Child safety and protection policy

Adopted by Erikshjälpen's board 2022-02-03. Minor adjustment approved by Erikshjälpen and Erikshjälpen Second Hand's management groups 2023-01-31. The policy is called ERIKS Child Safeguarding Policy in English.

Contents

1. Introduction and purpose
2. The ethos of Erikshjälpen
3. Erikshjälpen's commitments to ensure the safety and protection of children
4. Reporting and notification
5. Responsibility
6. Annex 1: Definitions - Child safety and protectionAttachments
7. Annex 2: Child safety and protection guidelines and notification procedure

1. Introduction and purpose

Erikshjälpen's vision is "A changed world where children's dreams come true". It is a world where every child feels safe and secure. Therefore, Erikshjälpen also takes all necessary measures to ensure that the organization, its operations and employees look after the child's best interests and prevent children from being harmed, and that all suspicions or established cases of abuse, violations and abuse are taken seriously and handled according to established procedures and guidelines.

This policy for child safety and protection aims to formulate and clarify the principles and approaches that Erikshjälpen applies to prevent children from being harmed and how the organization acts if a child is harmed in any of Erikshjälpen's activities. It applies to the whole of Erikshjälpen, i.e. the children's rights organization and Second Hand activities in Sweden as well as internationally, and must be applied by Erikshjälpen's employees: employees, trainees, field students, volunteers, recruiters, board members, consultants and other people who carry out work for Erikshjälpen. It establishes responsibilities and roles in the work to ensure the safety and protection of children in the organization. The policy is complemented by a position paper that describes Erikshjälpen's view of children's right to safety and protection and explains how Erikshjälpen works with this issue as a focus area in program activities.

The policy for child safety and protection interacts with the organization's other policies. For different parts of Erikshjälpen's activities, guidelines and procedures are developed as needed to provide guidance to employees within the organization in how the work should be conducted.

Erikshjälpen is a child rights organisation and works primarily with a focus on children. A child is every person under the age of 18. In Erikshjälpen's own activities or in projects supported by Erikshjälpen, young adults over 18 also participate. The overarching principles of the right to safety and protection in this policy, with associated documents, apply to all persons participating in or affected by Erikshjälpen's work and activities.

The main message of the policy is adapted and made accessible and understandable to participating children in the activities for which Erikshjälpen is directly responsible.

Where activities are carried out by partners, and the partner has its own child safety and protection policy, this must be followed. This policy is monitored annually and revised as necessary.

2. The ethos of Erikshjälpen

Erikshjälpen's commitment to working for children's rights is guided by the organization's identity and values - to work in the spirit of the founder Erik Nilsson, based on a Christian view of humanity and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly states that all children have the right to life and development, and to be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, maltreatment and exploitation. All children, without distinction, have the right to be safe in the activities that Erikshjälpen and its partners conduct. Everything Erikshjälpen does must have the best interests of children in focus. Therefore, Erikshjälpen is committed to creating safe environments for children where they can develop and feel good, and to integrating measures to ensure children's safety and protection in all processes and systems within the organization. Erikshjälpen has zero tolerance for the exploitation and abuse of children as well as violations and harassment.

Erikshjälpen uses the following definition of child protection: Measures and structures to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence affecting children. Child protection means protecting children from harm. Harm includes violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect. The goal of child protection is to promote, protect/defend and fulfill children's right to protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence as expressed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights, humanitarian and refugee treaties and conventions as well as national legislation¹.

In addition to the above, Erikshjälpen emphasizes that harm includes physical, sexual, social, psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects that affect children's health, survival, development or dignity in the context of relationship or responsibility, trust or power. Children should be protected from both potential and actual harm.

3. Erikshjälp's commitments to ensure the safety and
and protection

To ensure children's right to safety and protection in the business, Erikshjälpen undertakes to prevent, act and follow up as follows:

3.1 Prevention

All employees in Sweden and internationally, i.e. employees, interns, field students, volunteers, recruiters, board members, consultants and other persons who perform work for Erikshjälpen, are required to sign that they have read and understood Erikshjälpen's policy and will follow its guidelines.

When recruiting staff to work with children, the suitability of the person concerned is checked, for example, by means of references and criminal records.

Erikshjälpen creates awareness among staff and other people involved in the issue of child safety and protection through information and training.

Erikshjälpen plans its work to minimize the risk of children being harmed, exploited or abused, which includes conducting risk assessments.

Erikshjälpen has an easily accessible and child-friendly complaint handling system for reporting abuses in its operations, as well as procedures for how reports should be followed up.

