The Child Protection Policy and Procedures aimed to enhance CWISH quality of work with children through building and enabling environment for children to participate with the help of policy and procedure to safeguard children in contact with CWISH from any forms of harms and potential risk.
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Child Protection Policy and Procedure
1. Child Protection Policy and Procedure
Children and Women in Social Service and Human Rights (CWISH)
Kathmandu, Nepal
Copy Rights: CWISH, 2012
2. Contents
PART I: GENERAL INFORMATION 3
1. INTRODUCTION OF CWISH 3
2. RELEVANCY OF CHILD PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES IN CWISH 3
3. EXISTING POLICY AND LEGAL STANDARDS ON CHILD PROTECTION IN NEPAL 4
4. CHILD’S RIGHT TO PROTECTION 5
5. PURPOSE 6
5. APPLICATION OF CHILD PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES 6
APPLICABLE TO 6
PART II: CHILD PROTECTION POLICY 8
1. GUIDING PRINCIPLES 8
2. VULNERABILITY FACTORS 10
3. PROHIBITED ACTS WITH CHILDREN 12
4. RESPECT PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY 15
5. CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION 15
PART III: CHILD PROTECTION PROCEEDURE 17
1. OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF TERMS 17
2. COMPLAINT PROCEDURES 18
3. HANDLING OF COMPLIANT 20
PART IV: IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM 23
1. CHILD PROTECTION MONITORING COMMITTEE 23
2. TRAINING AND ORIENTATION FOR STAFF 24
3. INSTALLING AND REGULAR OPENING OF COMPLAINT BOX 25
4. ANONYMOUS HELPLINE CALL 25
PART V: CLARIFICATION AND REVISION 27
ANNEX -1 : FORMS OF ABUSE AND VIOLENCE 28
ANNEX 2: RISK, VULNERABILITIES AND SAFETY MEASURES FOR CHILDREN IN CURRENT PROGRAMS 31
3. Part I: General Information
1. Introduction of CWISH
CWISH (Children and Women in Social Service and Human Rights) is a national non-
governmental organization dedicated to the empowerment and human rights protection of
women, youth and children in Nepal. CWISH has been working on the field to defend human
rights of women, children and youth since 1993, the day of establishment.
The organizational vision of CWISH is Nepal with economically productive and sustainable,
environmentally sound and socially just with equal access of people to opportunity and
development benefits, child friendly societies and secured livelihood.
The mission of organization is to protect and promote people's right of equal access to
opportunity, and benefits of development through creating community mobilization against the
inequality, violence against women and children, social discrimination and for the respect of
human rights and social justice.
Currently CWISH has been running number of projects in partnership with various
international organizations, foundations and funding agencies. The collaboration of CWISH
with local government, national state authorities, community organizations, schools, child
clubs and various others consumers groups at community level contributed for the effective
and sustaining interventions with practical changes on the life of target group, enhanced
policies and increased accountability of stakeholders.
CWISH has been awarded for it's effective work on human rights and on the field of women,
youth and children with World Women Summit Foundation in 2008, by Social Welfare Council
in 2006 and by ILO office in Nepal in 2005 as outstanding performing non government
organizations.
2. Relevancy of Child Protection Policy and Procedures in CWISH
Nepal has almost half of the population i.e. 48 precent are children of less than 18 years.
Children’s Right to Protection is one of the major challenge on the field of child rights
protection and promotion in Nepal. Despite of government and non-government efforts, large
numbers of child population in Nepal are suffering various harmful, discriminatory, abusive
and exploitative practices and another large number are at high risk.
4. Despite of the efforts for protection and promotion of rights of children by government and
non government sector, Nepal has more than 1.8 million children living and earning as child
laborers (CBS, 2012), almost 5000 children are trafficked from Nepal to India for various
purpose (ILO, 2001), 34 percent of marriages in Nepal can be counted as child marriage
(Save the Children, 2005), 5000 plus children are in street (CCWB, 2069), thousands of
children are reported every year victim of various abuse and exploitation including violence
such as physical, verbal and sexual abuse, corporal punishment, discrimination, denied of
education, abduction, murder and missing. There are number of children identified living
independently and heading households. Various research and studies have indicated that
vulnerability, abusive and exploitative practices are quite high in Nepal and 40 percent of total
child population are living under absolute poverty (NPC, 2009).
CWISH has been working with children living in poverty, marginalization and exclusion
affected sector since it’s foundation in 1993. CWISH since the beginning has it’s focused in
children’s right to protection through it’s exclusive interventions on Child Domestic Workers,
on combating child sexual abuse, reintegrating separated children and assisting children
victim of other forms of violence and abuse in Nepal. Every year CWISH works with more
than 5000 children directly reaching and involving in it’s programs and services through
educational programs, scholarships, child clubs, trainings and workshops, children’s
consultation, rescue and rehabilitation and reunification with family and community and
awareness classes. CWISH has an independent children’s advisory board at district and
national level to provide children’s empirical feedback on it’s programs and interventions.
In this context, it has been realized that CWISH need to enhance it’s code of conduct and
guidelines for it’s staff, members, volunteers, visitors and local collaborators and partners into
a systematic, effective and efficient child protection policy and procedure. The children
CWISH is reaching out and working with are highly vulnerable due to their difficult situation,
isolation and prone to manipulation as well as inferiority in current social and institutional
power dynamics. Therefore, CWISH, with mandate from it’s members and staff, and realizing
the feedbacks from children, partners and visitors, it has developed and enacted this child
protection policy and procedure guidelines.
3. Existing Policy and Legal Standards on Child Protection in Nepal
Nepal has ratified Convention on the Rights of Child in 1990 and it’s both option protocols on
the involvement of children in armed conflict and Optional Protocol to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography in 2006.
5. In Addition to this Nepal is party to all core treaties of human rights and number of ILO
convention including ILO convention on ending worst form of child labor no. 182 and has
expressed it's commitment to many international declaration, commitments, plan of actions
and consensus. Nepal is also party to the SAARC regional treaty on arrangements for welfare
of children (2002). Nepal is also member of South Asian Initiatives to End Violence against
Children (SAIVAC), a regional intergovernmental initiative to end violence against children in
South Asia.
Nepal has developed National Plan of Action for Children, Enacted specific laws on children’s
welfare and on ending child labor and included number of provisions in other many acts, rules
and by laws. Currently Nepal has Specific provision for children in Interim Constitution 2063
under fundamental rights chapter, have placed Child’s Welfare Act 2048 and it’s By Law
2052, Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation act 2056 and It’s by law 2061. In addition to
these Guidelines for Juvenile Justice, Terms and Conditions for Adoption of Nepalese Child
by Aliens and Minimum Standards for Child Homes are in Place. Similarly civil code, laws
related to cyber crimes, domestic violence, human trafficking and other many laws have also
placed specific provisions related to children for their protection and welfare.
