT A GIRL INITIATIVE guidelines and policies on use of appropriate photographs and working with the media and communications materials.

4.8 Policy Review:
Undertake a review of this Policy at least every 3 years
4.9 Reporting

4.9.1. Obligation to report:

Should any individual receive any information about, or observe, actual or suspected breach he or she must immediately inform the Human Resource Manager or Safeguarding Focal Point or, if the safeguarding focal point is involved, another senior manager whom they feel comfortable with. Alternatively, concerns may be reported via email or set telephone numbers. This should be done within 48 hours.

4.9.2. Reporting procedures:

Procedures on how to report sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, violence appropriate to the local context, and our “Statement of Commitment to Safeguarding” must be clearly communicated to beneficiaries, staff, partners, members and other stakeholders to ensure that all individuals and communities are aware of these reporting procedures.

5.0. Action:

Breach of this policy by employees will constitute gross misconduct and may result in termination of employment, in accordance with relevant disciplinary procedures. In the case of a breach by other representatives, including partners, this may constitute breach of contract and appropriate action may be taken. As appropriate, those found to be in breach of this policy may also be referred to the relevant authorities for appropriate action, including criminal prosecution, in the abuser’s country of origin (if foreigner) as well as the host country.

5.0. COMMUNICATIONS AND REPRESENTATION

5.1. Photographers and story gatherers will explain to the beneficiary and the parent/guardian of the young persons the kind of purposes it might be used for. No photographs will be used where permission has been denied.

5.2. Personal and physical information about beneficiaries that could be used to identify their location will not be used in any form of public communication. First names only or invented personal names shall be used. The immediate location where the subject lives will not be used unless their explicit, written and informed consent has been given.

5.3. Individuals or partners requesting the use of third party resources such as videos or photographs shall be required to agree in writing as to the proper use of such materials.

5.4. Wherever possible, feedback shall be provided to the young persons or their parent/guardian(s) by sending copies of the photos and case studies (if possible translated into an accessible language).

5.5. Information about a beneficiary’s life, including photographs of them, will be stored safely and in accordance with the data protection policy.