1. INTRODUCTION
Clean Up Kenya is committed to safeguarding the well-being of all the children and young people with whom our project comes into contact. Our policy on child protection is in accordance with applicable Kenyan and international laws for the protection and enhancement of the welfare of children.
We are committed to promoting these rights in our projects by vigorously applying the doctrine of prevention through good practice and in collaboration with our partners.
2. PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY
Talking about child protection isn’t fun. But it’s 100% necessary. Keeping children safe is everyone’s responsibility.
Organizations and professionals who work with children are required to ensure that their policies and practices reflect this responsibility. This tool therefore clearly defines what action is required in order to keep children safe, and ensuring consistency of behavior so that all staff and volunteers follow the same process.
The policy also includes specific child protection protocols, guidelines for reporting incidents and steps for preventing abuse.
3. WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?
Child abuse can take the form of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. Child abuse can have long term and significant effects on a child or young person’s development. Clean Up Kenya is committed to responding without delay to any suspicions of child abuse or neglect.
3.1 TYPES OF ABUSE
3.1.1 Physical Abuse
This abuse occurs when a person intentionally injures or threatens to injure a child or young person. The injury may involve: slapping, kicking, punching, shaking, burning, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, strangling or any other form of behavior causing physical injury. Physical abuse can also involve a situation where a parent or caregiver is not adequately ensuring a child or young person’s safety, leading to them being placed in situations of extreme physical danger.
3.1.2 Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is when a person uses their power over a child or young person to involve them in sexual activity. Sexual abuse covers a wide range of sexual activities including both contact and non-contact situations. Contact situations can involve fondling of the child or young person’s genitals, being forced to touch somebody else’s genitals, masturbation, oral sex, vaginal or anal penetration by a penis, finger or other object. Non-contact abuse can involve obscene calls or remarks made in any written form. It involves exposure to pornography or being photographed for pornography.
3.1.3 Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse involves a consistent attack on the child or young person’s self-esteem to the extent that it is affecting the child or young person’s physical, emotional, social and/or intellectual development. It can take the form of rejection, put-downs, intimidation, threats, frightening or isolating the child or young person.
3.1.4 Neglect
This is a situation where a child or young person’s basic daily needs are not being met and this is risking their health and development. It can involve a lack of food, clothing, personal hygiene, shelter, medical treatment or appropriate supervision.
4. CODE OF CONDUCT
All Clean Up Kenya staff and volunteers MUST abide by this Code of Conduct.
Staff and volunteers (both from internal and from partners) must;
• Never physically assault or abuse children or advocate for such abuse among children and others or engage in any acts of violence in front of children
• Never develop any physical/sexual relationships with children or act in any way to suggest so
• Never discriminate children on the basis of their gender, race, religion, physical condition, among others
• Never use language that is inappropriate in front of children
• Never use or promote the use of any form of drugs in front of children
5. PARTNERS CODE
We work with different partners during the planning and execution of our projects. Our partners are carefully selected to promote our values and standards in relation to children protection. While we seek to work with as many partners as possible, we reserve all rights to decline partnerships where we deem such may be detrimental to the wellbeing of children.
In most cases we work with schools in our projects. The goal is to share our values with these important partners and to properly coordinate to ensure the children have a safe, meaningful, authentic, practical, enjoyable and engaging experience beyond the traditional classroom approach.
It is therefore paramount that we offer the children a safe and welcoming environment where they can grow and learn.
6. INCIDENT REPORTING PRINCIPLES
Clean Up Kenya has the following guiding principles in relation to responding to concerns about a child or young person’s safety and welfare.
• The right of the child /young person to be listened to, protected and supported
• The right of the child/young person and their families to have their concerns acted on
• The right of the alleged perpetrator to a fair process
• Everyone’s right to privacy
• The responsibility of Clean Up Kenya to ensure all concerns are dealt with promptly and in a respectful manner
7. INCIDENT REPORTING PROCEDURE
1. The employee or volunteer who has received a disclosure of child abuse or who has concerns about a child should bring them to the attention of the Designated Team Leader immediately.
2. Under no circumstances should a child be left in a situation that exposes them to harm or of risk to harm pending intervention.
3. Where the Designated Team Leader considers that a child protection or welfare concern meets the reasonable grounds for concern (criteria outlined in code of conduct above), then the Designated Team Leader can refer the matter to a Designated Member of the Clean Up Kenya Management for action and where appropriate and after consultation, the matter may be referred to relevant authorities.
4. Under no circumstances shall the Designated Member of the Clean Up Kenya Management fail to report or fail to cause to report the matter to the relevant authorities when the matter is of a criminal nature.
8. FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Our projects are often documented by filming and taking pictures. Only commissioned persons will be involved in this work and are briefed on our values and standards as relates to the protection of children. Any materials collected are used in conformity with the laws of Kenya related to photography and video coverage involving children.
9. DESIGNATED TEAM LEADERS
• All efforts must be made to have the Designated Team Leaders to be persons who have a professional relationship with the children who participate in our projects. These may be teachers from schools where the children come from.
• Where this is not possible the Designated Team Leaders MUST have undergone at least one day’s training on child abuse and creating a child safe environment to fulfill this role.
• Designated Team Leaders MUST carry a pocket copy of this policy with them at all times during Clean Up Kenya projects where children are involved.
10. RISK MANAGEMENT
All programs and activities at Clean Up Kenya are required to undergo regular child protection risk assessments. This will be carried out by a Designated Member of Management of Clean Up Kenya. The risks are evaluated and strategies developed to minimize the likelihood of harm occurring.
11. REVIEW AND MONITORING
The policies and procedures outlined in this document are to be formally reviewed annually. Feedback on the policy will be sought from: staff and volunteers, children and young people attending, and from anyone else involved with the program.
The review will assess:
• Whether all parts of this policy and related procedures are being successfully adhered to and whether any alterations are necessary
• Which staff member will be the Designated Member of Management for the coming year
• Any training needs for the coming year
• Changes or updates in information and/or law related to Child Protection
Updated on 1st March 2023