At national level It has number of mechanisms responsible to serve children’s rights, a focal
ministry Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, a national coordinating agency
Central Child Welfare Board, Department of Women and Children, A directorate at Nepal
Police for Serving Children and Women Cause, National Juvenile Justice Coordination Board,
Child Labor Section at Ministry of Labor and Employment, Department of Child Health at
Ministry of Health and Population and Children’s Desk in National Human Rights
Commission. At local level it has child protection committees, Children’s Organizations, Para
Legal Committees, District Child Welfare Board, District Women and Children Office, Women
and Children Cell at District Police Office and District Juvenile Justice Coordination Board.
Besides this number of NGOs and international organization including UN agencies and other
specialized agencies are active in Nepal to further realization of children’s rights in Nepal.
4. Child’s Right to Protection
Child’s right to protection is one of fundamental right enshrined by the convention on the
rights of child. Child’s right to protection includes comprehensive efforts for reducing
vulnerability, ensuring effective complaint mechanism, effective and efficient justice system
and a sustained rehabilitation as well as adequate reparation for the victim/survivor. CWISH
believe absence of any component among these will result in risk and vulnerability.
6. The child protection action should include reduction of vulnerability through adequate and
appropriate risk assessment, arrangements for protection, complaint mechanism. It also
needs to have effective, safer and impartial investigation, prosecution and punishment for
perpetrator that needs easy and child friendly accessible judicial system and protection
authorities. CWISH confirms that sustained rehabilitation of child and family built on their own
resilience and adequate reparation provision as human right and in respect to their dignity is
necessary for ensuring a comprehensive child protection action. This is the bottom-line and
benchmark as well for confirming child protection in institution, society, events and programs.
5. Purpose
The Child Protection Policy and Procedures aimed to enhance CWISH quality of work with
children through building and enabling environment for children to participate with the help of
policy and procedure to safeguard children in contact with CWISH from any forms of harms
and potential risk. The specific purpose of this child protection policy and procedures are as
follows:
• Enable children in contact with CWISH to participate and benefit from CWISH
interventions in safe and supportive environment.
• Facilitate CWISH Staff, Volunteers, Members, Partners and Visitors to ensure the
available highest level of protection and safety of children in their performance.
• End impunity and ensure justice for children suffering and surviving any negligence,
abuse and violence against them by CWISH and CWISH associated personnel.
• Promote child sensitive, protective and educative behaviour and practices inside
institutions and in it’s working area
5. Application of Child Protection Policy and procedures
The child protection policy and procedures as a rule applicable within CWISH associated
interventions and not applicable out of it’s associated persons, actions, policy, organizations
and geographical area.
Applicable to
• all staff, general members, executive board members, chairperson, secretary general,
treasurer, founder members, consultants, trainers, facilitators, short term hired paid
personnel, researchers, volunteers and visitors including partner’s representatives;
• all program and activities having child participant and organized by CWISH or it’s
collaborative agency (local partner);
7. • the programs and activities having child participants and CWISH person participated
with or without child;
• places and events such as school that CWISH is working with, child club that CWISH
has been facilitating, outreach centers, counselling centers, transit homes and literacy
programs, conferences, meeting, recreational and fun programs with children, training
centers, rallies and public events, excursion visit and during travel for the purpose of
program;
8. Part II: Child Protection Policy
1. Guiding Principles
As this child protection policy and procedure has been developed in the pre text that children
working with CWISH or in contact with CWISH could be potentially at risk in lack of adequate
risk tracing and mitigating strategies along with in absence of adequate guideline and
mechanisms, the policy embraces following principles as major guiding principles for the
implementation of Child Protection Policy and Procedures:
Recognize Children’s Vulnerability: CWISH has a believe that child in the power dynamics
of society, institution and power interaction at individual level are made inferior and prone to
the exercise of power by adults. In addition children with other physical, social, economic and
cultural subordinate section have been made more prone to the exercise of power by the
comparatively superior individual/s. Therefore, children’s vulnerability to abuse, exploitation
and violence and the physical, psychological and emotional harm associated with such acts
always remains.
Safety First: CWISH confirm that in case of allegations made by child about harmful and or
abusive practices there is high chances of threats and other risks for complaining child,
possible witness and the child’s family. Therefore it is very much important the required safety
measures have been applied and provided for the complaining child, witness and the family
to refrain them from potential threats, manipulation and other harms.
Impartiality: CWISH understands that all allegations made by child or on behalf of child not
necessarily come as truth; there could be false allegation as well. Therefore, the investigation
and inquiry process along with administrative action would remain very much impartial
allowing alleged offender to defend allegation made against him/her. The investigation and
prosecution process should remain fair, impartial and with due respect to the dignity and
human rights of both parties.
Children’s Right to be heard: Child’s right to be heard, broadly known as ethical and
meaningful child participation shall be maintained in all process and action as an integral part.
CWISH shall exercise consultation with victim child providing detailed and complete
information including the possible consequences of action to the child and his/her family. The
views expressed by child regarding any action and follow up on allegation should be fully
9. respected which not necessarily meaning stoppage of investigation and prosecution, but
should ensure that the fear and hopes of child is well responded during the action.
Best Interest of the Child: Best interest of child shall remain as key guiding principles in
application of child protection policy and procedures. However the conception of best interest
of child in practical may differ in different context and scenario, the core norms and values
associated to respect best interest of child shall be followed in all steps and action. In the
application of PPCP, The Best Interest of Child means: taking any decision or action must
consider the protection of the child from any harm, the protection of the child’s rights and the
promotion of the child’s development. It also mean that the decisions and protection action
must consider strengthening family relationships and giving the widest possible assistance to
the family and, promoting and protecting the child’s cultural and spiritual identity and
connectedness to their community.
Respect Rule of Law: Any acts and decisions carried on for Child Protection by CWISH shall
consider the existing legal norms, standards, mechanisms, mandates and authority. No
action and decision shall be made contradictory or overlapping to the existing legal norms
and systems. In case of existence of gaps and loopholes in existing laws and system, CWISH
would take programmatic actions to improve and revise it. Respect to the due process of law
and mandate, authority, responsibility and accountability of existing protection authority and
judicial system shall be respected in all steps of actions.
Maintain Confidentiality and Privacy: Confidentiality and Privacy shall be respected as
fundamental human rights of the individual associated in any allegation or action. CWISH
shall not reveal name and identity of victim and perpetrator until and unless the competitive
authority of the state requires it. CWISH shall not present perpetrator as criminal or with any
other degrading identity until and unless the competitive judicial authority convicts him.
Consideration shall be made to prevent any harm to the family, community and legal
profession of person associated with the allegation and investigation due to disclose of any
information. The protection of privacy is applicable to any individual live or dead.
Rehabilitation and Reparation: Efforts of decision and action related to child protection shall
be oriented towards the sustained rehabilitation of victim/survivor in their own community and
ensure restitution of the harms happened to the survivor child and family is realized. Yet, no
support or amount of money could equally compensate the harms inflicted by such action,
such reparation should be considered as a respect towards the resilience and dignity of the
child and family.
10. 2. Vulnerability Factors
Though there is a common myth that often poor and deprived children fall at the risk of
violence and abuse, the evidences have proven that it can happen to any child anywhere and
anytime. There is no specific criterion for making decision that a child is vulnerable and
another child is safe. There are number of vulnerability factors, which increases the risk of
child abuse in many society, institutions and programs. Some of such vulnerability factors are
listed below:
• Absence of Risk Assessment System: The absence of adequate and skilled risk
assessment by trained personnel may cause on missing to trace risk, unsafe and
vulnerable situation for child resulting in absence of necessary arrangements for risk
reduction and adequate monitoring provision.
