CHILD PROTECTION CODE OF CONDUCT 


No employee / fellow / volunteer / donor shall ever :- 

  1. Use language or behaviour towards children that is inappropriate, harassing, abusive, demeaning or culturally inappropriate. 
  2. Embarrass any child or engage in any action that humiliates, or degrades a child
    1. Eg: Asking a child to stand facing a corner for a significant amount of time
    2. Flinging objects across the classroom in anger, making them feel powerless and unsafe
  3. Discriminate against a child on the basis of caste, economic status, culture, age, gender, disability, religion, sexuality, political persuasion or any other status.
  4. Use physical means or corporal punishment to discipline or control a child on Bhumi premises or outside.
    1. Eg: Subjecting them to painful body postures such as kneeling, standing on benches with hands raised / weight on head, holding ears through the legs, etc.
    2. Slapping / spanking / pinching the child / hitting child on the knuckles
    3. Throwing objects at the child – chalk, eraser, books, paper etc.
  5. Develop, encourage, induce or support relationships / arrangements with children which could be deemed sexual, exploitative or abusive.
  6. Behave or suggest physically or otherwise in a manner, which is inappropriate or sexually provocative or may be considered to be sexual abuse. 
    1. Eg: Having inappropriate conversations which might be sexual in nature 
  7. Touch, kiss, hug, fondle, or rub a child in any way that is considered inappropriate, culturally insensitive or make the child uncomfortable or may be construed as sexual abuse, even for the purpose of demonstration / learning.
  8. Provide unsolicited assistance to a child, of a personal nature, that a child could do on its own including but not limited to dressing, bathing, and grooming. 
  9. Take/collect photos, videos, or stories of children and/or upload the same online or on any social networking sites without prior permission from the authorised persons.
  10. Share their personal mobile phones with children without supervision
  11. Use technology to create, view, download or distribute any inappropriate or offensive material, including, but not restricted to, abusive images of children, pornography or material encouraging crime, violence, terrorism, racism, sexism, self-harm, suicide, cruelty and gambling.
  12. Use or encourage children to run personal errands in any form that may be construed as exploiting the relationship with the child 
  13. Use / encourage the use of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or other intoxicating substances while in the vicinity of children and refrain from providing the same to children.
  14. Give cash or gifts to children in a personal capacity.
  15. Bring individuals, who are not registered with Bhumi, to any programme location without prior permission from authorised persons.
  16. Enable / Place a child at risk of abuse or exploitation / inappropriate conduct or be aware of these and not report it or not do anything about it.
    1. Eg: Refusing the use of transport (view section Safety of the Child) 

Bhumi representatives MUST: 

  1. Treat every child equally, with empathy and respect, regardless of their gender, caste, colour, sexuality, disability, language, religious belief, political or other opinion, and national / ethnic origin.
  2. Make children feel heard, respect their views and right to self-determination.
  3. Be dressed appropriately (business casuals / semi-formals/ formals) in the presence of children and in Bhumi premises.
  4. Ensure that another authorised adult is present when working with children outside their normal premises. Eg., school teacher, parent, guardian etc.
  5. Seek permission from authorised persons if they wish to visit a programme location apart from their stipulated time.
  6. Seek prior permission from authorised persons to take children for outings. This may only be done in pairs / groups.
  7. Keep data about children confidential and refrain from sharing it to any third party without the consent from authorised persons. 
  8. Report any violations of the policy to the respective authorised person / Child Protection Committee

 

 You can read Bhumi’s entire Child Protection Policy here.

If you come across any violation of the above policy, contact Bhumi’s Child Protection Committee via child.protect [AT] blogs.bhumi.ngo or call 87544-13255