Last update: Dec 30, 2025, 17:17, by: Gabriel Brezoiu

[GM05] Child Protection Policy

0.         Introduction

As a non-governmental organisation working with children and youth, we must do all we can to make sure that the safety and protection of children who engage with us are protected and promoted at all times. The following Child Protection Policy has been produced to ensure that no child is harmed or placed at risk of harm during their involvement with GEYC’s activities and projects. This document has been approved by GEYC’s management and outlines the legal framework, the principles, actions, and code of conduct GEYC works with in order to prevent risks to children’s safety.

GEYC would like to acknowledge the guidance and materials offered by Save the Children and The Network for Children’s Rights in developing this Child Protection Policy, as well as the guidance and resources provided by Keeping Children Safe: International Child Safeguarding Standards in the development of this Child Protection Policy. This document serves as an international benchmark for safeguarding practices and has informed our approach to policy design, implementation, and monitoring.

Legal framework 

The following Child Protection Policy has been developed on the basis of law, policy, and guidance that seek to protect children, namely:

• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols;
• Romanian law 272/2004 regarding child protection and promotion of children’s rights.

Application

GEYC’s Child Protection Policy applies to:

• All members of staff and volunteers;
• All those acting on behalf of GEYC, such as consultants or trainers;
• Staff members and representatives from partner Organisations involved in the delivery of GEYC’s programmes;
• All adults involved in any activities organised by GEYC for children, including journalists, donors, photographers, film makers and policy-makers.

1.         Our principles

• All child abuse involves the abuse of children’s rights.
• All children have equal rights to protection from abuse and exploitation.
• The situation of all children must be improved through the promotion of their rights as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This includes the right to freedom from abuse and exploitation.
• Child abuse is never acceptable. 
• We have a commitment to protecting children with/ for whom we work
• When we work through partners, they have a responsibility to meet minimum standards of protection for children in their programmes.

2.        Our actions

We will meet our commitment to protect children from abuse through the following means:

Awareness: We will ensure that all staff and others are aware of the problem of child abuse and the risks to children.

Prevention: We will ensure, through awareness and good practice, that staff and others minimise the risks to children. All staff and volunteers will have access to a copy of the child protection policy. Recruitment procedures will include checks on suitability for working with young people. The induction will include a briefing on child protection issues.

Reporting: We will ensure that staff and others are clear about what steps to take when concerns arise regarding the safety of children. All staff, volunteers, and associates of GEYC should be aware of the appropriate procedures to report a child safeguarding concern, guided by the safety of the child as the paramount consideration. Reporting and responding to child safeguarding concerns should be taken very seriously, with a focus on ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information.

Responding: We will ensure that action is taken to support and protect children where concerns arise regarding possible abuse.

Engaging stakeholders: GEYC is committed to involving children, families, and communities in safeguarding efforts. This includes:

• Regularly consulting children and families about safeguarding measures and ensuring their feedback informs policy updates.
• Establishing accessible reporting channels for children and families to share concerns or provide suggestions.
• Developing child-friendly materials and communications to educate children about their rights and the safeguarding measures in place.

In order that the above standards of reporting and responding are met, members of GEYC will also ensure that they:

• take seriously any concerns raised
• take positive steps to ensure the protection of children who are the subject of any concerns
• support children, staff or other adults who raise concerns or who are the subject of concerns
• act appropriately and effectively in instigating or cooperating with any subsequent process of investigation
• are guided through the child protection process by the principle of ‘best interests of the child’
• listen to and take seriously the views and wishes of children
• work in partnership with parents/carers and/or other professionals to ensure the protection of children.

3.        Code of conduct

Staff and others must never:

• hit or otherwise physically assault or physically abuse children, develop physical/sexual relationships with children
• develop relationships with children which could in any way be deemed exploitative or abusive
• act in ways that may be abusive 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 which is inappropriate or sexually provocative
• have a child/children with whom they are working to stay overnight at their home unsupervised
• sleep in the same room or bed as a child with whom they are working
• do things for children of a personal nature that they can do for themselves
• condone, or participate in, the behaviour of children which is 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 differential treatment, or favour particular children to the exclusion of others.
• This is not an exhaustive or exclusive list. The principle is that staff should avoid actions or behaviour which may constitute poor practice or potentially abusive behaviour.