• Absence of Complaint Procedures and Mechanism: The absence of competitive and
mandated child protection procedures and mechanisms create confusion on taking
risk reduction, protective and reparative action and also create inconsistency in
planning, taking decision and actions for child protection. Absence of such
procedures and mechanisms also refrain agency, society and institutions from
mandatory responsibility for child protection.
• Lack of child’s meaningful and ethical participation: In lack of child’s ethical and
meaningful participation practices in family, society and institution, children may not
be aware of existing policy and arranged mechanisms and provisions for their
protection and could not influence the decision made on this aspect. Such situation
may make child to loss trust and confidence on the system, and also disempower
children preventing them from making complaint and asking for information and
reporting any abuse and violence against them.
• Lack of awareness on child rights and child protection in family and society: The
family and society not aware of and inadequately educated on child rights and child
protection provisions and approaches may not be able to exercise child safe
practices and may promote unsafe practices including exercise re-victimization and
violation of other rights of child.
• Lack of trained human resources and skilled personnel: Child Protection is not just a
social practice rather it is a professional action as well, therefore protection
authorities, agencies and institutions directly working with children should have
trained human resources and skilled personnel on child protection, legal norms and
mechanisms and application of policy and procedures. In absence of trained and
skilled personnel, the chances of wrong interpretation of policy provisions,
11. inadequate and inappropriate handling of risk reduction and protection action would
remain high.
• Lack of children’s awareness on child rights and child protection system: Without
child’s education and awareness on their rights and child protection system, available
mechanisms and provisions, child may not be able to report, complaint and seek
support in case of any abuse and violence and also not able to defend themselves.
Child not aware of rights and protection system today may not be able to practice
child protection and respect child rights in future as a parent.
• Strong prevalence of power hierarchy in society: Society having strong hierarchal
practices based on class, cast, gender, social, political and other status of a person,
family and community have high chance of child abuse ongoing without reporting and
monitoring. Specially children in such society are often considered as property of
family, put in the bottom of social power hierarchy and often made obey to follow
what person posing superior hierarchy. As child abuse is resulted mostly as abuse of
power and authority, such society may have high chances of child abuse. Thus
responding child abuse and creating protective and safer environment for children
requires deconstruction of power hierarchy.
• Impunity and Weak Protection Authorities: When the protection authorities are less
capacitated in technical, human and other required resources likelihood of silent
suffering of child abuse remained higher and impunity goes on. The presence of low
resourced and weak protection authorities and continuous impunity reduce the faith
and trust of child and parents over them and reduces their strength to break silence.
• Emergency Situations for Children: Emergency situation caused by natural calamities
or human caused disaster often push children and senior citizens including single
women in most vulnerable situation. In dire need of basic requirements, emotional
breakdown situation children could be easily mislead to the practices that are harmful
for them, at the same time as situation of emergency often lack the enough
availability of supplies and foods, children might left far behind in accessing such
supplies and materials. In this context in lure of small benefit the individuals holding
control over supplies may easily exploit and manipulate child to take part in harmful
practices. Therefore in emergency situation and displaced context, special and strong
consideration towards child protection shall be maintained.
• Child’s Deprivation from other rights: In countries and communities stricken by
poverty, underdevelopment and human rights violation, many children are found
deprived from their fundamental rights such as food, health, nutrition, education,
participation and protection. In such context children are highly vulnerable to be
12. exploited and discriminated as well as abused taking advantage of their deprivation,
underdevelopment, lack of information and access to decision-making level.
• Harmful Social Practices and Exclusion: Human societies have number of traditional
child protective practices and norms to provide safer and protective world for children
through their religious and cultural values and guidelines. But at the same time there
are number of practices also prevailed in many societies which are harmful,
discriminatory and excluding children and denying them to enjoy human rights and
equal dignified life. Child abuse and violence against children have high chances to
occur in such society with specifically children from discriminated and excluded
communities.
3. Prohibited Acts with Children
Following acts are strictly prohibited while working with and for children:
3.1 Discrimination:
• No act of discrimination is accepted. Discrimination hereby means any activities,
plan, policies, statement by staff, members, volunteers, visitors and projects, that
is discriminating and undermining equal status of human dignity based on class,
cast, ethnicity, community, geographical, race, colour and physical and
psychological status of a child.
• Affirmative actions applied to uplift the status of marginalized and excluded
groups are not considered as Discrimination.
• Targeting specific group of children by specific project intervention with specific
valid purpose is not considered as discrimination.
3.2 Stigmatization
• Acts, statements and policies that supports or actually does accusation,
categorical tagging and inferior and degrading identity creation of a child and
child’s community are not acceptable.
3.3 Isolation
• Keeping child away from community, family and other children or separating an
individual child from group is not accepted.
13. 3.4 Re victimization
• Acts and plans that pushes child into further risk, vulnerability and exploitative
and abusive conditions are not accepted. This includes exposure in media and
creation of further risk.
3.5 Exploitation
• Making child to work beyond the capacity, exploiting child’s labour, creations,
identity, story, photos, information and videos for profits and financial gain are
strictly prohibited.
• Making child to consume specific product with the intention to make profit by the
organization or staff member is not accepted. This does not include the logistical
arrangements in programs and supplies provided for child and families.
3.6 Deprivation
• Preventing child from other rights such as food, clothing, safe accommodation,
education, health, nutrition, family contact, participation, sports in leisure time
and accessing justice are not accepted.
• Depriving child from basic needs including sanitation, toiletry needs, first aid
materials and information required for accessing services are prohibited.
3.7 Ignoring/Neglect
• Ignoring a child’s deprivation, vulnerability and victimization is not accepted.
• Person having notice of such situation should inform the respective authority and
CWISH mechanism.
3.8 Violence
• Any sort of act, statement or information that provoke violence, inflict violence
(both physical and psychological) is prohibited. Use of threat, force, coerces and
creation of context to suffer silently is not permitted. Corporal punishment and un
necessary injuries and medical interventions are not allowed.
14. 3.9 Abuses and Degrading Treatment
• Any form of act, statement or behaviours that may degrade child’s dignity, child’s
family and community equal status in human society is prohibited;
• Acts such as use of degrading and discriminating pronouns, proverbs and stories
are not allowed;
• Any act defined as child abuse in this Policy annex-1 is prohibited to conduct
intentionally and unintentionally;
• Individuals are instructed to use to use respecting word, preserving dignity of the
child, family and community.
3.10 One Child - One Adult Situation
• Realizing the high vulnerability in the situation of one child and one adult, it is
strictly cautioned to avoid one adult one-child situation unless justified the
requirement of the context.
• It is also instructed to have same sex chaperone or accompany to the extent
possible, if not ensure at least child is in public purview in case of opposite sex
accompanying.
3.11 Breach of Privacy and Confidentiality
• It is strictly prohibited to publicly disclose any identical information of a child in
contact with CWISH or receiving CWISH services without consent of child.
