Child Protection Policy
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
This child protection policy (CPP) was jointly developed by Loves Bridge, a public charity based in Oregon, USA, and Zashita, a charitable foundation based in Perm, Russia, and based on the CPP developed by the Consortium for Street Children. It is a supplement to our Personnel Manual, which also outlines certain policies designed for protection of both the children in our care (project participants) and our employees.
This document is not meant to be a list of childrens rights. The rights of project participants are dictated by the laws of the Russian Federation and the UN convention on the rights of the child. Instead, it is an outline of how we intend to protect the children in our care from infringement on their rights.
Unfortunately we cannot guarantee that no harm will ever come to a child in our care, but we hope the procedures outlined in this document will enable us to offer the maximum possible protection from harm, and ensure that offences are dealt with in a swift and orderly manner.
Jered Markoff,
Loves Bridge President
1. Definitions
Child
À child is defined as anyone under the age of 18, in line
with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Child abuse
· According to the World Health Organisation, Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the childs health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.[1]· This definition therefore points to four types of child abuse:
- Physical abuse: including hurting or injuring a child, inflicting pain, poisoning, drowning, or smothering.
- Sexual abuse: including direct or indirect sexual exploitation or corruption of children by involving them (or threatening to involve them) in inappropriate sexual activities.
- Emotional abuse: repeatedly rejecting children, humiliating them or denying their worth and rights as human beings.
- Neglect: the persistent lack of appropriate care of children, including love, stimulation, safety, nourishment, warmth, education, and medical attention.
· A child who is being abused may experience more than one type of cruelty.
Child protection
A broad term to describe philosophies, policies, standards, guidelines and procedures to protect children from both intentional and unintentional harm. In the current context, it applies particularly to the duty of the organisations - and individuals associated with the organisations - towards children in our care.
Direct contact with children
Being in the physical presence of a child or children, whether contact is occasional or regular, short or long term.
Indirect contact with children
· Having access to information on children in the context of the organisations work, such as childrens names, locations (addresses of individuals or projects), photographs and case studies.
· Providing funding for the organizations, as albeit indirectly, this nonetheless has an impact on children.
[N.B. this list of examples is not exhaustive].
2. What is a Child Protection Policy?
A Child Protection Policy provides a framework of principles, standards and
guidelines on which to base individual and organisational practice in relation
to areas such as:
· Creating a child safe and child friendly organisation (in relation to environmental safety as well as protection against physical, psychological and sexual abuse)
· Prevention of abuse
· Guidelines for appropriate and inappropriate behaviour/attitude
· Personnel recruitment and training
· Recognising, reporting and reacting to allegations of abuse
· Guidelines for communications regarding children
3. Why do we need a Child Protection Policy?
Any NGO should have a child protection policy if its direct or indirect
beneficiaries include individuals under the age of 18 Street children
are especially vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and ill-treatment at the hands
of carers, other project workers, and those with access to their personal information.
In the case of children who have run away from home, many have already experienced
ruptured relationships of trust or abuse of an adult-child relationship in the
form of physical, psychological or sexual abuse.
· Organisations working with vulnerable children have been, are and will continue to be vulnerable to harbouring abuse until the issues are brought into the open.
· Organisations without protection policies, guidelines and systems are more vulnerable to false or malicious accusations of abuse.
· Without proper policies, guidelines and procedures in place, allegations of abuse, whether founded or unfounded, can destroy an organisations reputation. This will have serious implications for fundraising (thus undermining an organisations entire portfolio of work, even beyond the scope of the particular project concerned) as well as damaging the reputation of the street children NGO sector as a whole.
SECTION II: CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
This document is required to be reviewed and updated one year after entering into force and thereafter a minimum of once every two years or whenever there is a major change in the organisation or in relevant legislation, to guarantee the best available policies for child protection.
1. Personnel Recruitment Procedure
There will be a thorough and standardised process within the organisation that
applies to the recruitment of all employees, contractors, officers, interns
and volunteers, whether paid or unpaid, full time or part time, temporary or
long-term, having direct or indirect contact with children. The process shall
include:
· A disclosure through the police for the information on spent and unspent convictions and cautions held, if possible at national level, and information from local police records including relevant non-conviction information (for those applying for positions which involve regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of persons aged under 18). In Russia the police may refuse to disclose such information, but the information must be requested nonetheless.
· The requirement for the potential employee to read, understand and accept compliance with the organisations Child Protection Policy and guidelines as part of the terms and conditions of employment. [This process should include signing the appropriate Statement of Commitment as a condition of employment (see APPENDIX 4)].
· The requirement for the potential employee to sign a personal declaration stating any criminal convictions, including those considered spent, arrests, investigations and / or allegations (see APPENIX 7).
· The required minimum of two character references (excluding family members and those who have known the applicant personally for less than 2 years) [see the character reference form in the Personnel Manual].