4.         Data protection

In line with the Data Protection Policy, GEYC is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of children and their families who engage with our activities.

• children and their parents are informed about the purpose of the data collection and their rights regarding the data;
• children's personal data is only collected for specific, legitimate purposes. The data collected is adequate, relevant, and not excessive for the intended purpose.
• unnecessary data will not be collected;
• it is important to obtain informed consent from both the child and their parent or legal guardian before collecting their data. We provide clear and accessible information about the data collection. The request for consent is present in each registration or application form and is presented in a manner that is clearly distinguishable from the other matters, in an intelligible and easily accessible form, using clear and plain language.

5.         Staff recruitment procedures

GEYC already has in place several safe recruitment procedures to ensure that staff and volunteers are suitable and safe to work with children:

• Interviews - besides the role-specific questions, the interviews will include asking questions about their experience, qualifications, and their views on child protection
• References - from previous employers, colleagues, or other people who can vouch for the candidate's suitability for working with children
• Child Protection training - detailed below

6.        Updates and training

All staff members and volunteers will receive training based on the present CPP, along with all the other policies and procedures of the organisation, at the beginning of their work with the NGO. All those acting on behalf of GEYC, such as consultants or trainers; staff members and representatives from partner Organisations involved in the delivery of GEYC’s programmes; all adults involved in any activities organised by GEYC for children, including journalists, donors, photographers, film makers and policy-makers will be informed of the present Child Protection Policy at the start of their collaboration, making sure that:

• They are aware of the organisation's child protection policies and understand their responsibilities in protecting children;
• They recognise potential risks and vulnerabilities that children may face, and equip them with the knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to situations where children are at risk of harm;
• They understand the ethical and professional standards that are expected of them while working with children.

7.        Roles and Responsibilities

To ensure effective implementation of this Child Protection Policy, GEYC defines the following roles and responsibilities:

• Leadership: The General Manager is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the policy, ensuring that all staff, volunteers, and associates understand and comply with safeguarding requirements. Leadership will also allocate necessary resources for safeguarding and reviewing performance.
• Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO): The designated officer, currently Gabriel-Andrei Brezoiu, ensures all child safeguarding concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately. This role includes maintaining records, liaising with relevant authorities, and conducting regular reviews of safeguarding practices.
• Staff and volunteers: All GEYC staff and volunteers are required to follow the Child Protection Policy at all times and to participate in training and report any safeguarding concerns immediately.

• Partner Organisations: Partners engaged in GEYC activities must demonstrate compliance with this policy and the safeguarding standards outlined in Keeping Children Safe: International Child Safeguarding Standards.
• Children and families: GEYC encourages active participation from children and families in shaping safeguarding measures, providing feedback, and reporting any concerns.

8.         Final aspects

• The present Child Protection Policy is available on the organisation’s website at geyc.ro/about-us.
• GEYC will monitor the implementation of safeguarding measures by:

• Conducting annual internal audits and periodic external evaluations of safeguarding practices.
• Reviewing feedback from staff, volunteers, children, and families to improve safeguarding measures.
• Using incidents, lessons learned, and best practices outlined in Keeping Children Safe: International Child Safeguarding Standards to enhance policy implementation.

• The present Child Protection Policy is revised annually, based on the feedback of the staff and volunteers working with children.
• This Child Protection Policy adheres to the principles and practices outlined in Keeping Children Safe: International Child Safeguarding Standards. Compliance with these standards ensures GEYC maintains the highest level of safeguarding for children across all activities.

• You can contact us regarding matters related to child protection at the address office@geyc.ro, where the General Manager of the organisation is the designated person in charge of reporting procedures, whose primary responsibility is to ensure that all concerns about the safety of children are immediately reported and addressed. He is trained and equipped to identify signs of abuse or neglect and is well-versed in the procedures to follow when an incident occurs.