• Don’t use photograph, videos and stories that have identical elements or the
participating child feels uncomfortable and inferior.
• Manipulation, provocation and use of pressure and power to influence child for
sharing and disclosing information that may put him/her into further risk is
prohibited.
3.12 Illegal Actions
• Any action with child that is forbidden by local, regional and international law is
prohibited.
• Acts and behaviour with child that is not accepted by community customary
values and standards are not permitted.
15. • Acts, behaviours, statements and flow of information provoking and encouraging
child to go against existing legal norms and standards, customary values and
practices (until not violating fundamental rights of child), involving in conflict,
carrying arms and drugs and goods forbidden by law is prohibited.
4. Respect Privacy and Confidentiality
During the whole process of complaint handling, investigation, prosecution and
reparation, privacy and confidentiality of victim, victim/witness family and the alleged
offender will be maintained. For this propose, following actions shall be considered:
• Provide a numerical code for the case and refer in documentation with the use of
that code for example “victim of XXX case” or “offender of XXX case”.
• Do not share the case information to media and other persons until adjudication
is finalized.
• After the finalization of adjudication, details of victim shall be prevented from
being shared through oral and written documents and information sharing
process.
• The privacy of identity will be also maintained of prosecutors’ defence and
complainant, the juries, the investigator, witness, personnel involved and
rehabilitation details.
• In case of public benefits such as to increase trust, encourage good practices and
encourage complain on child abuse, information can be shared only about the
incidents not about the person involved.
• Besides referring to legal procedure, the referring document does not mention
incident happened to child for other support services such as education, health,
and skill trainings. It can use the term such as “Highly Vulnerable” to mention
reason for referring.
5. Children’s Participation
Child Participation and provision of child’s right to be heard is a core principle of
practices as well as standard of operation in application of policy and procedure on child
protection. Child’s right to be heard and child participation hereby means the provision
mechanism and practices for a child (victim and or concerned) to express their views on
investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases in a safe and supportive environment.
16. The participation of child in this process includes in all six steps of handling child abuse
cases as well as in raising awareness campaign and practicing preventive actions.
To exercise child participation in application of PPCP following provisions shall be
applied:
• Nomination and presence of two children representatives, a girl and a boy, from
children’s advisory board of CWISH in Child Protection Monitoring Committee.
• Active involvement on discussion and decision making process on complaint
received/forwarded at Child Protection Monitoring Committee
• Active Involvement on discussion and making decision about prosecution for
alleged offender, rehabilitation and reparation provision.
• CWISH shall consult with members of children’s advisory board on complaint
received and action taken by child protection monitoring committee in children’s
advisory board regular meeting. While discussing in this meeting identical
information about cases shall not be disclosed.
• Victim/Survivor and witness child shall be informed in detail about the proposed
action where they are involved, their expected role, possible outcomes including
possible risks and proposed risk mitigation strategy by a CWISH trained
personnel.
• Victim/Survivor and witness child’s informed; free and voluntary consent is prior
for taking any further action where they are involved.
• Victim/Survivor and witness child shall be provided with information on
complaint mechanism if they are not satisfied with the process, behaviours of
CWISH officials or state officials, want to withdraw any statement or their
presence in the incident.
17. Part III: Child Protection Proceedure
1. Operational Definitions of Terms
Child – Any individual under the age of 18 years.
Parent (s)- Biological parent of the victim/survivor child. This include mother and father both
or alone.
Employer (s) – Person employing child of legally allowed or prohibited age.
Guardian/ Care Taker – Person designated or in responsibility of taking care of child. It
includes person, designated guardian by competent authority, institution or informally
obliged and acting on self-interest.
Staff Personal- Person employed at CWISH. This includes all staff both partial and full time
employed including short-term contractor, volunteers, interns, consultants,
researchers, trainers, visitors and mentors.
Member – Person acting in capacity of member of CWISH including executive board member
and advisor.
Partner/Collaborator – Any organized agency, including community based organizations,
schools, NGOs and INGOs that is working in partnership with CWISH.
Risk Assessment – A systematic action of assessing risk and recommendation of safety
measures as outlined in PPCP.
Safety Measures – Any action or group of actions planned, applied and implemented to
reduce risk, mitigate harm and ensure safer and confidential complaint and inquiry
system as outlined in this PPCP.
Detection/Information/Notice of child abuse – To come to know, informed or identify case of
child abuse.
Child Protection Official – Person designated by CWISH executive board for taking complaint,
inquiry and handling cases as well as risk assessment and application of safety
measures.
Helpline – CWISH operated toll free child helpline contact 1660-01-10000, Nepal police no.:
100, Nepal government’s child helpline 1098 and Missing Children Contact No. 104
Victim/Survivor – A child encountered one or more abusive incidence.
Witness – Person seen, informed and able to provide part or full information on any child
abuse cases.
Vulnerable – Child living in circumstances compounded by vulnerable factors
Reporting/Complaint – Act or process of informing child abuse case.
Complainant – Person informing and making complaint on child abuse case.
18. Inquiry – Process of information collection, verification and conclusion drawing by CWISH
designated team or individual.
Notification – Act and or process of informing alleged offender and witness for more
information and clarification on allegations made.
Investigation – Process of inquiry by competitive legal authority.
Due Legal Process – Process of receiving complaint, investigation and adjudication defined
by national legislative procedures.
Rehabilitation – Single or group of actions for family and community re integration with safer
and enabling environment, psychosocial healing, regaining dignity and social status
which was supposedly spoiled by the incidence of child abuse.
Reparation – Compensation provided to victim/survivor in response to the loss happened due
to the incidence of child abuse.
Vetting – Process of pre confirmation and verification on the background status of personnel
that s/he has not been charged for child abuse in case of recruitment and
procurement system.
Child Labor – Any child employed under the age of 14 years in any forms of labor and under
the age of 18 years in forms of hazardous labor as defined by national and local
legislation.
Child Abuse – Any act of abuse i.e. physical, emotional, sexual, neglect and through cyber
and media technologies against one or group of child.
Child Trafficking – A child has been trafficked if he or she has been moved within a country,
or across borders, whether by force or not, with the purpose of exploiting the child.
Child Protection Authority – Designated competent authority by the government of Nepal for
handling cases of child abuse that includes Child Welfare Board, Police offices and
women and children offices.
Judicial Authority – Designated competent authority for judicial process as per the prevailing
legislation in Nepal that includes attorney, various court and quasi-judicial body.
Children’s Advisory Board - An elected body of children’s representative functional in CWISH
where children from various target area and groups participate.
2. Complaint Procedures
2.1 The Complainant
Any person noticed, witnessed, victimized, survived or came into knowing of any
incident that is prohibited according to PPCP or failure of meeting safety measures
suggested in PPCP can made complaint to CWISH with or without mentioning one’s
identity.
19. 2.2 The Complaint
The complaint can be a verbal report shared with any official of CWISH, child protection
officer, front desk or in CWISH helpline. The person receiving information should write it
down in the form of complaint and forward accordingly.