Erikshjälpen informs participants and guardians in activities for which Erikshjälpen has direct responsibility about the policy for child safety and protection and where they can turn to report irregularities. In cases where activities are conducted by partners, it is the partner's responsibility to inform participants and guardians about its policy. The partner's reporting procedure should be followed.

Erikshjälpen has specially appointed people (child protection officers) in the organization with the task of proactively monitoring the issue of child safety and protection and ensuring that the organization's commitments are fulfilled.

Erikshjälpen ensures that partner organisations within the program activities have their own policy for child safety and protection and that this is complied with and encourages child-friendly complaint handling. In the absence of such a policy, partners shall apply Erikshjälpen's policy until they have formulated their own.

3.2 Acting

Erikshjälpen undertakes to take any concerns raised seriously and act promptly based on developed guidelines and procedures in the event of suspected or established abuses and irregularities concerning children's right to safety and protection. Erikshjälpen also ensures that partners act in accordance with the above.

Erikshjälpen helps to facilitate any investigation in cases where notification to authorities needs to be made.

3.3 Follow-up

If misconduct or irregularities are found, this is followed up with measures to ensure that the incident does not recur, which may involve changing procedures, suspending cooperation or transferring or dismissing people. Victims of abuse or harassment are offered support as the situation requires.

4. Reporting and notification

In the event of suspected or established abuses and irregularities concerning children's right to safety and protection within Erikshjälpen's activities, reporting and notification must be made in accordance with the adopted guidelines. Internal reporting must be made in all cases, notification to the relevant authorities is made after a conversation with the nearest responsible manager and where the assessment is that this should be done.

In the event of incidents in international projects supported by Erikshjälpen, Erikshjälpen's Regional offices ensure that the partner handles the matter in accordance with current policy and applicable laws and regulations in the country in question.

All reporting, both near misses and incidents, should be done promptly, if possible within 24 hours.

All reports received are handled professionally, confidentially and in the most appropriate manner. If it is deemed that authorities need to be involved, this is done with the best interests of the child in mind.

For more detailed instructions on reporting and notification procedures, guidelines should be available.

5 Responsibility

The boards of Erikshjälpen and Erikshjälpen Second Hand are responsible for deciding on the policy and revising it when necessary.

The Secretary General of Erikshjälpen and the Executive Director of Erikshjälpen Second Hand have the ultimate responsibility for child safety and protection within Erikshjälpen's activities, that the policy is implemented, complied with and followed up and kept alive and updated. A summary of how the policy has been complied with must be included in Erikshjälpen's annual report.

Each Head of Department and Regional Director is responsible for ensuring that the policy is followed within their area of responsibility, and that child safety and protection perspectives are integrated into all work. This is done with the support of the specially appointed child protection officers from the program departments.

In international projects run by partners, the Regional Director is responsible for ensuring that child safety and protection policies are in place and enforced.

Everyone working for Erikshjälpen (employees, interns, field students, volunteers, recruiters, board members, consultants and other persons performing work for Erikshjälpen) is responsible for contributing to the safety of children in the organization's activities by following this policy and associated guidelines, and reporting deviations from the policy.

In connection with temporary visits to Erikshjälpen's projects or activities, both in Sweden and internationally, where children participate, the receiving staff is responsible for ensuring that the visitors comply with Erikshjälpen's policy for child safety and protection and associated guidelines.

Child

A child is a person under the age of 18.

Child protection

Measures and structures to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence affecting children. Child protection means protecting children from harm. Harm includes violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect. The aim of child protection is to promote, protect/defend and fulfill children's right to protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence as expressed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights, humanitarian and refugee treaties and conventions as well as national legislation².

Harm includes physical, sexual, social, psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects that affect the child's health, survival, development or dignity in the context of relationship or responsibility, trust or power.

Child protection officer

Person within Erikshjälpen who is tasked with monitoring the issue of child safety and protection and ensuring that the organization's commitments are fulfilled.

Direct and indirect contact with children

Direct contact means being in close physical or digital proximity to children within the organization's work.

Indirect contact means having access to information about children in the context of the organization's work such as children's names, addresses, pictures or other personal data.

Abuse

Abuse includes any form of violation, maltreatment, neglect or negligent treatment that may result in harm to the child's health, ability to survive and develop, or diminished dignity in the context of relationship or responsibility, trust or power.

• Physical abuse is when someone uses their position of power to cause a child actual or potential physical harm, illness, pain or to put the child in a state of helplessness and powerlessness. Any form of corporal punishment of a minor (under 18) is considered physical abuse of a child. Physical abuse also includes the failure to meet a child's physical needs.

