Safeguarding

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Safeguarding describes all the work we do to uphold and promote a person’s right to live in safety free from abuse and neglect with a focus on children and ‘adults at risk’.

All RCRC Movement actors have a responsibility to put in place a range of protection measures from abuse and maltreatment of any kind for the people who work for us, use our services, and interact with us.

This is a weighty responsibility in any of our services, but maybe particularly important and challenging in an HSP because of the diversity and particular vulnerabilities of the adults and children that are using our services. For example, people in an irregular situation are in a particularly powerless and risky situation.

When people are on the move they are less likely to report abuse or complain about mistreatment.

Do No Harm is the core protection principle, and safeguarding should take a person-centered approach. This means putting the needs of the service user first, including:

Preventing problems

Facilitating reporting

Act on complaints

Never minimise

Give the power to the complainant

by asking the person complaining what they would like you to do with the information and respecting their decision about whether to take it farther.

There may be reasons to override their consent such as the abuse was perpetrated by a representative of Red Cross, money laundering or trafficking may be involved, children are at risk, other adults who can’t protect themselves are at risk, the adult at risk lacks the capacity to keep themselves safe etc.

* Remember – even if the case isn’t taken further, it is a valuable opportunity to identify possible issues or gaps in safeguarding.

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Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

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Professional Boundaries

What SEA looks like:

A humanitarian worker attempts to engage in sexual activity with a community member they are supporting through the project.

What SEA looks like:

A woman gives her consent to have sex with her employer in exchange for a paid staff/volunteer position.

What SEA looks like:

A humanitarian worker is “satisfying their own sexual needs and desires” in an affected community without considering the power disparity.

What SEA looks like:

A humanitarian worker visits sex workers in or outside of work hours.

What SEA looks like:

A senior member of staff makes sexual remarks about the body, clothing or appearance of staff or volunteers at the office.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

SEA is any form of sexual exploitation or abuse caused, intentionally or unintentionally, by RCRC Movement people, operations or projects. This includes SEA of persons (adult or child) that come into contact with or benefit from our protection or assistance, as well as SEA of RCRC personnel.

SEA is a form of gender-based violence and affects not only the survivor but also family, friends and communities. As well as harming the people we serve, SEA erodes trust in the RCRC Movement and emblem. It can have serious reputational, financial, and legal consequences.

Mechanisms must be in place to allow people to complain about exploitative or abusive behaviour, or to report any concerns. We must respond quickly and effectively to any reports we receive.

In line with the IFRC 2018 Policy on Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, NS and partners working in HSPs or receiving referrals should have zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. This means not only that abuses are detected, but also that perpetrators are held to account.

Reporting Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Reports can be made through the relevant authority in the IFRC:

Human Resources Department; or
Red Cross and Red Crescent Integrity Line
The personnel’s own line manager(s); or
Any Senior Manager; or
The OIAI department: concerns@ifrc.org; or

Police authorities should be contacted as well, where the local law requires, and/or if the circumstances and the possible seriousness of the allegations require this.

All reports and concerns raised by both personnel and individuals in the community will be properly considered, documented, and treated seriously, with care, discretion and in a timely manner. The IFRC will take all necessary steps against any form of retaliation suffered by personnel or other persons reporting possible breaches.

How to fulfill this responsibility

Code of conduct

All staff and volunteers sign a code of conduct. All staff should be trained on PSEA and child safeguarding.

Whistleblower Protection

Whistleblower protection should be ensured and communicated clearly to all staff. See the IFRC Whistleblower Protection Policy 2015.

Gender

Staff and volunteers should comprise a mix of ages and genders and should aim for women to represent 50% of personnel at any given time.

Service Access

The rights of service users and personnel to access services freely and to be protected from harassment, abuse, or unwanted sexual advances should be clearly communicated through posters, leaflets, and as part of the reception system. This should be available in a variety of languages and communicate in different ways.

Complaints mechanisms

Complaints mechanisms are in place at HSPs and associated services. Special channels should be used for managing sensitive complaints, particularly those related to SEA, and should be monitored constantly and followed up swiftly. HSPs should be linked with sensitive complaints reporting mechanisms being used by the NS, the Movement, and/or at the interagency level.

If cases of PSEA are detected, a survivor-oriented approach should be taken. This means ensuring:

Do no harm

Respect

Safety

Confidentiality

Non-discrimination

Child protection

The IFRC code of conduct specifies that personnel shall:

Not commit any act of sexual exploitation or abuse.
Not engage in any sexual activity with:
- Persons under the age of 18 years, regardless of the age of majority or consent locally (ignorance of or mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defense).
- Adults who look to benefit or already benefit from IFRC’s protection or assistance.
- Sexual activity includes all forms of activity and abuse of a sexual nature, with or without physical contact, and whether either party is aware of such abuse.
Not exchange money, employment, goods, or services for sex, including sexual favors or other forms of humiliating, degrading, or exploitative behavior. This applies regardless of the legal status of prostitution in the laws of the IFRC staff members’ home country or duty stations.
Not produce, procure, distribute or use pornographic material in IFRC offices or on IFRC equipment, including reading/surfing pornographic websites or message boards or sending or engaging with pornographic emails.

Interagency PSEA mechanisms

Interagency reporting mechanisms channel and follow-up complaints on behalf of a number of organizations and agencies. These mechanisms channel feedback from a variety of sources, including communal mechanisms, and those of individual organizations.

In 2019 a regional project – the Regional Safe Spaces Initiative – was launched in six pilot countries along a migration route in the Americas: Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Brazil. The aim is to link standardized and contextualized procedures to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, and to provide safe and confidential interagency community-based complaint and response mechanisms. Several RCRC NS were involved.