The complaint can be a written statement either in Nepali or English language and sent
via e-mail to CWISH official e-mail address, e-mail address of CWISH personnel, dropped
at CWISH through postal and courier service or dropped in complaint box installed at
CWISH office and service centres.
2.3 Time Frame
It is encouraged to put a complaint as soon as possible from the happening date.
The complaint made about an incident within 6 months of happening can be efficiently
handled with adequate response
Complaint made after 6 months are also responded, however the long gap may affect the
inquiry and appropriate response.
2.4 Where to Complain
Individuals are encouraged to made complaint in any one of following address:
• CWISH Helpline- 1660-01-10000
• Complaint Box at CWISH office or CWISH service centres
• CWISH official E-mail Address: info@cwish.org.np, cwish@wlink.com.np
• CWISH official phone: +977-1-4784545, 4781386, 4780446
• CWISH official fax: +977-1-4781386
• CWISH Post Box: P.O. Box: 21433, Kathmandu, Nepal
Besides this, individual also can make verbal or written complaint to CWISH staff,
members and board members accessing their individual contacts and e-mail address.
This complaint will be again transferred to the child protection monitoring committee or
child protection focal person.
20. 3. Handling of Compliant
Step One: Notice or Information
• All complaint arrived at child protection focal person or child protection
monitoring committee shall be appropriately registered, giving an identity code
for victim/survivor and the offender. Following procedure shall use only the code
instead of name and other details.
• The registration shall indicate specific information about incident, place, date,
time, suspected offender/s and victim/survivor.
• Information on witness, complainant and list of evidences shall be accordingly
mentioned in registration if provided.
• Registration information shall mention post registration action on complaint.
• Notice, complaint or information arrived to other places than child protection
focal person should be referred to chairperson of child protection monitoring
committee for further action.
• If the allegation is made against chair of child protection monitoring committee,
the complaint shall be forwarded to chairperson of CWISH for further action.
• In all cases, registration of complaint should be maintained accordingly.
Step Two: Inquiries and Internal Adjudication
• In any case of allegation quick inquiry shall be made by the child protection
monitoring committee and shall come with preliminary suspicion and findings
maximum within a week.
• During the process of inquiry, dignity, personal integrity and fair trial of the
victim and alleged offender shall be maintained and respected.
• Privacy and confidentially of identity, the allegation made and progress and
information found during inquiries shall be maintained until the preliminary
findings are presented at board/senior management committee.
• In preliminary findings serious allegation of child abuse is found, the inquiry
process shall be diverted to the legal procedure and adjudication.
• In case the person alleged is suspected to influence inquiry, person can be
suspended for specific time from the position and authority in recommendation
of child protection monitoring committee by executive board.
21. • In case allegations are found false and person is not convicted for allegation made,
such suspension period shall be counted as employed period and shall provided a
respectful return into the position.
• Findings of inquiry shall be prevented from public disclosure and presented with
the victim/survivor child, family, alleged person and executive board only until
required by the legal investigation and prosecution.
• Person convicted of child abuse or failing to perform safety measures according to
PPCP are subjected to: Written Apologize at First Instance and can be dismissed
from job for continuous failure; or shall be referred to legal action for further
process. Executive board holds the authority to make decision of punishment
according to the level of abuse or failure.
• In case of conviction of happening of child abuse by person associated with
CWISH, the institution shall take responsibility for appropriate intervention to
rehabilitate child back in family, society and to lead a normal life.
Step Three: Referral to Common Legal Procedure
• In case of allegation found true and serious allegation of abuse such as sexual
abuse, rape, torture, trafficking and labor exploitation, the inquiry committee
have to refer case to the common legal procedure and mechanisms responsible.
• While referring the case to common legal procedure, CWISH shall submit all
evidences including inquiry report to the legally mandated body.
• CWISH shall keep a copy of such evidences and shall made a written statement
explaining the handover of evidences and reports dually signed by the
responsible authority and stamped.
• CWISH personnel shall present themselves in invitation made by the mandated
investigation, prosecution and adjudication process and cooperate with the
process.
• CWISH shall not made itself standing in opposition of victim child/family and act
to influence or put pressure on child and family during the investigation,
prosecution and adjudication process.
• Services provided by CWISH to the child and family shall not be stopped and
prevented due to the referral into the common legal procedure and putting
CWISH in defence.
22. • Any individual act of abuse and violence shall not count as CWISH institutional
act, thus the liability will remain solely with the individual accused or convicted.
Step Five: Rehabilitation
• CWISH shall take adequate and appropriate measures identified and
recommended by specialized case analysis team (here Helpline Team) for
sustainable reintegration and rehabilitation of the child in family, society and
gaining normal life.
• CWISH Rehabilitation support shall not discriminate child for accusation against
it’s staff, members, volunteers or visitors.
• The Rehabilitation process includes initial support and post reintegration follow-
up and support upto two years.
• The rehabilitation package does not include direct financial aid rather a
comprehensive support of educational, health, income generation, skill training
etc. either through CWISH projects, core fund budget or through building linkages
with local NGOs and government agencies.
Step Six: Reparation
• CWISH shall not take any liability for the act and behaviour of individual person
or group of persons.
• The reparation to be provided for victim/survivor is a core concern for CWISH. In
case of judicial decision including the recommendation provided by CWISH child
protection Monitoring Committee can be a basis for reparation.
• To avoid financial burden for CWISH to provide reparation due to the any
institutional negligence or act, CWISH would follow group insurance for the
children participating in CWISH program.
• In case of individual reparation cost, CWISH may deduct the cost from individual
staff’s salary and facilities staff getting from CWISH.
• In case of volunteers and visitors, CWISH support to claim reparation from the
convicted offender’s property and family.
• The reparation cost provided for child will not be spent on family and other
causes except directly benefitting child or can be put in a trust account at bank
that the child can use after crossing the age of 18 years.
23. Part IV: Implementation Mechanism
Following mechanisms are statutory formed, installed and functioned for the application
of policy and proceedure.
1. Child Protection Monitoring Committee
A central level child protection monitoring committee shall exist. The Child Protection
Monitoring Committee shall have five members coordinated by an executive board
member authenticated to perform the roles and responsibilities mentioned in this policy.
Composition of Child Protection Monitoring Committee
The Five Members Child Protection Monitoring Committee includes as follows:
Coordinator- Executive Board Member nominated by Executive Board
Member – Independent Child Rights and Protection Expert Nominated by Executive
Board
Member - Officer level or above staff members’ representative nominated by executive
board
Member – A girl child representative nominated by children’s advisory board
Member – A boy child representative nominated by children’s advisory board
The members of child protection monitoring committee shall be able to contribute
voluntarily and committed on child protection provisions and behaviours including
maintaining neutrality and confidentiality.
The members shall not be paid and provided any personal benefits and allowances for
their performance in child protection monitoring committee.
CWISH and its project shall cover all related expenses such as travel, accommodation and
communication in the performance of child protection monitoring committee and its
members carrying out the designated responsibilities by the committee.
The Child Protection Monitoring Committee can invite other person occasionally as per
requirement as observer, expert or in other capacity to present and provide views on
complaint.