• Psychological abuse is when someone takes advantage of their position of power and subjects a child to acts such as ridicule, mockery, degrading judgments, degrading treatment, threats, ostracism, unreasonable demands, unfair punishment, rejection, forced isolation from social contacts, being encouraged to engage in anti-social behavior or criminality, being forced to witness violence or experiencing threats of violence. Psychological abuse includes all forms of physical, sexual and spiritual abuse of children. Psychological abuse also includes the failure to meet a child's emotional needs and the failure to provide a developmentally appropriate and supportive environment for the child to develop emotional and social competence.

• Sexual abuse includes all forms of sexual acts that a child is subjected to by another person, which violate the child's integrity. Sexual abuse or harassment can be both physical and non-physical, and can range from unwelcome looks and words with sexual undertones to intimate physical contact or rape. It is an act of a sexual nature that is forced on a child or that the child cannot understand or is not ready for.

• Spiritual abuse is the misuse of power or influence in a spiritual context to control, coerce, manipulate or dominate a child.

Abuse also includes:

• Harmful traditional and cultural practices that may put the child at risk of harm, such as child marriage and genital mutilation.

• Exploitation, i.e. the exploitation of children for personal gain through child labor or other activities that are harmful to the child's physical or mental health or otherwise impair the child's development.

• Bullying, which is the repeated victimization of someone by others. It can include being teased, hit, or ostracized, and also includes actions that take place online.

Contents

1. Introduction and purpose
2. Guidelines in specific activities
3. Guidelines for reporting and notification

1. Introduction and purpose

The following guidelines concretize and clarify how the child safety and protection policy should be applied in specific contexts. The Swedish version is comprehensive and includes both the Swedish and international versions. The English version is adapted to the international context. Examples are presented below but the list is not exhaustive or complete. All Erikshjälpen staff (employees, trainees, field students, volunteers, recruiters, board members, consultants and other people who carry out work for Erikshjälpen) are expected to plan and organize their work and workplace in such a way as to minimize the risk of children being abused, harmed, hindered in their development or their rights being violated in any other way. All children have the right to be safe in the activities that Erikshjälpen and its partners conduct.

Erikshjälpen's employees are obliged to report irregularities and deviations from the policy for child safety and protection and to respond to children who have been subjected to harm, violation, exploitation or abuse in accordance with Erikshjälpen's guidelines for reporting and Monitoring. See Guidelines for reporting and monitoring at the end of this document.

Erikshjälpen has specially appointed child protection officers in the organization who are tasked with proactively monitoring issues of child safety and protection and ensuring that the organization's commitments are met.

There will be a designated staff member in each international region and two staff members from headquarters; one from the International Program Department and one from the Sweden Program Department responsible for activities in Sweden. The Child Protection Officers will have specific knowledge of issues related to children's right to safety and protection and act as resource persons within the organization. Support will be provided to the Child Protection Officers within the regions as needed. See appendix "Child Protection Officer Erikshjälpen" for the name and contact details of each child protection officer.

child participation is an important part of the revision and implementation of the policy and its annexes. Internationally, the regional offices are responsible for selecting at least three children from each region to participate in the revision and Monitoring of the documents. Nationally, Erikshjälpen's Youth council is part of ensuring the perspective of children and young people in the revision and follow-up.

2. guidelines in specific activities

2.1 Recruitment, employment and training

Erikshjälpen's employees play a crucial role in creating safe and secure environments for children. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the people recruited are suitable for their tasks and are aware of their responsibilities. To ensure this, as far as possible, the following is applied in the recruitment and employment process:

• Nationally, when recruiting or hiring someone to work directly with children, the HR department is responsible for checking their suitability through references and criminal records. Internationally, the regional managers are responsible for an accountability of the references, which includes an accountability of the person's past behavior in relation to children. If possible, an extract from the criminal record or similar register is requested.
• Nationally, introduction for assignments within Erikshjälpen shall include a review of the Policy for Child Safety and Protection with associated annexes.
• Internationally, regional offices are responsible for the introduction and review of the Child Safety and Protection Policy, as well as guidance and training as needed.
• Nationally and internationally, regular reflections on child safety and protection, especially during joint days.
• All staff (employees, interns, field students, volunteers, recruiters, board members, consultants and other persons performing work for Erikshjälpen) must sign that they have read, understood and will comply with Erikshjälpen's policy for child safety and protection.
• Nationally, people who work in direct contact with children must undergo training on child safety and protection, provided by Erikshjälpen. The scope of the training may vary depending on the nature of the assignment.
• Internationally, new employees should read the Child Safety and Protection Policy and, with the support of the Regional Manager or Human Resources Manager, be given the opportunity to reflect their understanding before signing the employment contract.

