For the purpose of this policy, a child will be considered to be a person under

the age of 18 years.

This child policy embodies its commitment to human development and dignity.in this
policy, BRAC commits to the protection of children who it works with through its
development programmes. This policy is underpinned by our mission for: “a world
free from all forms of exploitation and discrimination where everyone has the
opportunity to realize their potential.”
BRAC beliefs that all children have equal rights , including the right to protection from
all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence , as set out in the UN
Convention on the rights of child 1989 and endorses article 19, which says that
“State Parties shall take all appropriate… measures to protect the child from all
forms of physical and mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent
treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse , while in the care of
parent(s), legal guardian (s) or any other person who has the care of the child.”
BRAC believes child protection is both an individual and a corporate responsibility.
Every person who shares in the work of BRAC, including staff, volunteers and
partners must share in the responsibility to take all appropriate measures to protect
the children we serve.
BRAC is aware that protection systems in many countries are weal, despite
ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC), which may leave our
staff facing complex child protection dilemmas. Following this policy together with
country legislations where in place will significantly strengthen child protection.
MEETING OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECT CHILDREN
As part of our commitment we will take the following steps to protect children with
whom we come in contact directly or indirectly through our work:
 We will form a Child Protection Team headed by the Country Representative
in each country in which BRAC works, which may be amended by circular
from time to time. The Child Protection Team’s duty will be to monitor Child
Protection issues in country, link with in-country Child Protection facilities
(NGO and Government) and, in consultation with Head Office, follow the
disciplinary procedure.
 All staff will made aware of, sign up and abide to BRAC’s Code of Conduct,
which includes the attached code of conduct for child protection (Annex 1)
and the Prohibited Conduct for Child Protection (Annex 2), designed to
safeguard children in our care.
 Staff working directly with children shall be given special training on Child
Protection. We will provide clear guidance to such staff to identify types of
child abuse (Annex 3) and signs of abuse or neglect (Annex 4) and a
mechanism for reporting cases of abuse. Staff must be vigilant at all times
and use their observational skills in detecting any injury, marks or other signs
of abuse or neglect, particularly when children are in BRAC schools.
Parents/guardians will be approached discretely to discuss staff’s concern.
Teachers will be provided with alternative and positive mechanisms for
managing the behavior of children that do not involve physical punishment or
other degrading treatment.
 Written permission will be sought from appropriate adult (parent, legal
guardian) regarding taking/publishing information about children. Particular
caution and judgement should be exercised in respect if children with poverty
or vulnerable solutions.
 We will advocate for the protection of children from all forms of exploitation.
BRAC will network with other NGOs both nationally and internationally for
raising awareness and support for the protection of children. BRAC will
maintain a relationship with the relevant Government unit responsible for
Child Protection in each country.
 Recruitment of staff working directly with children will include a vetting system.
During the interview process, community references will be requested and
applicants will be interviewed on previous work with children and required to
disclose previous convictions.
 All staff will have access to this policy, which will be updated every three
years.
Procedure
 If you have any queries or complaints relating to this policy, do not hesitate to
contact:
 o Your in-country Child Protection Team, as amended by circular from
time to time.
o If you wish to remain anonymous to your local office, to emailAddress
o BRAC International Child Protection Monitor, Name of Designated
person …………
 When making an allegation, give as full a description as you can, including
who is accused, what happened, where, on what date, at what time, if any
witnesses, and, if known, why it happened.
 We will respond to any report of child abuse or breach of this policy or codes
of conduct promptly and will follow BRAC’s disciplinary procedure, as set out
in the relevant Human Resources Policy and Procedure for each country.
Allegations will normally be investigated, which may result in the suspension
of the accused. If an accusation of Child Abuse is verified, in most cases, the
member of staff will be summarily dismissed and handed over to the
authorities
 False allegations will be treated in line with the same disciplinary procedure
as the accused.
