ÇOCUK KORUMA POLİTİKASI
Lifelong Education Science Art Culture Association
(LESACA)
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Purpose
- Scope
- Child Protection Principles
- Respect for Children’s Rights
- Best Interest of the Child
- Equality and Inclusivity
- Safe Environment
- Participation
- Privacy and Confidentiality
- Responsibilities for Child Protection
- Board of Directors
- Staff and Volunteers
- Project Partners
- Child Protection Measures and Practices
- Risk Assessment
- Training and Awareness
- Code of Conduct
- Children’s Participation
- Reporting and Intervention
- Reporting Procedures
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Legal Framework
- Policy Review
1. Introduction
The Lifelong Education Science Art Culture Association (LESACA) acknowledges that every child has the right to grow and develop in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment. This policy aims to protect children from all forms of abuse and neglect, and to support their physical, emotional, and social well-being. LESACA is committed to ensuring the protection and respect of children’s rights in all its activities.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to safeguard children in all of LESACA’s activities, ensuring their security and well-being. It aims to establish procedures that prevent child abuse and raise awareness of children’s rights. This policy provides strategic guidance to ensure child protection in all LESACA projects.
3. Scope
This policy applies to all LESACA employees, volunteers, project partners, service providers, and individuals participating in the association’s activities. It holds accountable anyone working directly with or in contact with children within the association’s framework.
4. Child Protection Principles
LESACA adheres to the following principles in protecting children:
- Respect for Children’s Rights: The protection of every child’s rights and ensuring their development in a safe and respectful environment is a priority.
- Best Interest of the Child: The best interest of the child should be considered in all actions. Decisions are made in ways that maximize the well-being and development of children.
- Equality and Inclusivity: No child is discriminated against based on race, gender, religion, disability, language, ethnicity, or social status. All children have the right to equal protection.
- Safe Environment: Safe and healthy environments should be created for children. Clear codes of conduct should be developed and training provided to ensure the prevention of physical and emotional abuse.
- Participation: Children’s views should be respected, and their participation in decision-making processes should be encouraged according to their age and level of development.
- Privacy and Confidentiality: Children’s personal information should be kept confidential and shared only with relevant parties. Protecting this information should not jeopardize the child’s safety.
5. Responsibilities for Child Protection
5.1. Board of Directors:
- Responsible for ensuring the implementation and periodic review of child protection policies.
- Organizes child protection awareness training for staff and volunteers.
- Ensures the policy is properly implemented at all levels of the association.
- Allocates the necessary resources for the application of the policy.
5.2. Staff and Volunteers:
- Must maintain a professional, ethical, and respectful attitude when interacting with children.
- Avoids any behavior that could endanger the physical, emotional, or mental well-being of children.
- Immediately reports any suspicious situation to the management.
- Protects children’s personal information and shares it in a manner that does not breach confidentiality.
5.3. Project Partners:
- All partners involved in LESACA’s projects are required to act in accordance with this policy.
- Takes necessary measures during the project to ensure the safety of children and follows established protocols.
6. Child Protection Measures and Practices
LESACA implements the following practices to protect children:
6.1. Risk Assessment:
- A risk assessment is conducted before the start of all activities and projects. Situations that may endanger children’s safety are identified and measures are taken accordingly.
6.2. Training and Awareness:
- All staff, volunteers, and project partners receive regular training on child protection. Training covers types of child abuse, children’s rights, signs of risk, and reporting procedures.
- Guidelines are established to ensure that staff adhere to appropriate conduct when interacting with children.
6.3. Code of Conduct:
- LESACA employees and volunteers must adhere to the following code of conduct when interacting with children:
- Avoid being alone with children.
- Obtain consent for physical contact with children.
- Use respectful language when addressing children.
- Ensure children are not subjected to physical or emotional bullying.
6.4. Children’s Participation:
- Children should actively participate in projects and be given the opportunity to express their views. Participation is encouraged while taking necessary safety precautions.
6.5. Reporting and Intervention:
- Immediate intervention is required in cases of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of children. All staff and volunteers are obligated to report any suspicious activity.
- The reporting process is conducted in accordance with confidentiality principles, and legal authorities are notified when necessary.
7. Reporting Procedures
The child protection policy outlines the following steps for reporting violations or abuse cases:
- Suspected Risk Identification: If a staff member or volunteer suspects a violation or risk to a child’s safety, they must immediately report it to the relevant authority.
- Informing the Management: All reports are presented to the management, which will take the necessary steps based on the severity of the situation.
- Confidentiality: All details of the incident are kept confidential and only shared with necessary personnel.
- Legal Process: In suspected cases of abuse, the association is obliged to report the incident to legal authorities in accordance with applicable laws.
8. Monitoring and Evaluation
LESACA regularly reviews and evaluates the effectiveness of its child protection policy. This process includes:
- Regular monitoring of policy practices.
- Collecting feedback from children involved in the projects.
- Ensuring the policy aligns with current legal regulations and making revisions as needed.
9. Legal Framework
LESACA operates in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Turkey and international child rights agreements. The policy is developed based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Turkey’s Child Protection Law (Law No. 5395).
10. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed at least once a year to ensure it remains relevant to the association’s activities and child protection requirements. LESACA continuously seeks to improve its child protection practices by following the best available methods and updating the policy when necessary.
