Background

Child abuse is a global phenomenon. It occurs in all countries and in all societies. It involves the
physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect of children and adolescents. It is almost always
preventable. Children and adolescents can be potentially subjected to exploitation, abuse,
violence and neglect in families, communities, institutions, organisations, private places, public
places by various circumstances by variety of people, including delegates, support staff, and
ancillary personnel people associated with the conference. In order to address and protect
children and adolescents from potential abuse and exploitation during their involvement with
Eurochild this Child Protection Policy has been developed and is periodically updated.

1. Introduction

Eurochild is a network of organisations and individuals working in and across Europe to
promote the rights and well-being of children and young people.

Eurochild’s vision is of a society where children and young people grow up happy, healthy and
confident and respected as individuals in their own right.

Eurochild’s mission is to promote the rights and well-being of children in policy and practice
through advocacy, membership exchange and research.

Eurochild’s work is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNCRC). We believe that child protection is crucial to ensuring that children under the age of
18 have the rights, information and space in which they can express their views and
communicate effectively with other children and adults. Children can only become empowered
agents of change to improve their lives and that of their families and communities if they are
safeguarded from abuse, discrimination and harm of any kind, be it physical, sexual, emotional
or neglect.

We would like to acknowledge the following organisations as we have drawn material from
their Child Protection Policies: CATS – Children as Actors for Transforming Society and Child to
Child. The Keeping Children Safe Coalition has provided guidance for Eurochild’s developing
child protection standards and how to implement these.

1.1 Eurochild’s core child protection principles and values
Based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

This Child Protection Policy deals with the protection of children and adolescents as defined by
the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UN CRC should be taken holistically,
providing a comprehensive framework for the protection, provision and participation of all
children. All children and adolescents involved in Eurochild activities, projects and programmes
have the right to have their health, safety, dignity, well-being, and best interests considered top priority. They have the right to have their development promoted and safeguarded so that they
can achieve their full potential. They must be be valued, respected and understood within the
context of their own culture, religion and ethnicity and they have the right to be listened to and
to have their views given careful consideration, and to be encouraged and helped to participate
in decisions which affect them, including in child protection and safeguarding decisions.

Non-negotiable duty

Eurochild believes that NGOs working for children’s rights have an absolute duty to protect
children from abuse, mistreatment, and exploitation from within organisations intended for their
benefit. This duty is imperative and non-negotiable. Without adequate standards and
mechanisms for protection in place, an organisation is not only failing in its primary duty of care,
but may also be negligently or recklessly fostering an environment of abuse.

Open environment

Eurochild believes that without proper and explicit procedures in place, NGOs are extremely
vulnerable to accusations of child abuse. Furthermore, organisations with weak communication
structures run the risk of being infiltrated by persons, such as paedophiles, who seek to abuse
children without being brought into the open. Eurochild therefore believes in:

• Creating an environment where issues of child protection and safeguarding are
  discussed openly and are understood by and between children and adults;
• Promoting open lines of communication both internally and externally within and
  between member organisations to improve awareness and implementation of child
  protection policies and practices;
• Creating a framework to deal openly, consistently and fairly with allegations concerning
  both direct and indirect abuse.

Children’s Participation

Eurochild works with and for children throughout Europe, striving for a society that respects the
rights of children. Eurochild believes that children’s participation promotes children’s
protection and children’s protection promotes children’s participation. “The obligation to
respect the right of children to be heard is equal to the obligation to protect. Effective and
sustainable protection for children can only be achieved through listening to children.”(1)

Eurochild aims to create spaces where children feel able and willing to speak about abuse, free
from abusers and which empowers them to become actors in their own protection without
further discrimination or shame. Eurochild aims to empower children by making them aware about their rights and creating a safe environment in which they can exercise their rights. Children are involved in creating safe spaces for their meetings and activities.

Eurochild aims to implement children’s participation based on the nine requirements for
meaningful, safe and inclusive children’s participation:

1. Participation is transparent and informative
2. Participation is voluntary
3. Participation is respectful
4. Participation is relevant
5. Participation is child-friendly
6. Participation is inclusive
7. Participation is supported by training
8. Participation is safe and sensitive to risk
9. Participation is accountable

Implementation and accountability

This Child Protection Policy is developed to ensure the highest standards of professional
behaviour and personal practice to ensure no harm occurs in any situation to children and
adolescents during their involvement in Eurochild activities, projects and programmes. It
therefore includes measures regarding recruitment procedures, review of management
structures, creation of space for children to speak out, staff training, and development of
transparent protocols. The included standards are a tool servicing the promotion of the welfare
of children in Eurochild activities, projects and programmes.