ANNEX 1 – CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CHILD PROTECTION

Employees shall:
1. Adhere to BRAC’s policy of equal opportunities, at all times ensuring that
the workplace is free from discrimination of any form. Children shall not be
excluded on the basis of gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or any
other criterion.
2. Provide additional support as necessary to the more vulnerable children
(ethnic minorities, disabled, girls, those with learning difficulties).
3. Listen to children, encourage and respect children’s voices and views, and
always act in their best interests.
4. Encourage children’s personal, physical, social, emotional, moral,
educational and intellectual development and create an environment which
enables such development.
5. Provide children with positive corrective measures, giving examples of
good conduct.
6. Be aware of situations which may present risks to children and try to
prevent and try to prevent and manage such situations by planning and
organizing the work and the workplace, so as to minimize risk of violations
of this code.
7. Ensure that a culture of openness exists to enable issues or concerns to
be raised and discussed by children or their families. Employees shall
never scold or ridicule a child for raising any issue or concern. Employees
shall make children feel confident and secure and safe in voicing their
concerns, as well as take a clear stand when other adults physically or
verbally abuse a child.
8. Be aware of the potential for peer abuse (e.g. children bullying,
discriminating against victimizing or abusing other children) and actively
prevent it. For example, supervising high-risk, peer situations where older
and younger children are mixed.
9. Be aware that adults are always responsible for their behavior regardless
of the child’s behavior. They may work with children who, because of the
circumstances and abuses they have experienced, may use a relationship
to obtain ‘special attention’. The adult is always considered responsible
even if a child behaves manipulatively or seductively. Adults should avoid
being placed in a compromising or vulnerable position. This awareness
must extend to cases which require the employee to act on stories that
children might tell about abuse they have suffered by other children or by
other adults.
10. Be visible in working with children, and should meet with child(ren) in a
central, public location except for when the dignity or safety of the child
needs to be protected with privacy.
11. Whenever possible, ensure that adults do not isolate themselves with one
child and that another adult is present when working in the proximity of
children.
12. Remember that all staff members are accountable under this code, and
that violation of this Code shall result in appropriate and lawful measures
taken by the organization and under the laws of the land.
13. Report violations or alleged abuse by any other employees or volunteers
immediately so that poor practice or potentially abusive behavior does not
go unchallenged.
14. Never rest on their laurels and think “this couldn’t happen to me”!
ANNEX 2 – PROHIBITED CONDUCT FOR CHILD PROTECTION
Employees shall not:
15. Develop relationships with children who could in any way be deemed
exploitative, abusive or inappropriate. If there is any doubt, contact the
Child Protection Team.
16. Develop or attempt to develop intimate physical, sexual or parental
relationship with children. Neither shall the employees encourage any child
to develop romantic type of feelings for any person.
17. Take picture, videos or any other recording (audio, video, pictorial) of
children without the parent’s / guardian’s prior consent.
18. Use language or behavior towards children that is inappropriate,
harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning or culturally
inappropriate, and also shall not use any language that will mentally or
emotionally abuse any child.
19. Invite unaccompanied children to their home or encourage meetings
outside the programme activity, unless they are at immediate risk of injury
or in physical danger.
20. Stay alone overnight with one or more students or minors, whether in the
staff member’s house, project premises or elsewhere.
21. Encourage other staff to hold or care for the child when the child
accompanies its parent on work related travel. This shall not apply to
designated caregivers.
22. Be with the child alone in a closed room or a place where no one else can
see the employee. If an employee is alone with the single child at any time
that employee must ensure that another adult is present or at least close
by.
23. Kiss, hug, stroke, fondle, rub, or touch a child in an inappropriate way. The
child must be able to withdraw from any physical contact whenever they
want to.
24. Do things of a personal nature that a child could do for him/herself,
including dressing, bathing and grooming.
25. Initiate physical contact (e.g. holding hands) unless initiated by the child.
The child must be able to initiate as well as terminate any physical contact,
including holding hands, unless a dangerous situation exists and it is
necessary for the safety of the child, such as in traffic or crossing the road
or similar situations.
