Child Protection Policy

At the Military Children’s Six Foundation, we care about the well-being and safety of children and recognize our fundamental duty to care for the children with whom we engage. This Policy is our commitment to protecting these children from fundamental abuse of their rights or dignity.

 

The Military Children’s Six Foundation has a zero-tolerance policy for child abuse in any form. People working for or affiliated with the Military Children’s Six Foundation must always treat children decently and respectfully.

 

This policy aims to prevent, respond to and resolve any potential child abuse during children’s interaction with the Military Children’s Six Foundation or Military Children’s Six Foundation employees, and volunteers by:

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• Communicating and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for child abuse, exploitation, neglect, and violence

• Promoting a common understanding of child protection issues within the Military Children’s Six Foundation context

• Facilitating best practice development across the business areas where we engage with Children

• Strengthening our child protection governance, documentation, and accountability

 

Definition of child protection

“Child protection” is a broad term used to describe policies, standards, guidelines, and procedures aimed at safeguarding children. It aims to prevent, respond to, and resolve the exploitation, neglect, abuse, and violence experienced by children in all settings.

 

Scope of the child protection policy

The Military Children’s Six Foundation operates in different geographical contexts where ideas and legislation related to children and child protection vary. The Military Children’s Six Foundation strives to provide a positive experience for all children, and they must be treated with dignity and respect, no matter where we operate.

 

In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is classed as an individual below the age of 18. This policy covers all children we engage with directly and indirectly through our strategic partners. It also includes any young people below the age of 18 who work or cooperate with the Military Children’s Six Foundation or our partners.

 

The key focus areas are:

• Physical abuse or ill-treatment — e.g. hitting or shaking a child

• Emotional abuse or ill-treatment — e.g. conveying to a child that he/she is worthless or

• Neglect — e.g. inadequate care or supervision, leaving a child in a dangerous situation

• Sexual abuse — sexual activity with a child below 18 years or below the age of consent in the country of operation, whether or not the child gives consent

• Commercial or other exploitation — e.g. conducting marketing that misleads children

• Online protection — e.g. inadequate data protection, online bullying, or exposure to inappropriate content or contact

 

It is mandatory that all Military Children’s Six Foundation employees comply with this policy, including paid, unpaid, part-time, and full-time employees, volunteers, interns, and trustees. It is also mandatory that all Military Children’s Six Foundation partners, agency employees, contractors, consultants, and others acting on behalf of the Military Children’s Six Foundation comply with this policy.

 

Failure to comply with this policy can result in a loss for the Military Children’s Six Foundation, the Military Children’s Six Foundation “Welcome Centers” and/or its strategic partners and can lead to disciplinary sanctions. In addition, the Military Children’s Six Foundation will comply with all appropriate procedures and applicable legislation.

 

Child abuse is intolerable and all Military Children’s Six Foundation employees and partners, or affiliated parties are expected to comply with the law. It is management’s responsibility to ensure that this policy is reflected in the way our business operates and in how our employees and partners behave locally. However, all adults engaged with the Military Children’s Six Foundation have an individual responsibility to safeguard children in their job, irrespective of their individual roles.

 

While the Child Protection Policy defines our overall commitment and expectations, it is our intention that implementation of the policy is facilitated by the Military Children’s Six Foundation implementation plan set out below by gradually developing and working with key partners to establish best practice guidelines. Guidance includes:

 

• Recruitment processes for screening relevant candidates to prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children within activities related to the Military Children’s Six Foundation

• Training for employees who have frequent contact with children, nurturing a child protection culture

• Contractual requirements guiding the behavior of Military Children’s Six Foundation employees and strategic partners, so they are aware of and commit to the behavior expected when they engage with children Instruments to monitor and report incidents and document precautions taken

 

To ensure accountability toward children, the Military Children’s Six Foundation continuously strives to integrate child protection into the core business and embed operational management into relevant functions of the organization. This includes maintaining, implementing, and monitoring performance with respect to the commitments of this policy.

 

The Military Children’s Six Foundation cooperates with MC6 Legal Affairs when providing initial guidance and training to support roll-out in the business. In case of any concerns that a child may be at risk, or if local laws challenge and contradict compliance with this policy, the Military Children’s Six Foundation Legal Team must be consulted.

 

Supported by the Military Children’s Six Foundation Legal team, this policy will be implemented in the Military Children’s Six Foundation in the most relevant way. Special attention must be given to business units with systematic and direct child engagement.

