1.1 Purpose

Caritas recognizes the right of children and vulnerable adults to protection, regardless of gender, race, culture and disability. Caritas recognizes the power dynamics inherent in working with children and vulnerable adults and the potential for abuse and exploitation by staff of people we work with.

Caritas is committed to creating and maintaining an environment which promotes its core values and prevents abuse and exploitation of all people. Caritas staff [1]and associates[2] are expected to uphold the dignity of all people with whom they come into contact by ensuring that their personal and professional conduct is of the highest standards at all times. They are equally expected to serve with integrity and promote the right relationships while taking their responsibilities.

Caritas recognizes the unique needs of children and vulnerable adults and, therefore, commits itself to creating and maintaining an environment that protects these individuals.

1.2 Scope

This policy applies directly to the following categories:

  1. All Caritas Internationalis General Secretariat staff and associates
  2. Those deployed through Caritas Internationalis mandated support mechanisms
  3. Member organizations staff and associates

The General Secretariat will support members when needed.

1.3 Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults

Caritas Internationals prohibits all forms of exploitation and abuse, namely:

  • Caritas staff and associates are prohibited from engaging in sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18, regardless of the age of majority or age of consent locally). Mistaken belief regarding the age of a child is not a defense.
  • Caritas staff and associates are prohibited from causing any physical or emotional harm to children or vulnerable adults.
  • Caritas staff and associates are prohibited from the exchange of money, employment, goods, or services for sex, including sexual favors.
  • Caritas staff and associates are prohibited from any form of humiliating, degrading, or exploitative behavior toward children, women, and vulnerable adults.
  • Caritas staff and associates are not to use their power or position to withhold assistance or services, or to give preferential treatment.
  • Caritas staff and associates are prohibited from using their power or position to request or demand payment, privilege, or any other benefit.
  • Caritas staff and associates are prohibited from engaging in trafficking in human beings, in all forms.

In the same spirit, Caritas staff and associates are strongly discouraged to engage in sexual relationships with people they work with since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics. Such relationships are contrary to Caritas principles and values and undermine the credibility and integrity of its work.

1.4 Responsibility to report

Caritas staff and associates are obliged to report any concern or suspicion of exploitation and abuse of a child or vulnerable adult. Failure to report may put the victim and Caritas at risk and is a breach of this Safeguarding Policy and of the Caritas Internationalis Code of Conduct.

Caritas staff and associates should report concerns by a staff from other non-member organization or body through established reporting mechanisms.

1.5 Prevention

Caritas is adhering to the highest human resource and recruitment standards to safeguard people we work with against exploitation and abuse. This includes:

  • Safe recruitment – referencing and vetting prospective applicants with emphasis on impeccable track record in carrying out their work in conformity with the Code of Conduct. Caritas Internationalis is adhering to the sector-wide referencing scheme called “inter-agency misconduct disclosure scheme”.
  • Induction – all staff have completed an induction on the Caritas Internationalis Code of Conduct, Complaints and Handling Policy and Procedures, Caritas Internationalis Child and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy and Standards of Behavior Toward Children and Glossary of Terms.
  • Acknowledgment – all staff have read, understood and signed the Child and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy and the CI Code of Conduct.

1.6 Data protection

Caritas Internationalis is committed to apply the highest levels of protection in the processing of personal data. Personal information acquired during investigations related to the breach of the Caritas Internationalis Code of Conduct and the Caritas Internationalis Child and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding

Policy will be treated in accordance to the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data.

Approved by the Executive Board on 11th October 2018

Annex I-Glossary of Terms

CHILD:

Any person under the age of 18. National law or local customs may use different definition; however, Caritas’ position is all persons under the age of 18 should receive equal protection regardless of local age limits.

VULNERABLE ADULT:

Vulnerable adults are individuals aged 18 years and over who are at greater risk of significant harm due to factors such as gender, age, mental or physical health, or as a result of poverty, inequality or experience of displacement or crisis.

SAFEGUARDING:

The responsibility that organisations have to make sure their staff and programmes promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and do not expose them to the risk of harm and abuse. PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) and child protection come under this umbrella term.

PROTECTION:

The responsibility and measures taken to prevent and respond to abuse and exploitation of a child or vulnerable adult. This includes building awareness, promoting training, identifying and responding to all complaints, monitoring and evaluating protection structures, and taking personal responsibility.

CHILD PROTECTION:

Child protection is about preventing and responding to violence, exploitation and abuse against children – including sexual exploitation and abuse, trafficking, child labour and harmful traditional practices. It is part of the broader area of work known as Safeguarding.

PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse):

All measures that protect people from crisis affected communities from sexual exploitation and abuse by staff (e.g. of NGOs, the UN and other actors).

ABUSE:

Any action or inaction that causes harm to another person. It can include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. It also includes abuse online and/or through mobile technology. There are various types of abuse including:

  1. Sexual abuse: Any actual or threatened sexual act of violence perpetrated against a child or adult, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. Examples of sexual abuse include rape, abusive sexual contact like unwanted touching and non-contact sexual abuse such as sexting and verbal or behavioral sexual harassment.
  2. Physical abuse: The actual or likely physical injury to a child or adult, such as hitting, kicking or shaking, where there is definite knowledge, or reasonable suspicion, that the injury was inflicted or knowingly not prevented.
  3. Emotional abuse: Harm done by persistent or severe emotional ill-treatment or rejection, such as degrading punishments, threats, bullying, and not giving care and affection.
  4. Neglect: When basic needs such as food, warmth and medical care are not met, or when there is a failure to prevent exposure to any kind of danger.

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