‘Protection to Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment (PSEAH) is a child safeguarding issue. […] and it is not one-location issue: it is every sector, it is every programme and it is across the globe.’
One of the largest barriers in addressing the impacts of PSEAH on victims, especially among vulnerable groups of children, is the lack of accessible reporting. Establishing a strong safeguarding system is essential to prevent abuse, but it must include local perspectives to be effective. Integrating child safeguarding practices across all levels of organisations, with a tailored approach to local contexts, is crucial for protecting children everywhere. Effective partnerships rely on shared values, transparent assessments and mutual commitment to child safeguarding.
Asmae – Association Soeur Emmanuelle’s Child safeguarding risk assessment for partners toolkit, for example, emphasises the need for a comprehensive assessment to identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for safeguarding improvement within partner organisations. The process includes tools like the Partner’s Assessment Sheet and Partner’s Analysis Tool, which assess areas such as project implementation, health and safety standards and reporting procedures. They notes, ‘The assessment and analysis help identify areas where partners need support, ensuring that safeguarding standards are met at every project phase.‘
USAID also provides a valuable Safeguarding Partner Toolkit, which includes guidelines and frameworks specific to child safeguarding, PSEAH and counter-trafficking in persons. This toolkit serves as a living document, regularly updated based on best practices and partner feedback: ‘Effective safeguarding is not just what we do, but how we do it. Our commitment to do no harm is a core value shared across all partnerships.‘ This resource provides partners with a structured approach to ensure compliance and implement protective measures, reinforcing the principle that safeguarding is a shared responsibility in all programmes and interventions.
Explore some resources developed by KCS and other organisations on this topic:
- USAID Safeguarding Partner Toolkit
- CHS Alliance: Trends in sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the aid sector: a six-month overview
- Safety of children with a disability by the Commission for children and young people – Australian Government
- Safety of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds Commission for children and young people – Australian Government
- Guidance to promote wellbeing and child safeguarding in educational centres by British Council and UNICEF (available in Spanish)
- Child safeguarding risk assessment for partners by Asmae – Association Soeur Emmannuelle
International Child Safeguarding Week is a global online campaign hosted by Keeping Children Safe, from 21-25 October 2024, to emphasise that safeguarding children from exploitation and abuse is everyone’s responsibility. It offers daily resources and insights on different child safeguarding themes, all available on the KCS website.