2.2 Activities with children

In all activities within Erikshjälpen, including digital, which involve direct contact with children, the employees concerned must do everything possible to protect children from harm, violations, abuse or exploitation. In international projects conducted by partners, the partner's guidelines must be followed.

All Erikshjälpen employees are expected to:

• Assess risks and plan work in all activities so that children can feel safe and secure in the activities.
• Treat each child as an individual, respecting their integrity and dignity.
• Treat all children fairly and never discriminate or favor some children at the expense of others.
• Strive for transparency and openness (including in the physical environment) and to foster a culture of safety and respect, so that critical issues and problems can be discussed.
• Give children the space and opportunity to express their views in situations that concern them and are appropriate to their age and maturity.
• Always respect and safeguard children's right to their own beliefs and convictions; promote reflection on existential questions; never blame, condemn or force anyone to participate in activities of a spiritual or religious nature.
• Only help children with intimate and private commitments if the situation requires it or they cannot do this themselves.
• Identify and avoid situations that could be misconstrued and interpreted as inappropriate by the children concerned or outsiders.
• Follow Erikshjälpen's guidelines for communication and handling of images and personal data.
• Never promise confidentiality to a child, as some situations may require action to be taken in the best interests of the child.
• Never act in a way that blames, humiliates, degrades or humiliates children or otherwise exposes them to emotional abuse or harm.
• Never hit or otherwise use physical violence or abuse against children.
• Never condone, participate in, or give tacit approval to any child's behavior that may be considered illegal, dangerous or wrongful.
• Avoid activities that may trigger questionable and inappropriate behavior or lead to children being hurt, humiliated or feeling forced to participate against their will.
• Avoid, as far as possible, working alone with children, unless the task requires it and it is agreed in advance with the line manager.
• Never initiate sexual contact with children. Nor enter into a relationship, which may be perceived as exploitation, molestation or otherwise considered inappropriate, with children participating in Erikshjälpen's activities.
• Avoid touching, talking or interacting with children in ways that may be perceived as inappropriate, offensive or abusive.
• Child pornography is never allowed, which means the display, use, exploitation, trade, forwarding and transmission of sexual images of children engaged in real or simulated sexual activity or exposing their bodies for the purpose of sexual gratification.
• Nationally, avoid sleeping alone in the same room as a lone participating child during overnight stays, unless it is required to ensure safety, and it is agreed with the line manager and guardian. Internationally, this is covered by partner organizations' policies.

Children, and their guardians, who participate in activities for which Erikshjälpen has direct responsibility, should be informed of Erikshjälpen's child safety and protection policy in a way that they can understand. This includes knowing where to go if they have a complaint to make.

People within Erikshjälpen, who lead or organize activities where children participate, are responsible for ensuring that temporary guests and visitors adhere to Erikshjälpen's policy for child safety and protection.

Within Erikshjälpen, collective confidentiality is applied to activities where children participate. This means that personal information about participants is not disseminated outside the group by leaders and leaders, but can be shared within the group. Participants in the various activities are informed of the meaning of the collective duty of confidentiality. In the event of a report to the police or social services, the duty of confidentiality does not apply.

2.3 Communication and fundraising

In order to prevent children from being exploited, abused or otherwise harmed by Erikshjälpen's communication and fundraising work, the following must be taken into account in accordance with Erikshjälpen's guidelines for images:

• In all communication, strive to think from the perspective of children and in their best interests.
• When children are portrayed in text or images, it should always be done with care, respect and dignity.
• In accordance with the GDPR, consent is obtained before images and personal data of children
  are published. The consent must be in writing and it must clearly state how the images will
  be used. For children aged 0-16, consent is required from both parents and children
  based on their age and maturity. For children aged 16 to 18, only their own consent is required.
• Images of people with protected identities must not be published under any circumstances.
• In the case of fundraising through corporate cooperation, a declaration must be made before the agreement is signed that
  Corporate does not violate children's rights through its activities. (See Appendix 2 Checklist
  for violations of children's rights - to be developed).

2.4 Partners in Programme and Projects

When cooperation agreements are signed with external organizations, it must be ensured, as far as is reasonable and possible, that partners meet Erikshjälp's requirements for child safety and protection. This is done through the following measures:

• An organizational assessment should be carried out before signing cooperation agreements to ensure that child safety and protection are adequately addressed within the organization.
• In cases where partners do not have their own policy for child safety and protection, Erikshjälpen's policy and applicable guidelines must be followed. Erikshjälpen encourages and supports partner organisations in developing their own policy.
• Nationally, in connection with the reporting of interventions or when renewing agreements, the work on child safety and protection must also be followed up. Internationally, this is reported to Erikshjälpen and followed up according to partner organizations' own policies.
• Serious deviations from the child safety and protection policy may lead to the termination of cooperation, which should also be reflected in the cooperation agreement.