24. The Child Protection Monitoring Committee is responsible for taking up following
actions:
• Educating and training staff, volunteers, visitors and members of CWISH on its
child protection policy and required caution and commitment.
• Monitoring and assessing child protection compliance in programs and services
organized by CWISH.
• Recommend actions and steps for enabling safety measures in programs and
services organized by CWISH.
• Collecting complaints from complaint box installed in offices and service centres
and briefing status of complaints to the children and officials of the service centre
and offices.
• Receive, discuss and make decision on complaints and information of child
protection concern to have further action of inquiry, referring, prosecution,
rehabilitation and reparation.
• Hold regular meeting on complaint handling once in every month.
• Report to the executive board of CWISH on functioning status of child protection
monitoring committee at least on quarterly basis.
• To invite and consult with experts and professionals on enhancing child
protection measures in CWISH policies and programs.
• To present and consult with children advisory board on actions taken by child
protection monitoring committee.
• To represent CWISH at local, national and international forums that is consulting
and discussing specifically on institutional provisions and policies on child
protection.
2. Training and Orientation for Staff
• All members, visitors, volunteers, partners of CWISH and members of child
protection monitoring committee members shall be trained and educated about
CWISH child protection policy and provisions.
• Such training and orientation shall not be less than of 2 hours providing adequate
information at least on behavioural provisions, privacy and confidentiality, child’s
informed consent, Do not harm provisions and complaint handling mechanisms.
25. • Refresher orientation and training is encouraged to be organized among staff,
volunteers and members of CWISH on this policy.
3. Installing and Regular Opening of Complaint Box
• CWISH shall install and operate complaint box in it’s central office and all other
offices and service centres.
• The complaint box shall be positioned in a place that is safe, accessible for
children of five years and above, well locked and secured.
• It shall be positioned in a place where child can feel not monitored by adult
personnel while putting complaint.
• Any two members of child protection monitoring committee shall open complaint
Box and shall collect all complaints in the box on date of 30 of every month.
• The collected complaint shall be put in a shield pack labelling the details of
service centre and office outside of the pack.
• The child Protection Monitoring Committee shall open in regular monthly
meeting and make further decisions.
• All complaints shall be put in a record file and adequately locked in a cabinet.
• In next opening of complaint box, the members of child protection monitoring
committee shall inform about the status of complaint they received in previous
meeting. While sharing this information identical information shall not be
disclosed.
4. Anonymous Helpline Call
• CWISH shall operate toll free helpline telephone services enabling potential
complainant to register their complaint and provide information related to child
protection concern in CWISH.
• Designated section and personnel of CWISH shall handle the Toll Free Helpline
during office hour at least.
• The person receiving complaint on Helpline Call shall inform coordinator Child
Protection Monitoring Committee or in absence of coordinator the chairperson or
Executive Board Representative of CWISH within following timeline
26. Category of Complaint Examples of Complaint Deadline to Inform
Category 1: High Priority Cases that may quickly affect the
physical integrity of a child and
threat to life. Such as:
Cases of Sexual abuse, harassment,
corporal punishment, torture and
violence.
The same day
complaint received.
Category 2: Medium
Priority
Cases related to the inadequate
application of PPCP. Such as:
Inadequate compliance of safety
measures, discrimination concern,
suspicion of violence and abuse
Within a week of
complaint received
Category 3: Low Priority Cases of suggestion and more
general concerns. Such as:
Other suggestions and feedbacks
on child protection action,
measures, possible risk felt etc.
Within a month of
complaint received
27. Part V: Clarification and Revision
1. Clarification
• The CWISH executive board’s interpretation of the provisions mentioned in this
policy shall be the ultimate and valid.
• The general municipal law or national laws on child protection have the better
provisions or higher standard; such provision shall prevail over the provision of
this policy.
• CWISH executive board with the mandate from general meeting may issues
additional provisions, clarifications or disable provisions of this policy with
adequate rationale.
• In any case the executive board shall not disable or interpret provisions that may
affect physical integrity, dignity and right to life of a child.
2. Reviews and Amendment of Policy
• CWISH executive board with the mandate from general meeting have authority to
review and amend provisions of this policy.
• CWISH shall take consultation with children, staff, members and it’s partners
while having review of the policies.
• Children’s feedback and suggestions, and other feedbacks and suggestions are
provided due respect in process of review and amendments.
• Conformity with international human rights law and humanitarian law, non
regression principle and children’s right to be heard shall be well preserved in
such revision process.
28. Annex -1 : Forms of Abuse and Violence
Children in CWSH project location, Nepal and at global level are suffering various forms of
abusive practices, which are harmful for them and violates their right to protection. There are
new forms of abuses and practices are emerging with invention and application of new
technologies and socially insensitive modernization. However for the administrative purpose
often social workers and organizations have categorised various forms of abuse and violence
in different categories, the single act of violence and abuse may have two or many forms of
abuse together present. Despite of realization and recognition of the new emerging practices
and vulnerability, some forms of abuse and violence mapped in Nepalese society have been
broadly categorised in mainly five categories:
Physical Abuse: Any act by individual or group with and without use of any tools that would
result in physical injury or pain to a child or young person except required medical or clinical
action authorised by competitive agency. This also includes the deliberate failure of individual
or group to protect a child from other’s act that result in physical injury and pain. In practical
reality and practices physical abuse happens through beating, hitting, chocking, shaking
harshly and hardly, burning, poisoning child with alcohol, drugs, medicines, shutting children
in cupboards, confinement in dark and dirty places and many other forms related to physical
punishment, corporal punishment and torture.
The common sign of a child suffered physical abuse is injuries, perplexing illness and
continuing pattern of accidents to a child where responsible adult is unable to provide
explanation. Physical abuse may bring other emotional and psychosocial problems in a child
and his/her behaviours.
Emotional Abuse: Emotional Abuse is something may present in many other forms of abuse
too, yet particularly emotional abuse also happens against children. Emotional Abuse is a
persistent pattern of deliberate uncaring or emotionally cruel, degrading, ill and discriminatory
treatment against a child. Emotional abuse in practical forms can be seen as discrimination
between son and daughter, among children based on cast, wealth and social status,
degrading behaviours with slow learner, physically impaired child etc. It also includes act
such as teasing and bullying, spoiling names, scolding, naming and shaming, continuous
criticism, overprotection and creating dependency, putting child in circumstances of quarrel,
violence and conflict and creating fear among children.
The emotional abuse of child often affect the overall social, cognitive, emotional and even
physical development of a child. It causes developmental delay and made child feeling of
oneself inferior and worthless, blaming oneself for anything wrong happens and often harm
29. themselves physically. At the same time, emotionally abused child are often found
themselves in difficult situation to make friends and often in lack of mistrust and obeying
anything without any analysis and questioning about the possible consequences.
Sexual Abuse: Sexual Abuse is any act by any individual and group upon a child with sexual
overtones; this includes both touching and non-touching forms of action. In practice, sexual
abuse includes both sexual exploitation and acts with child for sexual gratification. The sexual
abuse includes fondling, kissing, touching genital area and sexual organs or making child to
fondle, voyeurism, rape, oral and anal sex, pornography and making children to watch, listen
and read sexual arousing materials. Sexual abuse does not necessarily happen with force
alone, rather coercive and provocative action happens more and often the perpetrator
mislead child to fulfil one’s sexual desires. Therefore consent of child to act on is not
considered as genuine consent. However the reported statistics have showed that girls have
suffered more than boys, both are equally vulnerable to sexual abuse.
