Cross-Functional Global Protection & Safeguarding Standards
Compassion’s top priority is ensuring all program participants are known, loved and protected. To prevent and respond to potential abuse of program participants, we’ve established and implemented cross-functional global protection and safeguarding standards.
Dedicated Staff for Protection and Safeguarding
While all staff bear protection and safeguarding responsibilities, Compassion’s national offices have full-time staff members focused on child protection. These staff members ensure that all local church partners are equipped to respond quickly and appropriately if reports of abuse emerge.
Safeguarding Strategies Informed by Local Risks, Resources and Context
Child protection strategies are developed at the national level, informed by global criteria, local risks, resources and context. Compassion strategically trains stakeholders (local church partners, caregivers and participants) to monitor signs of and protect program participants from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Simplified and Accessible Abuse Reporting
Compassion provides a secure system for program participants to safely report incidents of abuse. Our reporting management system is available in local languages with accessible reporting methods (such as online reporting sites and hotlines, among others).
Reports of abuse can be made anonymously, and two-way communication with anonymous reporters is available.
Empowered Local Church Partners Lead the Way in Child Protection
Compassion positions local church partners to become leaders in protection and safeguarding. We strengthen local systems, processes and policies, ensuring safer recruitment practices and providing the required protection training.
We also ask local church partners to sign a Code of Conduct with behavioral expectations. These practices ensure workers and volunteers are more likely to engage in safe behaviors with program participants and their families.