2.4 Store

Erikshjälpen's second-hand shops must be safe and secure places for both children and adults. Therefore, the following applies:

• Agreements ensure that store partners support Erikshjälpen's policy for child safety and protection, which also includes the application of Erikshjälpen's guidelines for images.
• All store staff (employees, trainees, volunteers, board members) must sign the commitment, which shows that they have read, understood and will comply with Erikshjälpen's child safety and protection policy.
• If underage volunteers or trainees work in the shop, follow the guidelines under Activities with children (see above).
• If a store houses Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad , guidelines for Activities with children must be followed (see above).
• When risk assessment is carried out in the store, the children's perspective should also be taken into account, to ensure that it is a safe and secure environment for children to be in.

2.5 Purchasing and procurement

In order to prevent Erikshjälpen from contributing to children being exploited or harmed, in accordance with Erikshjälpen's procurement policy, a declaration must be made for major purchases and procurement that tenderers do not use child labor and that the basic social rights and working conditions are complied with. (See Appendix 2 Checklist for violations of children's rights - to be developed).

3. guidelines for reporting and notification

All reporting should be done promptly, if possible within 24 hours. Internationally, reporting is done as defined in the Partner Agreement with reference to the "Guidelines on complaint and Response Mechanisms". If a partner organization receives a complaint and requests support from the Regional Office, the Regional Office will provide support if possible and report the complaint in the ERIKS CRM.

3.1 Incident and near miss reporting

When deviations from the policy for child safety and protection are discovered, or when deficiencies in Erikshjälpen's activities that could lead to children being harmed by Erikshjälpen's employees, reporting must be done. If someone suspects an incident and does not report it, it will be considered consent.

Incident reporting is done in the event of knowledge or suspicion that children have been subjected to intentional or unintentional harm, violation, discrimination or any form of abuse or exploitation in Erikshjälpen's activities by Erikshjälpen's employees or other persons related to Erikshjälpen. Reporting must also be done when an event has occurred, where someone could have been injured, but did not (incident).

Incidents and near misses must be reported either in writing via the complaint management system at erikshjalpen.se or through the manager concerned. In the case of incidents occurring in international operations, the regional office should be involved in the first instance. The persons receiving the report will ensure that appropriate action is taken, in accordance with the agreed procedures.

In connection with a crisis situation, Erikshjälpen's crisis plan must be followed.

All cases of reporting will be handled professionally, confidentially and in the most appropriate manner. If the case concerns a child and it is assessed that authorities need to be involved, this will be done in the best interests of the child.

Nationally, the reporting system is designed so that participants, guardians and occasional visitors can also easily report abuses in the activities. Internationally, this is covered by partner organizations' policies.

3.2 Reporting to authorities in Sweden

According to the Social Services Act (Chapter 14, Section 1), anyone who becomes aware of or suspects that a child is being abused should report this to the social services (regardless of the context in which the child is being abused). People who work professionally with children and suspect or become aware that a child is being abused must report this to the social services (applies to the exercise of authority). For employees of Erikshjälpen, the following applies when reporting to authorities:

Reporting concerns to the social services

Anyone who becomes aware of or suspects that a child is being abused must document what they have seen or heard. It is important to note the date and describe how the information was obtained.

The situation that has arisen is discussed with the nearest supervisor or manager, if it is not the manager or supervisor who is the suspected perpetrator, then the matter is raised instead with the nearest senior manager or the HR department. Together, it is decided whether a report should be made to the Social Services in the municipality concerned and whether guardians need to be involved.

It is important to listen to and support the child, but avoid influencing the child or starting an investigation yourself. Also, as you may be forced to proceed with the notification and reporting, do not promise the child your silence.

Individuals can submit the report anonymously, but when the report is made by Erikshjälpen, the name and contact details must be included, in order to be able to assist in any investigation. The report is signed by the immediate manager.

In some cases, it may be appropriate to make the report together with the victim or with the guardian, so that they can express their need for help and support and thus "own" their own case. This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

3.3 Notification to authorities internationally

In international operations, the laws of the country concerned must be followed in the reporting procedure.

3.3 Reporting to the police

If a breach of the law is committed in connection with child abuse in the activities that Erikshjälpen itself conducts or provides support for, this must be reported to the nearest police authority. Before reporting, the nearest supervisor or manager must be contacted, unless it is the manager or supervisor who is suspected of the crime. In this case, the matter will be discussed with the nearest senior manager or the HR department.