Child Protection Policy

Catalyst for Change Vietnam (C4C) values young people and children as being a vital part of the organization and commits to see them grow, mature and be challenged in a healthy and safe environment. 

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A copy of this child protection policy will be kept and filed with the CEO and Founder, Ms. Hong Tang, who is the assigned Child Protection Representative of Catalyst for Change Vietnam. 

 

Our Principles

1. Zero tolerance of sexual, physical and emotional abuse and exploitation of children.

2. To share the responsibility to protect children from harm and to provide a healthy and safe environment. 

3. To ensure that our projects involve the best interests of children. 

 

Definition of a child

Our policy defines a child as any person being below the age of 18. 

 

Definitions of child abuse    

The World Health Organization ([WHO], 2006, p. 9) defines child abuse and neglect as:

“All forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.”

 

Sexual abuse:

The involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared, or else that violates the laws or social taboos of society. Children can be sexually abused by both adults and other children who are – by virtue of their age or stage of development – in a position of responsibility, trust or power over the victim.

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Physical abuse:

The intentional use of physical force against a child that results in – or has a high likelihood of resulting in – harm for the child’s health, survival, development or dignity. This includes hitting, beating, kicking, shaking, biting, strangling, scalding, burning, poisoning and suffocating. Much physical violence against children in the home is inflicted with the object of punishing.

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Emotional abuse:

Emotional abuse refers to a parent or caregiver's inappropriate verbal or symbolic acts towards a child and/or a pattern of failure over time to provide a child with adequate non-physical nurturing and emotional availability. Such acts of commission or omission are likely to damage a child's self-esteem or social competence.

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Aims

• To provide activities for children and young people to help them safely develop from childhood into adulthood and to provide support for them.

• To enable the children to express themselves.

• To assist the children in integrating into the global and local community.

• To help children/young people appreciate the diversity of their cultures.

 

Child Protection Representative

Catalyst for Change Vietnam has appointed a Child Protection Representative, Hong Tang, to be contacted at tangduyenhong@gmail.com. If any member of C4C or of a member of an independent group working in partnership with C4C has any child safety concerns, they must report them to the representative. It is also required to contact at least 1 other individual, such as a C4C manager, partner center local coordinator/host, and/or the Vietnam Department of Education. The

Child Protection Representative must take on the following responsibilities:

• Ensuring that the policy is being put into practice;

• Being the first point of contact for child protection issues;

• Keeping a record of any concerns expressed about child protection issues;

• Bringing any child protection concerns to the notice of the Management Committee and contacting the Local Authority if appropriate;

• Ensuring that paid staff and volunteers are given appropriate supervision;

• Ensuring that everyone involved with the organization is aware of the identity of the Child Protection Representative.

• Ensuring that volunteers, team members and visitors with C4C Vietnam receive a copy of this policy and sign it.

• Investigate the concern, suspicion, allegation or incident that involves child abuse and exploitation. 

 

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The policy will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that it is meeting its aims.