Sexual Abuse affects a child physical, emotional and sexual health of a child. Sexually
abused children may come up with psychosocial problems, emotionally inferiority, and with
sexually age inappropriate behaviours. In addition Sexual abuse may also result in physical
Injuries, sexually transmitted infections and early pregnancy on a child.
Neglect: Neglect is very least monitored and reported forms of abuse. Neglect can be
defined as failure of adult or responsible person to care child in his/her custody and care.
Neglect is a continuing pattern of action by omitting one’s responsibility for the better care
and support for a child. Often neglect can be found in practices as providing less nourished
and less amount of food, clothes and adequate health and housing facility, leaving child in
hunger and unattended in requirement, not providing clean and safe environment. The
consequence of Neglect is severe and long term damaging both physically, emotionally and
even sometime cause death, accidents and missing of child. In addition neglected child may
come up with anti social actions and commitments as well as juvenile delinquencies.
Abuse and Violence through Cyber and Media Technologies: Growth and easy
accessibility of cyberspace and media technologies have increased children’s access to
information and facilitated their creativity, entertainment and also participation exercises.
Access and use of cyber and new media technologies have on the one hand opened a high
potential opportunities for children’s overall development and have a better professional
career in future but at the same time in lack of adequate child sensitive protection system
their vulnerability and suffering has also gone much higher than in past days. Unsafe
30. exposure to cyber world, audio visual technologies including movies, cinemas and television
programs, computer games that may inflict fear, negative thoughts, sexual gratification,
exploitation and diversion of child to harmful acts can be defined as violence through cyber
and media technologies.
Child suffered abuse and violence through cyber and media technologies may result with
emotional problems, detachment with family, society and friends, cyber addiction, violent
behaviours. Such child may also result in regressive memory, anti social behaviours and self-
harming acts.
31. Annex 2: Risk, Vulnerabilities and Safety Measures for Children in Current
programs
Children in contact with CWISH or approaching CWISH for various purposes may fall into risk
due to various reasons. It is very important to layout the different settings where a child might
fall in abusive condition or at other risks, which should be better assessed, and safety
measures shall be placed. Following matrix demonstrate a mapping of various settings and
possible risk and suggested safety measures. Implementers are encouraged to go beyond
the list if required:
Program Action Risk and Vulnerabilities Suggested Safety Measures
Outreach Center
/ Alternative
Education
Classes
• Located in Isolated Place from
Community
• Located in a place not suitable for
children such as surrounded by
Bars, drug abuse places etc.
• Unsafe infrastructures lacking
safety railings, compound, Dark
and not enough lights and air etc.
• Not Earthquake proved building
and infrastructures.
• High road accident-prone
location.
• Located in Distance location from
child’s living arrangements i.e.
more than 20 Minutes.
• Facilitators/Educators are not
trained and sensitized on Child
Protection Measures.
• Practices of psychological
pressure, corporal punishment,
physical and sexual harassment,
discrimination, criticism,
humiliation and bullying by
facilitator, other participant child
and other individuals.
• Apply Child Protection Assessment
Certification before establishment and
operation.
• Apply Vetting Process on the
background of house owner, facilitator
before procuring services.
• Train facilitators and educate hose
owners and community people in the
surrounding on child protection and
child rights including legal action in
case of allegation of child abuse.
• Put visibly and readable information
about helpline complaint mechanism
and procedure so that all children can
be made aware.
• Inform and educate child, parents,
guardians and employers of children
in first class about helpline complaint
mechanism and procedure so that
they can make complain if require.
• Put visibly and readable code of
practices and a copy of child
protection policy in outreach centres
in an accessible way for all interested
to look at.
• Provide Group Insurance for children
32. participating programs.
Scholarship
Distribution
• Discrimination and cheating by
the person assigned for deciding
and distribution.
• Use of threat, manipulation for
taking advantage and exploitation
of child and his/her family by
person deciding and distributing
scholarship support.
• Risk of accident, missing while
scholarship is distributed from a
centralized location and children
have to travel a long distance.
• Teachers’, Parents’ and
employers’ punishment action
due to the late arrival in schools,
home and workplace due to long
waiting hours for scholarship
receiving process.
• Inform in detail to the child and his/her
family about the criteria of
scholarship, available quota and
process of decision-making and
distribution.
• Conduct monitoring and cross
verification on sample basis among
the scholarship distributed children
and families.
• Inform Parents and child about
complaint mechanism and procedures
in need.
• Simplify the scholarship process with
on spot delivery and distribution along
with pre notice on timing and
schedule for distribution.
• Make phone call or send a notice note
to employer, parent and teacher that
the child was delayed due to the
process of scholarship.
School Education
and Programs
• Poor, Unsafe and earthquake
safety lacking infrastructures.
• Absence of school area protected
from other peoples’ and animals
unwanted entry and disturbance.
• Practices of corporal punishment
• Presence of bullying,
discrimination and abusive
behaviours.
• Presence of hurdles, pits and dirt
in ground.
• Conduct Infrastructural Safety
Assessment and arrange support for
improvement for urgent needs.
• Train schoolteachers, administrators,
management committee members
and Parents Teachers’ Association
Members on child rights, child
protection and laws and practices.
• Promote application of code of
conduct or school child protection
policy.
• Promote Child Protection Committees
in Schools.
• Put visibly and readable information
about helpline complaint mechanism
33. and procedure so that all children can
be made aware.
Child Club • Lack or absence of safe place
for child club meetings and
programs.
• Bullying, Discrimination and
abuse of members by other
adults or elder child.
• Unwanted interferences in child
clubs and use of child clubs by
political parties and other
interest group
• Uncomfortable timing, location
and presence of adults for
certain specific group of child
such as girl, child with disability
and marginalized group of child.
• Coordinate with school management
and local community and government
for providing safe, confidential and
comfortable place for children to have
their meeting and programs.
• Train, educate and sensitize child
club members on child protection and
available services including complaint
mechanism.
• Promote inclusive and safer practices
among child club members through
application of code of conduct or self-
made rules.
• Train patron teacher and or child club
facilitator on promoting safer,
inclusive child club functioning.
Recreational and
Sports Program
• Risk of unsafe time, location
and activities.
• Risk of conflict and fight among
children with the feeling of lost
and won.
• Risk of parental, guardian or
employers’ persecution and
punishment for not having
permission.
• Unwanted outsiders adult’s
interference by security, armed
forces and other political or
criminal groups.
• Risk of exploitation of children’s
labor by private and profit
making groups
• Promote cooperative games and
sports among children rather than
competitive.
• Apply code of conduct and educate
children that win and loose is just of
the event and it should be friendly
before recreation and sports
session.
• Prevent use of provocative slogans,
behaviour and appeal by observers
and viewers.
• Inform security personnel for
adequate safety and security of the
place and inform about the purpose
and participants of the event.