· The requirement for the new employee to work for a trial period of 30 days, during which the employee cannot carry out individual work with a child.
2. Education and Training
There will be opportunities within the organisation to develop and maintain
the necessary skills and understanding to safeguard children. The opportunities
shall include:
· An induction process for all employees, contractors, officers, interns and volunteers which includes: familiarisation with the Child Protection Policy; opportunities to learn about the nature of abuse, the effects of abuse and how to recognise and respond to concerns about child abuse.
· Employees, contractors, officers, interns and volunteers who will have direct contact with children must be trained on the organisations behaviour protocols and guidelines and must be clear on who to contact in the event of any concerns.
· Employees, contractors, officers, interns and volunteers who have access to information about children such as personal contact information, including their address, specific cases or incidents, or any other details of a childs personal life must be trained to fully understand what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable sharing of information regarding children.
· A specific person will be responsible for this education and training in each of the organizations facilities. At the time this document is enacted, the following persons will assume this responsibility: the head teacher in the 24 / 7 shelter on 58 Chkalova street, the manager in the ACT center on 34b Komsomolskii Prospekt, and the chairperson of Zashita in the day center on 13 Pushkina street. The Loves Bridge project manager will be responsible to make sure these individuals fulfil their duties in this regard.
3. Management Structure
À specific management process is to be adopted in order to facilitate
implementation of the child protection policy and procedures. The structure
shall include:
· A designated person who is responsible for the implementation of the child protection policy. At the time this document is enacted, this person will be the Loves Bridge project manager.
· Ongoing supervision, monitoring and support of individuals working directly with children, or with direct access to information on children which is integrated into the regular schedule of the supervisor / line manager.
· Regular, formal staff evaluations. These evaluations will take place during bi-weekly management meetings, attended by the management of each Loves Bridge / Zashita facility.
· The disclosure of personal information about children, including legal cases, should be limited to those employees, contractors, officers, interns and volunteers who need to know.
· Officers must take responsibility to assure themselves that the organisations Child Protection Policy is being implemented.
4. Behaviour Protocols
A code of conduct appropriate to the particulars of our organisation is outlined
in the organizations Personnel Manual. The code of conduct should be interpreted
in a spirit of transparency and common sense, with the best interests of the
child as the primary consideration.
See the Loves Bridge Personnel Manual.
5. Communications about Children
Street children are not just outlaws or waifs appearing in photographs
as part of the urban scenery. They are human beings, each with their own history,
problems, necessities and hopes
they are not objects of concern, but individual
children who are subjects of human rights.[2]
The following is a set of Communication Guidelines to control confidential information regarding children and to prevent the presentation of degrading images of children through the organisations publications and website. The Communication Guidelines include:
· Every child has a right to be accurately represented through both words and images. The organisations portrayal of each child must not be manipulated or sensationalized in any way. Children must be presented as human beings with their own identity and dignity preserved.
· Avoid:
- Language and images that could possibly degrade, victimise or shame children;
- Making generalisations which do not accurately reflect the nature of the situation;
- Discrimination of any kind;
- Taking pictures out of context (e.g. pictures should be accompanied by an explanatory caption where possible).
- Publishing a childs surname, address and date of birth on paper, on the Internet, or otherwise.
· In images, children should be appropriately clothed and not depicted in any poses that could be interpreted as sexually provocative.
· Personal and physical information that could be used to identify the location of a child within a country and cause them to be put at risk should not be used on the organisations website or in any other form of communication for general or public purposes.[3]
· Always ask permission from the child / children themselves before taking photographs or publishing information about the child, except under exceptional circumstances, based on the child / childrens best interests, where this might not be possible or desirable.
6. Reporting and reaction protocol
The following are guidelines for reporting and reacting to witnessed, suspected
or alleged child abuse and/or violation of the Child Protection Policy which
is made available to, and understood by, all employees, contractors, officers,
interns and volunteers.
A. General guidelines for reacting to alleged abuse:
· The guiding principle is that the best interest of the child should always govern decisions regarding what action should be taken in response to concerns.
· If your concerns involve immediate harm to a child, act without delay, as inaction may place the child in further danger.
· If you know any information about the maltreatment of a child, it is your responsibility to tell someone.
· In certain instances there will be the obligation for the organisation and its staff and others to report concerns to the appropriate external bodies. This will usually occur as a consequence of the reporting procedure. However, if urgent action is required in order to protect children then it may be prior to the reporting procedure.
· Relevant contact details for child protection services, local social services department, police, and emergency medical help should be readily available and easily accessible to organisation representatives.
B. System for reporting incidents, concerns and referrals, and storing them securely:
· There is one person in charge of filing complaints in each of the organizations facilities: the head teacher in the 24 / 7 Shelter on 58 Chkalova street, the head teacher in the ACT center on 34b Komsomolskii Prospekt, and the head teacher in the day center on 13 Pushkina street.
