CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

  1. Introduction

Center for Bridging Communities, CBC is fully committed to promoting the safety, dignity, and well being of all children with whom we interact through our research, projects and activities. This policy outlines CBC’s commitment to protecting children from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation and provides clear guidelines and procedures for all personnel. As an organization working to foster inclusive communities, CBC recognizes the fundamental right of every child to be protected from harm, abuse, exploitation, and neglect, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC 1989), the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (2015) and in the relevant Albanian legislation, LAW No. 18/2017 on “THE RIGHTS AND PROTECTION OF THE CHILD”.

CBC maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of child abuse and is committed to creating child-safe environments in all spheres of its work—locally, nationally, and internationally.

  1. Purpose of the Policy

This policy provides guidance and sets expectations for all CBC team members, volunteers, consultants, and affiliated stakeholders to:

  • Recognize and respond to actual or potential child protection concerns.
  • Prevent abuse or exploitation of children within any CBC-led or supported context.
  • Ensure ethical, safe, and inclusive engagement with young participants.
  • Integrate child safeguarding into program design, delivery, and monitoring.
  1. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All CBC staff, board members, and volunteers
  • Contractors, researchers, facilitators, and consultants acting on behalf of CBC
  • Partner organizations and collaborators where activities involve minors
  1. Definitions
  • Child: Any person under the age of 18 years, as defined by the UNCRC and Albanian law.
  • Child Abuse: Any act or failure to act that results in actual or potential harm to a child’s health, survival, development, or dignity. This includes physical abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation, emotional/psychological abuse, and neglect.
  • Child Safeguarding: Proactive measures taken to prevent harm to children and promote their welfare. It involves creating safe environments, implementing robust procedures, and responding effectively to concerns.
  • Personnel:All individuals covered under the scope of this policy (Section 3).
  • Designated Safeguarding Lead:The designated person(s) within CBC responsible for overseeing child protection measures and procedures.
  1. Core Principles

CBC adheres to the following key principles:

  • Best Interest of the Child: All decisions and actions must prioritize the safety and wellbeing of children.
  • Participation: Children should be given the opportunity to express their views freely in matters affecting them.
  • Do No Harm: All staff and collaborators must avoid actions that may cause emotional, physical, or psychological harm to children.
  • Non-discrimination: All children must be treated with equal respect, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, ability, or legal status.
  • Accountability: CBC commits to timely reporting, review, and resolution of safeguarding concerns.
  1. Code of Conduct for Working with Children

All CBC staff and affiliates working with children must:

  • Treat children with dignity, respect, and consideration at all times.
  • Obtain informed consent from parents or legal guardians before involving minors in any activity or media collection
  • Ensure age-appropriate communication and participation methods
  • Maintain professional boundaries and avoid favoritism or private interactions with minors.
  • Never engage in any form of sexual, emotional, or physical abuse, or expose children to harm (including online risks)
  • Report any concern, suspicion, or allegation of abuse immediately to CBC’s designated safeguarding focal point.
  1. Safeguarding procedures and Conduct
  • No child shall be compelled to participate in activities against their will.
  • Any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment directed at children is strictly prohibited.
  • Staff and volunteers must avoid being alone with a child in private settings; all interactions should take place in an observable environment.
  • The use of physical punishment, verbal abuse, or any form of mistreatment towards children is categorically forbidden.
  • The safety, security, and well-being of children must be the foremost priority in all activities and interactions.
  • Any concerns regarding the safety of a child must be reported immediately to the responsible person.
  • Engagement with children must always be authorized by a parent or legal guardian, such as school administration during educational sessions.
  • The personal information of children must be handled with strict confidentiality and shall not be disclosed without explicit parental or legal guardian consent. mitigation plan prior to implementation.
  • Child labor, exploitation, or the assignment of tasks beyond a child’s capacity is strictly forbidden.
  • Activities must be designed to ensure children’s physical and emotional safety, avoiding any form of risk or unsafe environments.
  • Hate speech, discriminatory language, or any form of expression that could negatively influence children’s development, mindset, or behavior is strictly prohibited.
  • Digital safety must be ensured: no photographs, videos, or other media involving children shall be shared publicly without formal parental consent. Children’s images or stories are only used with written, informed consent from guardians and must avoid showing faces or revealing identities unless clearly justified and risk assessed.
  • The organization is responsible for maintaining a safe, clean, and child-friendly environment at all times.
  • Safeguarding and child rights are part of the on boarding process for all staff and volunteers. Periodic training is provided to reinforce skills and awareness.
  • No child shall be excluded from activities due to financial constraints, disabilities, or other barriers.

This is not an exhausted or exclusive list. The principle is that staff, volunteers and partners should avoid actions or behavior which may constitute poor practice or potentially abusive behavior.

Find the child protection policy in the link below:

https://drive.google.com/drive/my-drive