The Child Protection Policy is supported by clear guidelines on how it needs to be implemented
by organisations participating and supporting children in Eurochild activities, projects and
programmes.

Special procedures and checklists are part of the Child Protection Policy, including reporting
procedures and actions following behaviour, which is not in compliance with the child
protection standards. A child-friendly version of the child protection policy has been developed
in collaboration with the Eurochild Children’s Council and is published in June 2024.

These principles underpin all of the following standards set out in this document.

1.2 Definitions

Child

A child is defined as anyone under the age of 18, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights
of the Child (1989).

Child Protection

Child protection is a broad term to describe philosophies, standards, guidelines and procedures
to protect children from both intentional and unintentional harm. In the current context, it
applies to Eurochild’s duty to make sure that its staff, operations and programmes do no harm
to children, that is that they do not expose children to the risk of harm and abuse, and that any
concerns the organisation has about children’s safety within the activities and programmes in
which they work, are reported to the appropriate authorities.

Direct contact with children

Being in the physical or online presence of a child/children in the context of Eurochild’s work,
whether contact is occasional or regular, short or long-term. This could involve attending
meetings and conferences at which children are present or working with child volunteers in the
Eurochild office (N.B. these are examples).

Indirect contact with children

Having access to information on children in the context of Eurochild’s work, such as children’s
names, locations (addresses of individuals or projects), photographs and case studies.
Providing funding for organisations that work ‘directly’ with children. Although indirectly, this
nonetheless has an impact on children, and therefore confers upon the donor organisation
responsibility of child protection issues. (N.B. this list of examples is not exhaustive).

Member

For the purpose of this policy, a member is a full or associate member organisation or an
individual member of Eurochild.

Policy

‘A statement of intent that demonstrates a commitment to safeguard children from harm and
makes clear to all what is required in relation to the protection of children. It helps to create a
safe and positive environment for children and to show that the organisation is taking its duty
and responsibility of care seriously.’(2)

1.3 What is child abuse and exploitation?

According to the World Health Organisation, “child abuse” or “maltreatment” constitutes ‘all
forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment
or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power(3).

Our understanding of child abuse and exploitation includes, but it not limited to:

Physical abuse(4)

May involve hitting, smacking, shaking, throwing, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or
otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or
carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child who they are looking
after. This is commonly described using terms such as ’fictitious illness by proxy ’or
’Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy’.

Emotional abuse(5)

Is defined as the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and
persistent effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children
that they are worthless and unloved, inadequate, or valued only so far as they meet the needs
of another person. It may involve age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being
imposed in 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.

Neglect(6)

Is defined as the persistent failure to meet the child’s basic physical and/ or psychological
needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s physical or cognitive
development.

Bullying(7)

May be defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour, usually repeated over a period of time, where
it is difficult for those bullied to defend themselves. It can take many forms, but the three main
types are physical (e.g. hitting, kicking, theft), verbal (e.g. racist or homophobic remarks,
threats, name calling) and emotional (e.g. isolating an individual from the activities and social
acceptance of their peer group). Bullying can occur in both physical and online settings.

Sexual abuse of children(8)

”Sexual abuse of children involves forcing 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 abuse by penetration or non-penetrative
acts (such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside clothing). They may also
include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of,
sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually
inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse including via the internet.
Child sexual abuse includes child sexual exploitation.”

Sexual exploitation of children(9)

”A form of sexual abuse that involves children being engaged in any sexual activity in exchange
for money,gifts, food, accommodation, affection, status, or anything else that they or their
family needs. It usually involves a child being manipulated or coerced, which may involve
befriending children, gaining their trust, and subjecting them to drugs and alcohol. The abusive
relationship between victim and perpetrator involves an imbalance of power where the victim’s
options are limited. It is a form of abuse that can be misunderstood by children and adults as
consensual.

Child sexual exploitation manifests in different ways. It can involve an older perpetrator
exercising financial, emotional or physical control over a young person. It can involve peers
manipulating or forcing victims into sexual activity, sometimes within gangs and in gangaffected neighbourhoods. It may also involve opportunistic or organised networks of perpetrators who profit financially from trafficking young victims between different locations to engage in sexual activity with multiple men.”

Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

Means any representation, by whatever means, of a child engaged in real or simulated explicit
sexual activities or any representation of the sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual
purposes. This can include photographs, negatives, slides, magazines, books, drawings, movies,
videos and images on online devices.(10)

Violence

Was defined by the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence as ‘physical, psychological
(psychosocial), and sexual violence to children through abuse, neglect or exploitation, as acts of
commission or omission in direct or indirect forms, that endanger or harm the child’s dignity,
physical, psychological, or social status, or development.’(11)

Eurochild has added to this definition: ‘Structural violence, which is built into the structure of
society and manifests itself as unequal power, indirectly causes harm through a steady process
of political, economic, or social discrimination, ultimately reducing a child’s potential to fulfil
their rights. Poverty is both a major risk factor for direct forms of violence against children, and
a pervasive form of indirect violence in and of itself’.

