Child Protection Policy

Women's Light Foundation is committed to the protection of all children who come into contact with our work. A child is any person under the age of 18, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, regardless of local age of majority or consent.

Our girl-child education and protection programming works directly with girls aged 6 to 18, including girls who are out of school, displaced, living with disabilities, or at risk of early and forced marriage. The best interests of the child are the primary consideration in every decision affecting them.

Every person working with children on our behalf must:

• Treat every child with respect and without discrimination of any kind.
• Work in a manner that is visible to others wherever possible, avoiding being alone with a child out of sight.
• Ensure that another adult is present or aware when meeting a child individually is unavoidable.
• Respect a child's privacy and dignity, particularly in relation to menstrual health support.
• Report any concern about a child's welfare, whether or not it relates to our own personnel.

Every person working with children must never:

• Engage in any sexual activity with a child. A mistaken belief about a child's age is not a defence.
• Use physical punishment, or any form of humiliating, degrading or demeaning treatment.
• Develop a relationship with a child that could be deemed exploitative or abusive.
• Give a child their personal contact details or arrange private contact outside programme activities.
• Photograph or film a child without the informed consent of the child and their parent or guardian.
• Offer a child money, gifts or favours outside the terms of a programme.

Informed consent from both the child and their parent or guardian is obtained before any photograph or recording is used. Children are depicted in a dignified manner and never in a way that could place them at risk. Full names are not published alongside images, and location details are not published where they could identify a child's home or school.

Roles involving contact with children are subject to enhanced screening, including reference checks with previous employers or organisations, and a signed declaration. Anyone who declines to be screened is not placed in a role involving contact with children.

Any concern about a child's safety is reported immediately to the designated safeguarding lead. Personnel do not investigate and do not attempt to verify a disclosure before reporting.

Where a child discloses harm, the person receiving the disclosure listens without pressing for detail, does not promise confidentiality they cannot keep, records what was said in the child's own words as soon as possible, and reports immediately.

Where a child is at risk of significant harm, the Foundation acts to protect them, which may include referral to authorities or health services. Unlike adult cases, a child's consent does not determine whether protective action is taken, though their views are sought and given weight according to their age and maturity.

The Education Officer is the designated child protection focal point, reporting to the President. The Bureau reviews child protection cases in aggregate and is accountable for the adequacy of arrangements. Every individual is responsible for knowing and following this policy.