The Child Protection Policy for MHR NGO/MIZAN ORGANIZATION FOR RESEARCH AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
1. Objective:
• Ensure that children are protected from all forms of exploitation and abuse during the implementation of FAO programs.
• Establish a clear policy framework for the organization regarding its responsibilities and obligations towards the protection of children.
2. Scope:
This policy applies to all employees of the organization, including staff, volunteers, and members of the Board of Directors.
3. Definitions:
• Child: Any individual under the age of eighteen.
• Abuse (abuse): A pattern of systematic behaviors aimed at controlling or imposing authority on others in harmful ways.
4. Types of victimization:
• Physical abuse: includes beating, burning, or causing any bodily harm to the child, in addition to deprivation of basic food as a means of punishment.
• Sexual abuse: ranging from inappropriate contact to sexual exploitation, including forcing a child to witness sexual acts or exposure to pornography.
• Emotional abuse: includes insulting, ridiculing, insulting, threatening, denying playtime, or any behavior that negatively affects the child's
morale.
• Harmful cultural practices: such as early marriage, discrimination against girls, or customs that deprive children of their basic rights.
• Exploitative work: It includes assigning children to work beyond their physical means, such as housework in teachers' homes, selling goods, or engaging in illegal activities.
5. Places of abuse:
• Within the family: Most cases of child abuse occur by people known to them, whether within the home or in the community.
• In society: such as the employment of children in hazardous work, prostitution, trafficking, forced circumcision of girls, or stigmatization of
children with special needs.
• In institutions: including schools, care centers, children's homes, or rehabilitation and correction centers.
6. Policy Principles:
First: Zero tolerance for the exploitation and abuse of children
• MHR NGO adopts a zero-tolerance policy for any form of child exploitation or abuse.
• The organization works to reduce the risks of exploitation and take effective action to prevent it completely.
Second: Ensuring the best interest of the child
• The organization is committed to supporting the rights of the child in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• WHO recognizes that children with special needs or residing in conflict zones are more vulnerable.
Third: Risk Management Approach
• FAO recognizes that the total elimination of exploitation risks is not possible, but effective management of these risks can reduce children's vulnerability. Therefore, risks are carefully assessed when planning and
implementing activities.
7. Policy Implementation:
First: Raising awareness
• MHR NGO educates its staff and volunteers about protecting children from abuse.
• All staff undergo child protection trainings, including their obligation to mandatory reporting of any child exploitation concerns.
• All employees must immediately report any violation or complaint related to child abuse.
• Child protection is an essential part of the initial risk assessment in any activity.
Second: Internal Procedures for Processing Reports
• The organization has specific procedures for dealing with reports on child exploitation, which outlines responsibilities and obligations related to reporting and managing related issues.
Third: Ensuring the appropriate use of means of communication
• The organization prohibits any improper use of materials related to children.
• Any inappropriate online communication with children is prohibited, and any violation is taken seriously and quickly.
Fourth: Risk Management in Disaster Response
• Recognizing that children in areas affected by natural disasters or conflict are more vulnerable to exploitation, MSF places the protection of children at the heart of humanitarian response plans.
8. Behavior protocols expected of all staff, volunteers and consultants at
MHR NGO:
• Treat all children with respect and protect their dignity.
• Listen to children and take their needs into account.
• Respect the child's desire to stop any interaction if he feels uncomfortable.
• Obtain parental or guardian permission before taking pictures of children.
• Refrain from any inappropriate physical contact with children.
• Not to practice any form of physical violence, such as slapping or beating.
• Refrain from any verbal or sexual abuse of children.
MHR NGO reaffirms its full commitment to protecting children and ensuring a safe environment for them in all its activities and programs.