 

Even with the most robust mechanisms and procedures in place, incidents may still arise or situations may still create cause for concern. All employees, whether paid or unpaid, are accountable for immediately reporting breaches or suspicions of breaches of this policy to their immediate manager or to the Military Children’s Six Foundation Compliance Line and, if appropriate, to the national authorities.

 

Military Children’s Six Foundation child protection principles

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The Military Children’s Six Foundation:

• is committed to protecting children and ensuring that they can experience quality care and nurturing relationships.

• has put in place a policy, principles, and guidelines for protecting children in all aspects of the work of the Military Children’s Six Foundation staff strategic partners, individuals, and volunteers to ensure the wellbeing of children impacted by our work.

• defines child protection as respecting and protecting children and young people from maltreatment, preventing impairment of their health and cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development, and ensuring that children and young people feel safe to play, learn and grow.

 

In part of implementing the Child Protection Policy the Military Children’s Six Foundation:

• agrees that the Leadership Team and People Leaders should promote child protection and must ensure that all staff members are aware of the Military Children’s Six Foundation Child Protection

 

Policy, Principles, and Guidelines.

• decides that in the event that the Military Children’s Six Foundation Child Protection Policy standards are stricter than national legislation and/or there is a conflict between national law and the Military Children’s Six Foundation Child Protection Policy, the Military Children’s Six Foundation staff members and eligible partners should immediately consult with the Military Children’s Six Foundation. Recognizes a child as a human being under the age of 18 years.

• considers child protection the responsibility of every individual working with children on behalf of the Military Children’s Six Foundation.

• screens all relevant Military Children’s Six Foundation employees

• provide appropriate training/information for relevant employees, volunteers, and partners

• require relevant strategic partners to comply with the Military Children’s Six Foundation Child Protection

 

Policy, Principles, and Guidelines in Contracts or Statements

• requires all individuals/entities to whom this policy applies to report all concerns of abuse or potential child abuse to the relevant Military Children’s Six Foundation person or authority has put in place an incident reporting system for child protection

 

Military Children's Six Foundation Child Protection Guidelines

Military Children’s Six Foundation staff, partners and other individuals representing the Military Children’s Six Foundation must never:

• hit, otherwise physically assault, or physically abuse children.

• engage in sexual activity or have a sexual relationship with anyone under the age of 18 years or below the age of consent in the country of operation. Mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defense.

• develop relationships with children which could in any way be deemed exploitative or abusive

• act in ways that may be abusive in any way or may place a child at risk of abuse.

• use language, make suggestions, or offer advice, which is inappropriate, offensive, or abusive behave physically in a manner that is inappropriate or sexually provocative

• have a child/children with whom they are working to stay overnight at their home unsupervised unless exceptional circumstances apply and previous permission has been obtained from the immediate manager

• sleep in the same bed as a child with whom they are working

• sleep in the same room as a child with whom they are working unless exceptional circumstances apply and previous permission has been obtained from the immediate manager

• do things for children of a personal nature that they can do themselves condone, or participate in, the behavior of children which is an illegal, unsafe, or abusive act in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle, or degrade children, or otherwise perpetrate any form of emotional abuse

• discriminate against, show unfair differential treatment, or favor particular children to the exclusion of others.

• spend excessive time alone with children away from others in a manner that could be interpreted as inappropriate

• expose a child to inappropriate images, films, and websites including pornography and extreme violence

• place themselves in a position where they are made vulnerable to allegations of misconduct

 

This is not an exhaustive or exclusive list. Staff, partners, and other representatives should at all times avoid actions or behaviors, which may allow behavior to be misrepresented, constitute poor practice, or potentially abusive behavior.

 

Military Children’s Six Foundation staff, partners, and other individuals representing the Military Children’s Six Foundation must:

• listen, value, and respect all children.

• talk with children, not to children.

• be friendly and smile.

• know the culture in which you are working and the appropriate behavior and language around children.

• listen to children carefully if a child has a concern

• as a member of staff or a volunteer make the event a safe, fun, creative, learning, and positive experience.

• encourage and praise achievements

• keep a friendly and positive attitude toward the children

• let children know you are there to help them.

• make sure the children can easily find you and identify you as Military Children’s Six Foundation event staff.

• always remember, that you are representing the Military Children’s Six Foundation and the Military Children’s Six values.

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