Our child protection policy
This policy applies to all staff, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers and sessional workers, agency staff, students or anyone working on behalf of Human Rights Reporters Ghana.
The purpose of this policy:
To protect children and young people who receive Human Rights Reporters Ghana’s services. This includes the children of adults who use our services;
To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection;
Human Rights Reporters Ghana believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:
Relevant sections of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
Children Act 1989
United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
Data Protection Act of 1998
Sexual Offences Act of 2003
Children Act 2004
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Relevant government guidance on safeguarding children
We recognize that:
- The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989.
- All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
- Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
- Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
- We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
- Valuing them, listening to and respecting them
- Adopting child protection practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Developing and implementing effective e-safety policy and related procedures
- Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training
- Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers
- Sharing concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately.
- We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
This policy was last reviewed on June 10th 2019 and signed by Mr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, the Executive Director of HRRG.