Commercial exploitation

Means exploiting a child in work or other activities for the benefit of others and to the
detriment of the child’s physical or mental health, education, moral or social-emotional
development. It includes, but is not limited to, child labour.

A child who is being abused may experience more than one type of cruelty. Discrimination,
harassment, and bullying are also abusive and can harm a child, physically and emotionally.

2. The need for a child protection policy

‘All organisations and professionals working or in contact with children are obliged to ensure
their operations are ‘child safe’ and therefore need to have a Child Protection Policy’(12).

Eurochild needs a child protection policy because:

Organisation staff are protected

All children have a right to freedom from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation, based on
the UNCRC. It is therefore the responsibility of Eurochild to ensure that all its activities, policies,
projects and programmes are ‘child safe’. This means that staff do not represent a risk to
children and that programmes, policies and practices are designed and developed in ways that
promote the protection of children.

Children are protected

Some children are particularly vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and ill-treatment at the hands of carers, project workers, and those with access to their personal information. Many children growing up in vulnerable circumstances have already experienced ruptured relationships of trust or abuse of an adult-child relationship in the form of physical, psychological or sexual abuse.

The organisation and its reputation is protected

Organisations working with vulnerable children have been, are and will continue to be
vulnerable to abuse until the issues are brought into the open. Organisations without
protection policies, guidelines and systems are also more vulnerable to false or malicious
accusations of abuse.

Without a proper child protection policy and child protection standards in place, allegations of
abuse, whether founded or unfounded, can destroy an organisation’s reputation. This will have
serious implications for fundraising, for the overall goals of the organisation, as well as
damaging the reputation of the children’s rights NGO sector as a whole.

3. The scope of a child protection policy

Eurochild’s child protection policy applies to:

• All staff; Management Board members; interns and volunteers
• All those acting on behalf of Eurochild, such as members, consultants or trainers
• All those adults accompanying children to events and activities organised by Eurochild
• All those who participate in Eurochild events and meetings involving children,
including journalists, sponsors, donors, policy makers, etc.

All the individuals cited above will be expected to read Eurochild’s Child Protection Policy and
sign a commitment to adhere to its principles and procedures (see further).

3.1 Awareness

For effective implementation of the Child Protection Policy, it needs to be understood
accurately by all those that the policy applies to. Eurochild will ensure that all its staff, interns,
volunteers, consultants, etc. are informed about this policy and act in accordance with all its
provisions, and do no harm to children who may come into their contact within or outside their
work.

The Child Protection Policy will be sent to all responsible adults after they have joined
Eurochild.

The Coordinator on Child Participation will ensure that a copy of the Policy (including a child
friendly version) will be sent to all organisations that will organize meetings on behalf of
Eurochild or will travel with children to events organized by Eurochild. These organisations will
be asked to brief their staff working and traveling with the children to Eurochild events about
this Policy, as well as to inform parents, carers, legal guardians and children on their right to be
protected and the reporting mechanisms available. When organizing meetings with children on
behalf of Eurochild, they will be asked to complete a local child protection mapping.

3.2 Eurochild’s child protection policy with respect to members and external partners

Eurochild’s Child Protection Policy should apply to all Eurochild member organisations and to
external partners when they cooperate and participate with children in Eurochild events.

As of 2017, new applicants for Eurochild membership are asked to demonstrate the existence
of their own child protection policy, which meets, or goes beyond, that of Eurochild. If no child
protection policy is in place, they are asked to sign up to Eurochild’s child protection policy and
demonstrate their commitment to develop their own child protection policies and procedures,
which reflect the local context and legal framework.

Existing members will also be asked to send the Eurochild secretariat their own child protection
policy and/or sign up to Eurochild’s child protection policy.

In the event of persistent poor or one extreme practice or abuse within a particular member
organisation, Eurochild may decide to terminate membership of this organisation. However, as
much as possible, we aim to work alongside members to improve practice and address
concerns in an open and constructive manner before considering a termination of membership.

Any external partner which cooperates with Eurochild in the organisation of events involving
children will be asked to provide evidence of their own child protection policy, or to sign up to
that of Eurochild.