HSPs can be involved in and contribute to this type of initiative, but even if they are not, it should be anticipated that migrants might make a complaint that will require a response

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Professional Boundaries

An HSP aims to create a welcoming environment for migrants. In this environment, staff and volunteers may find it difficult to maintain professional boundaries with people using the centre.

This can be very sensitive because the RCRC aims to break down barriers and tackle the discrimination that results in migrants being treated differently, and often badly.

But it is important to recognize that the relationship between those involved in delivering services and a service user is not one of equal balance.

RCRC staff and volunteers must recognize and understand they are in a position of power and have more responsibility than the service user for their conduct and behavior.

Some examples of relationships that may cross the line might be

Spending time socially at a service-user’s residence and making free use of their space.
A physical/sexual relationship with a migrant or any other RCRC service user. This can include flirtatious behavior or innuendo, physical contact that could be seen as sexually suggestive. Remember that ideas of what is appropriate or inappropriate will be culturally different.
Giving advice about housing, finances or medical or other treatment outside of the scope of RCRC programmes and the expertise of the person in question.
Developing relationships with children we are serving outside of the RCRC project.
Any sexual contact with a child (defined as someone under the age of 18).
Misuse of images or identifiable information of service users.
Online harassment.

Professional boundaries are established to prevent harm and keep people from getting hurt, even inadvertently.

Maintaining these boundaries also protects staff and volunteers from any allegations of inappropriate behavior toward vulnerable people.

Some measures that should be taken to manage this in HSPs can include

Screen all RCRC personnel that interact with children or adults in the HSP.
Ensure all personnel knows that they have a duty to report potential code of conduct breaches, and how and where to do so. This includes any abuse of power toward migrants, service users, or RCRC personnel. Whistleblowers should be protected against reprisals.
Create a guideline that explains RCRC policies and procedures for relationships between staff and volunteers and migrants. You can see an example here.
Provide training to staff and volunteers that include role-plays and scenarios so they can safely explore the boundaries of the professional relationship.
Encourage an environment where staff and volunteers feel safe to express concern if they see a relationship developing that may cross the line.
Develop a programmatic response to migrants’ need for friendship e.g. a befriending program, social events with members of the community, and psychosocial support.
Ensure consent forms for children participating in activities are accessible and signed by parents/caregivers.

Child safeguarding measures in HSPs

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Safe Play Areas

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Safe play areas in HSPs should be in areas with easily controlled access, and where entrance and exit can be easily and continuously monitored. Staff and volunteers accessing those areas should be given enhanced screening and should be trained in child safeguarding.

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Clear Guidance

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NS should post clear guidance in HSPs about what behaviour is/is not acceptable on the premises. For example, in some cultures, it is considered normal and acceptable to smack or beat children when they misbehave. In line with the IFRC Child Protection Policy, NS should not permit physical punishment on any part of the body of a child, or language or behaviour toward children that is inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning, or culturally inappropriate, including by parents or relatives of the child. This is important not only for the well-being of the child but also for the promotion of a safe and welcoming environment.

Key Resources on safeguarding and PSEA

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Policies:

IFRC Code of Conduct

The IFRC is deeply committed to helping create safe environments free of harm or threat to the dignity of our personnel and the people we serve. When working under the Red Cross Red Crescent emblems, we are personally and collectively responsible for upholding and promoting the values and principles these emblems represent. We are individually called on to respect the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, uphold the values of respect, dignity and integrity, and to exhibit the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct at all times and in all circumstances. The staff code of conduct includes an enhanced focus on our values as an organization and explains the obligations of IFRC representatives in light of the different security demands and needs of each location and operation. This text reflects our commitment as an organization to protect the dignity of vulnerable people and the conduct that is consistent with this aim.

IFRC Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy

This Fraud and Corruption Prevention and Control Policy (the "Policy") outlines the International Federation’s approach to the prevention and control of fraud and corruption, including the investigation procedures that will be followed if there are suspicions of fraudulent or corrupt practices. If fraud or corruption is proven, appropriate disciplinary measures and legal action will be taken.

IFRC Whistleblower Protection policy

IFRC Child protection policy (2013)

The purpose of this IFRC Child Safeguarding Policy (“Policy”) is to provide a framework for ensuring that IFRC programmes are designed and implemented with the best interests of the child in mind. In particular, it aims to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect in all IFRC programmes, preventative actions are prioritized, and accountability is ensured.

IFRC Policy on Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (2018)

As a humanitarian organization and pursuant to our mandate, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has an obligation to respect and protect vulnerable people at risk. Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of the people the IFRC aims to assist is one of the most grievous ways in which we can fail in our mission. It is crucial, therefore, that we take every step to prevent any such cases arising and to respond adequately to those that nevertheless occurred. This PSEA Policy outlines how we will take these steps and our survivor-centred approach.

British Red Cross Safeguarding Policy (2018)

British Red Cross, Canada Red Cross and IFRC, PSEA Manual (2020)

The British Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross and IFRC, with input from Movement colleagues globally, have prepared this “Manual on prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse – Operationalizing practical actions to guide leadership, headquarters and field teams”.

The manual accompanies the IFRC PSEA policy (2018) with guiding practical actions needed from the leadership, headquarters and field teams. It applies equally to National Societies and IFRC and fills a much-needed gap to ensure that we effectively develop and roll out PSEA policies in the Movement and ensure that all staff and volunteers – at all levels – are aware of the principles and key actions to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse.

Sample and Tools:

British Red Cross Safeguarding Children and Young People Procedure

British Red Cross Children & Young people Safeguarding Scenario Bank

British Red Cross Safeguarding Adults Procedure (2020)

British Red Cross Safeguarding Adults Scenario Bank

General Resources:

Safeguarding section in IFRC PGI website

The Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub (RSH)

IASC PSEA microsite

Human Resources

Community Engagement and Accountability

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