26. Allow children to engage in sexually provocative games with each other,
and shall not stand outside when inappropriate actions inflicted by adults
or children on other children or other adults occur, even though it may be
common.
27. Condone or participate in behavior of children which is illegal, unsafe or
abusive (emotionally, physically or sexually), and shall not behave
physically in a manner which is inappropriate or sexually provocative with
each other or with other adults.
 28. Speak, act disrespectfully towards or discriminate against a child or a
child’s family because of the child’s socio-economic background, class,
gender, religion, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, political or other
opinion, or other status.
This code is not an exhaustive list of prohibited conduct. If any behavior is identified
that is not the spirit of this policy, disciplinary action will be taken.
ANNEX 3 – CATEGORIES OF CHILD ABUSE
Child abuse is caused by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children
may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting; most often by
those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger.
Physical Abuse: Physical abuse is defined as intentional physical injury to a child or
corporal punishment of a child. Torture, beatings, and assault of children are obvious
forms of physical abuse. May involve tapping, hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning,
burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a
child.
Emotional Abuse: This is the emotional ill treatment of a child such as to cause
effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children
that they are worthless and unloved, inadequate, or valued only sofar as they meet
the needs of another person. It may involve developmentally inappropriate
expectations being imposed on children. It may involve causing children frequently to
feel frightened or in danger, 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.
Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse involves agreeing to or enticing a child or young
person 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 (e.g.
rape) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities such as
involving children in looking at, or in the production or, pornographic material or
watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually
inappropriate ways with one another.
Neglect: Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and or
psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or
development. It may involve parent, carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter
and clothing, failure to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the failure to
ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect
of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional need.
Oragnised Abuse: Oragnised or multiple abuse may be defined as abusive
involving one or more abuser and a number of related or non-related abused
children young people. The abusers concerned may be acting in concert to abuse
children, sometimes acting in isolation, or may be using an institutional framework or
position of authority to recruit children for abuse. Organized and multiple abuse
occur both as part of a network of abuse across family or community, and within
institutions such as schools.
ANNEX 4 – SIGNS OF ABUSE
Physical signs
 Any injuries, bruises, bites, burns, fractures, etc., which are not consistent
with the explanation given for them.
 Injuries which occur to the body in places which are not normally exposed to
falls, rough games, etc.
 Injuries which appear to have been caused by a weapon e.g. cuts, welts, etc.
 Injuries which have not received medical attention.
 Instances where children are kept away from the group inappropriately or
without explanation.
 Self-mutilation or self-harm e.g. cutting, slashing, drug abuse.
Emotional signs
 Changes or regression in mood and behavior, particularly where a child
withdraws or becomes clinging. Also, depression/aggression.
 Nervousness/inappropriate fear of particular adults e.g. frozen watchfulness.
 Sudden changes in behavior e.g. under-achievement or lack of concentration.
 Inappropriate relationships with peers and/or adults e.g. excessive
dependence.
 Attention-seeking behavior.
 Persistent tiredness.
 Wetting or soiling of bed or clothes by an older child.
Neglect signs
These signs can manifest due to poverty or absence of adult caregiver and should
not misconstrued:
 Regular poor hygiene.
 Persistent tiredness.
 Inadequate clothing.
 Excessive or lack of appetite.
 Failure to thrive e.g. poor weight gain.
 Consistently alone and unsupervised.
Sexual signs
 Any direct disclosure made by a child concerning sexual abuse.
 Child with excessive preoccupation with sexual matters and detailed
knowledge of adult sexual behavior, or who regularly engages in age
inappropriate sexual play.
 Preoccupation with sexual activity through words, play or drawing.
 Child who is sexually provocative or seductive with adults or other children.
 Inappropriate bed-sharing arrangements at home.
 Sleep disturbances with fears, phobias, vivid dreams or nightmares,
sometimes with overt or veiled sexual connotations.
 Other emotional signs (see above) may be indicative of sexual or some other
form of abuse.