3.3 Risk Assessments and Safe Programme Design

Eurochild is committed to designing and delivering programmes that are safe for children. Risk
assessments are therefore conducted when designing our projects and activities and safety
strategies developed accordingly.

Risk mitigation strategies have been and will continue to be developed, which minimize the
risks to children and are incorporated into the design, delivery and evaluation of programmes,
operations and activities which involve or impact upon children.

4. Eurochild’s Child Protection Policy

This Policy is developed to ensure the highest standards of professional behaviour and personal
practice to ensure no harm occurs in any situation to children during their involvement in any
Eurochild activities or projects.

4.1 Staff and Personnel

As a condition for working with Eurochild, all staff; Management Board members; interns and
volunteers and all those acting on behalf of Eurochild, such as members, consultants or trainers
are required to undergo the following:

1. Both acceptance and commitment to our Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct
for working with children by signing a commitment to adhere to the Child Protection
Policy principles and procedures. This includes in the recruitment and appointment
process:

a. Staff, volunteers, interns and consultants are recruited to clear job or role
descriptions that include a statement on the position or role’s responsibilities to
meet the requirements of Eurochild’s child protection policy.
b. All recruitment interviews should include a discussion on child safeguarding and
protection, the candidate’s understanding of this and Eurochild’s commitment.
c. Adherance to Eurochild’s Child Protection Policy are part of Eurochild’s
employment contracts and service agreements.

2. Candidates for positions at Eurochild will be asked to provide two references in their
applications.

3. Eurochild staff is empowered to call out behaviours of members, which are not in
compliance with Eurochild’s child protection policy.

More detailed information and forms are included in Annex 1 on a safe staff recruitment.

4.2 Training and Education

Education and training are essential to implement the Child Protection Policy. This includes:

• At the beginning of the induction period (ideally within 3 weeks of taking up the position) of staff/volunteers/interns/MB members they will receive an introduction to Eurochild’s Child Protection Policy and procedures from the Child Protection Focal person. This will include training on behavior guidelines for those in direct contact with children, and guidance on the acceptable and unacceptable sharing of information on children. Training will also allow staff to be able to identify sources of support for children and their families.
• Child Safeguarding Training will be given to all staff, volunteers and interns,
appropriate to their roles and responsibilities.

4.3 Behaviour protocols
Any staff, employee, volunteer, intern, management board member, consultant or adviser who
has direct contact with children in his/her work will be fully informed of Eurochild’s Code of
Conduct (attached).
4.4 Management
The implementation of the child protection policy will be overseen by the Director of Child
Rights and Capacity Building, who has the ultimate responsibility for its implementation in
Eurochild’s (daily) work. The Management Board has the overall responsibility for ensuring the
implementation of the policy.
A Child Protection Focal person (CPF) will be appointed who will be responsible for:
• Promoting awareness and implementation of the Child Protection Policy throughout
the organisation.
• Monitoring implementation of the Policy and reporting on developments at Team
meetings and for the Management Board.
• The development of child protection training resources are required.
• Maintaining knowledge of best practices and statutory requirements.
• Acting as a source of support and information for staff on safeguarding issues.
The name and contact details of the CPF will clearly be displayed in the Eurochild office and
new staff will be made aware of the role.
The disclosure of personal information about children, including legal cases, will be limited to
those employees, interns, volunteers, MB members who need to know. The Management
Board will have the overall responsibility to oversee and ensure the Policy’s implementation.
Specific procedures and checklists are part of the Child Protection Policy and are referred to in
chapters 6 and 7, which deal with the implementation strategy for the Child Protection Policy,
including reporting procedures and monitoring and evaluation processes. Safeguarding will be
included within the development of projects by Eurochild.

References:

1. Quote by Gerison Lansdown, Co-chair of the Eurochild Participation Reference Group in 2017 and child rights
   expert
2. Setting the Standard: A common approach to Child Protection for international NGOs, Standard 1 (Policy)
3. The WHO definition of Child Abuse as defined by the Report of the Consultation on Child Abuse Prevention WHO –
   1999.
4. Child protection fact sheet: The definitions and signs of child abuse. NSPCC, 2009.
5. Child protection fact sheet: The definitions and signs of child abuse. NSPCC, 2009.
6. Child protection fact sheet: The definitions and signs of child abuse. NSPCC, 2009.
7. Child protection fact sheet: The definitions and signs of child abuse. NSPCC, 2009.
8. Keeping Children Safe definition, definition to be confirmed
9. Keeping Children Safe definition, definition to be confirmed
10. Child Protection Policies and Procedures. ECPAT International Secretariat, 2006.
11. The UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence, 2005.
12. Keeping Children Safe: ‘Child Safeguarding Standards and how to implement them’