• Prevent political parties’ other
interest groups and armed group
interference with adequate
34. coordination before the event.
• Apply rule in contract with private
and profit making groups for not
making profit in children’s
recreational events.
• Provide Group Insurance for
children participating programs.
Conferences/Wor
kshop/ Training/
and Assemblies
• Long distance travel alone to
not familiar place at night.
• Bullying, emotional, physical
and sexual harassment by
adult, elder child and other
people on travel or at event
place.
• Lack adequate food, clothes
and required medicine at place
of event.
• Not informed and consented by
parents, guardian or employer.
• Risk of minor accidental injuries
and health problems.
• Risk of missing in new place.
• Lack of safe and earthquake
safe infrastructures with
adequate availability of clean
water, separate toilet for girls
and boys and sanitation.
• In residence, lack of separate
residence facilities with adult
warden designated for taking
care of resident children.
• Do not allow child to travel alone in
absence of well trained, informed
and capable officially designated
chaperon.
• Educate and apply code of conduct
and child protection policy for
children and adults presented in the
events.
• Ensure adequate, balanced, fresh
foods are supplied on time with
clean and safe drinking water. Avoid
use of junk foods and supplies.
• Provide adequate information to
child and adults about the map,
place, police and information in case
of missing and in requirement of
other helps.
• Conduct infrastructure safety
assessment of the event venue.
• Ensure the venue and service
provider has no use of child labor.
• Made on spot available of first aid,
psychosocial counsellor and child
protection officials during the
program.
• For residential program ensure
arrangements for separate resident
facility for girl and boys with well-
trained same sex warden.
35. • Provide Group Insurance for
children participating programs.
Counselling
Services
• Abuse and exploitation of child’s
emotional vulnerability of child.
• Making of false promises and
abuse and exploitation of child.
• Recording photos, videos and
audio of child without consent
• Reveal of child’s private
information without consent.
• Creating fear on the child and
his/her family.
• Ignore child’s immediate needs
such as hunger and injuries
• Promote confidential, private
counselling room with transparent
windows and doors.
• Application for code of conduct for
psychosocial counsellors on
handling and dealing with child and
his/her information.
• Do not reveal and publicize
information related to child without
informed consent and revealing
one’s identity.
• Put visibly helpline number and
complaint system information on
counselling room and place.
Rescue, Re
integration and
Rehabilitation
Services
• Risk of clashes at place of
incidents, security threats,
physical violence and
environment of fear.
• Risk of unnecessarily
separation from biological family
and parents.
• Risk of identity revealing and
loss of individual privacy
• Risk of psychological stress,
psychosocial problems.
• Risk of being abused by
caretakers and others at safe
house and transit shelter.
• Risk of unacceptance by family
and community
• Risk of deprivation from other
fundamental rights such as
education, health, protection
and participation.
• Develop and apply rescue and
reintegration guidelines for staff
members.
• Train all staff and educate target
group on rescue and reintegration
guidelines.
• Apply procedural policy on making
success stories and news releases.
• Apply child protection and privacy
protection guideline while providing
access to victim/survivor for media
• Implement psychosocial counselling
services for victim/survivor and
family.
• Arrange security convoy for child
and chaperon’s safety on travel to
and from place.
• Put visibly helpline number and
complaint system information safe
house, transit care homes.
36. • Implement pre-reintegration
assessment and family development
component together with
reintegration and rehabilitation
interventions.
• Ensure follow up visit for victim and
survivor upto the period 2 years at
least.
• Provide Group Insurance for
children participating programs.
Legal
Prosecution and
Investigation
• Psychological and emotional
stress for child.
• Threats from offender and
his/her allies.
• Harassment and confusing
questions by opposition
lawyers.
• Fear of formal settings and
environment.
• Harassment by investigator and
repeated visit to the police
station.
• Compromise by adult members
of the family.
• Pressure for child and family to
withdraw complaint
• Made easy and all time availability
of psychosocial counselling, care
and support.
• Ensure child case is handled by well
trained and child sensitive police
lawyers and judges.
• Ensure child do not face offender
and people from his/her side
directly.
• Arrange security convoy for child
and chaperon’s safety on travel to
and from place.
• Reduce the frequency to visit
investigation center and court by
child.
• Be in touch with family of
victim/survivor child and encourage
them to have confident on justice.
• Explore any risk, threats or
pressures inflicted upon child,
community and family; and arrange
required support and security.
Monitoring,
Documentation
and Research
• Meetings, consultation, interview
are arranged in unsafe and
inappropriate place and time
• Mandatory application of ethical
action and risk reduction and
response plan on all research,
37. Action without informing parents and
legal guardians.
• Observation, documentation,
interview and photography of
child activities without prior
consent of child and his/her
available guardian.
• Use of photos, videos and stories
exposing child’s poverty and
affecting child’s dignity.
• Making child to participate in
research with manipulation, force
and coerce or use of power.
• Asking questions and use of
photographs and videos that child
feels and finds uncomfortable.
• Absence of adult chaperons for
travelling to and from research
places.
• Forcing child to share information
that one doesn’t like/want.
• Breaching privacy by making
public, talking among friends,
media and other people about the
information shared by child.
• Unwanted interventions by
researcher and research
institution on child’s context
without prior consultation and
consent from child.
monitoring and documentation
activities.
• Ensure the place and time organized
meeting with child for monitoring,
documentation and research action
are appropriate and safe for child,
often daytime only, in a place visible
from outside.
• Strictly apply the policy to take well-
informed written/verbal consent from
child and parents or legal guardian
before conducting any research
activities.
• Strictly apply policy to take informed
consent from child and available
guardian to use photos, videos and
stories.
• Prevent photographs, videos, and
stories that undermine the dignity of a
child.
• Clearly inform a child if any text,
verbal statement, picture or video in
research process might make them
uncomfortable and if they fell
uncomfortable, let child to stop use.
• Inform child and family to contact
CWISH if they are forced and
manipulated to share any information
by researcher, or if they want to
delete any information they have
shared in research process.
• Put brief child protection statement
and options to contact helpline in all
research, monitoring and document
process and materials.
• Inform researcher to contact helpline
38. team for any emergency intervention
they feel need to have and prevent
them from acting on their own without
consent of child, family and CWISH.
Participation in
Media Activities
• Use of children photographs,
views, statements and videos in
an uncomfortable way and
adversely affecting dignity.
• Exploitation of children in
advertisements.
• Exposure of children in adult
entertainment, pornography and
sexually grooming way.
• Risk of violence due to their
statement, views on certain
issues.
• Risk of disclosure of identity of a
child and information that may
put child in risk.
• Pre assessment of media materials
before publication, broadcasting and
distribution together with the child or
family.
• Remunerate child for his/her
performance in advertisement or any
such profit making media production.
• Have pre agreement with media not
to expose identity, location and other
identical information and information-
pushing child at risk.
• Prevent adult entertaining, violent and
sexual grooming media content from
reaching to children.
• Prevent media from publication and
broadcasting views of child that may
put child and his/her family at risk.
• Ensure only trained and sensitive
media persons have direct access to
children and families.