As the well-being of children is at the core of GESE Africa Uganda’s work, GESE Africa Uganda strives not only to provide them with sexual education, but also to ensure their safety at all times. Therefore, a central principle is the protection of children from child maltreatment that may lead to potential or actual danger to the child’s health, development or dignity. By maltreatment, we specifically mean the following five forms:
• Neglect and failure to act in a caring manner
• Physical maltreatment in all forms of violence against children
• Psychological maltreatment through belittling, rejecting, isolating, ignoring, humiliating, threatening, terrorizing, adultifying, and conveying rejection or worthlessness
• Any form of sexual abuse
• The economic or other exploitation of a child through activities that the child engages in for the benefit of a third party. This includes exploitative child labor, child pornography, child prostitution, and any activity that may involve danger, interfere with the child’s education, or harm the child’s health or physical, mental, psychological, moral, or social development

GESE Africa Uganda is specifically committed to the protection of children and clearly positions itself for a non-violent framework in which children can develop in a self-determined, independent and conflict-free manner. This includes adhering to clear behavioral guidelines when dealing with children. The aim of the child safety policy is to protect children in the projects from violence, stigmatization and violation of their personal rights. The child safety policy contains clearly defined procedures and behavioral guidelines and helps to protect employees from unfounded accusations. It serves as a guide for all employees on how to prevent violence, how to deal with concerns and suspected cases, and how to act in cases of violence. The issue is to be dealt with transparently, effectively and in the best interests of the child. Sensitive information is always handled confidentially.

In order to protect the children, GESE Africa Uganda aligns its work with the following child safety principles:
• GESE Africa Uganda shows zero tolerance for child abuse in any form.
• GESE Africa Uganda treats all children fairly and equally, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, economic situation or any other aspect.
• GESE Africa Uganda involves the children in the processes and continuously focuses on their needs.
• GESE Africa Uganda uses physical environments that promote child safety and provides additional online forms of communication that allow children to report any misconduct.
• GESE Africa Uganda integrates child safety into all aspects of organizational strategy, governance and culture.

The child safety policy applies to all:
• Employees of GESE Africa Uganda
• Project visitors
• Employees of governmental donors, corporate partners, foundations or other partners
• All other persons working for or with GESE Africa Uganda

In an effort to provide a safe environment for children, basic precautionary measures are taken as part of human resource management. A prudent selection and hiring process does not provide 100% protection from potential perpetrators, but serves as a deterrent to gaining access to children through GESE Africa Uganda with bad intentions.

In the selection and hiring process of new staff, child protection issues are considered and our child safety guidelines are addressed.
All staff members are informed about their rights and duties regarding child protection.
All children’s data, like all personal data, will be handled in accordance with the applicable data protection laws.

Public reporting about our projects abroad is a core element of our work to raise awareness and funds for sexual education. However, it also carries the risk of violating children’s rights. Therefore, when disseminating media content, we always take care to respect the dignity and protection of children and to protect their identity. In doing so, we follow the communication standards mentioned here:
• All media content is based on the values of respect and equality and upholds the dignity of the person portrayed
• When communicating in any form, children are treated and portrayed with respect
• Reduction to a victim role or stereotype is to be avoided
• When taking pictures, care is to be taken that the children are appropriately dressed
• Whenever possible, their living situation is described against the background of their social, cultural and economic environment
• The privacy of all persons in the project environment is respected at all times

Additional protective measures are taken in the case of particularly vulnerable persons; these include:
• Children who have been victims of sexual or other violence
• Children affected by HIV or AIDS
• Children who are accused of or have committed a criminal offense
• Children who have to or have had to participate in armed conflicts
• Children seeking asylum, refugees or internally displaced children
• Traumatized children (after natural disasters, armed conflicts, etc.)

In these cases, the reporter must assess the respective danger – based on media content and its distribution – with those responsible for the project on site and adapt the presentation to the following level model:
• Level 1: Low risk of violence or stigmatization: faces and location information can be published.
• Level 2: Medium risk of violence or stigmatization: faces and approximate location information may be published.
• Level 3: High risk of violence or stigmatization: Faces may not be published clearly, location information must be changed.

All external reporters are required to comply with the child safety standards.

The case management system includes a procedure for dealing with suspected cases of violence against children. We apply the following guidelines:
• All incoming reports are taken seriously and processed quickly
• All information is treated with confidentiality
• All persons involved are to be informed about the individual steps of the investigation
• The best interests of the child and the protection of the victim have the highest priority
• The accused person is presumed innocent until proven otherwise; he/she is entitled to legal assistance
• The questioning of children is done in a sensitive manner
• The principles of victim protection are respected

The aim is to enable a quick investigation of the situation or to detect one at an early stage. The system is known to all members of the association and employees. The protection of children, psychological and medical care and rehabilitation measures are of high priority. All reports and information are kept confidential to protect the identity of the child, as well as the person who raised the suspicion.
• A suspicion can be submitted anonymously to GESE Africa Uganda in different ways, after which a meeting must take place within 24 hours
• Reporting to the local police in case of a criminal offense
• Establishment of a contact between care service and affected child
• In case of violation of the present guidelines, further investigation must take place
• The progress of the investigation must be monitored
• The complaint must be recorded and noted by the association members

The following steps are taken in cases of suspicion:
• Convene a meeting
• Reviewing the information
• Deciding which other persons should be involved in the review
• Clarification of responsibilities
• Determine the scope of the investigation (in terms of content and time)
• Identify the persons to be interviewed
• Assessment of the situation
• Documentation of the investigation
• Determination of measures in investigation result

In principle, GESE Africa Uganda also expects partner organizations to fully comply with all of the child safety measures listed above. If a partner organization has not fully implemented single requirements, GESE Africa Uganda is still open for cooperation, but obliges the partner organization to make up for the missing aspects before the start of active cooperation. GESE Africa Uganda supports the partner organizations in the implementation of these measures if necessary.

Do you have any concern regarding the child safety in our processes?

In that case, do not hesitate to contact us immediately via: info@geseafricauganda.org