· Concerns involving these individuals should be reported to the facility manager and / or the Loves Bridge project manager and board of directors. The Loves Bridge project manager will be responsible to make sure these individuals fulfil their duties in this regard.
· Records should be signed and dated.
· Records must be kept securely in a locked place to which access is restricted.
· Managers have a particular responsibility in maintaining the confidentiality of these records and must ensure that the records, or any information they contain, are made available only to relevant parties.
C. A description of appropriate action to investigate reports of child abuse:
· Investigate the report, to determine its veracity. The investigation should include speaking with the person who was allegedly abused, anybody who witnessed or may have witnessed the alleged abuse, anybody who was told about the abuse by first-hand witnesses, and the manager who was in charge when the alleged abuse took place. The more information you receive, the greater the likelihood of coming to the right conclusions. The investigation should also include a search for signs of abuse as listed in APPENDIX 3.
· Document the report in a signed and dated record, using one of the forms for reporting suspected abuse in APPENDIX 1. There are two types of forms: a shorter one for relatively mild complaints (for example, a complaint that one child receives more attention from a specific person than the others), and the other for more serious complaints (for example, allegations that a child receives attention that may be construed as romantic interest from a certain person).
· Discuss the report with the appropriate individuals, and only the appropriate individuals, as listed in this Child Protection Policy. Review the relevant procedures in the Personnel Manual and this Child Protection Policy, and decide on a course of action.
· The childs legal guardian(s) should be contacted before any course of action that directly affects the child is implemented. Written consent should be obtained.
· Implement the course of action that was agreed upon. The person who documented the allegations of abuse is responsible to make sure appropriate action has been taken, and to document the action after it has been taken.
D. Guidelines on confidentiality and information sharing
E. Guidelines to responding to allegations from a child
When a child informs you that he/she is uncomfortable or concerned with a specific persons (adult or child) behaviour towards them or another child, the following steps must be taken:
· Reassure them that they were right to report the behaviour.
· Listen carefully and calmly to them and ask questions to clarify the allegation so that you will be able to later report the incident correctly.
· During the conversation, try not to repeat the same questions to the child, as this gives the child the impression that they did not give correct information the first time and they are not fully believed.
· Do not promise secrecy to the child. Inform the child that you must report the incident or inappropriate behaviour as it is in their best interest.
· Take proper steps to ensure the physical safety and psychological well being of the child. This may include referring them for medical treatment or to a psychologist.
· Make certain you distinguish between what the child has actually said and the inferences you may have made. Accuracy is paramount in this stage of the procedure.
· Do not permit personal doubt to prevent you from reporting the allegation to the proper supervisor.
· Let the child know what you are going to do next and that you will let them know what happens.
F. Guidelines for preventing and responding to falsified allegations
Some individuals may attempt to misuse this Child Protection Policy. They may, for example, report a false allegation with the intent to cause harm to the reputation of a person they dislike, or seek sympathy by falsifying reports of abuse. The following guidelines should be observed to keep the Child Protection Policy from being undermined in this way:
· All project participants should be encouraged to report suspected abuse, but warned that false reports will undermine the protection we are trying to offer them.
· Minimize the number of individuals who discuss allegations of inappropriate conduct; if such allegations become public knowledge, chances will greatly increase that somebody will produce false allegations in the future.
· If a staff member is dismissed following allegations of misconduct, the organizations management should carefully consider whether the reason for dismissal should become public knowledge among project participants. Public knowledge can lead to at least two negative consequences: the individual who reported the allegations may be ridiculed, and other individuals may produce false allegations in the future, in an attempt to obtain the dismissal of employees they dislike or gain control. These concerns should not prevent management from reporting criminal behaviour to the appropriate authorities.
· Extreme caution should be exercised when considering punishment as an option for an individual who has falsified reports, to avoid discouraging others who may wish to report misconduct; however, if it has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that a person has repeatedly falsified reports of misconduct, they may be reprimanded, providing the reprimand does not include depriving them of basic needs, essential care or other rights.
Reporting and reaction protocol
Flowchart for Reporting Suspected Abuse

7. Ramifications of Misconduct
· If an allegation of a violation of the policies, guidelines, principles or practice of child protection is made concerning a named individual from a verifiable source against any employee, contractor, officer, intern or volunteer, they may be suspended from all activity pending the outcome of an independent investigation. Staff will continue to receive full pay during this time.
· Depending on the outcome of the independent investigation: If it comes to light that anyone associated with the organisation commits acts in relation to children, which are criminal, grossly infringe childrens rights, or contravene the principles and standards contained in this document, the organisation will take immediate disciplinary action and any other action which may be appropriate to the circumstances. This may mean, for example, for:
- Employees disciplinary action / dismissal
- Volunteers, officers and interns ending the relationship with the organisation
- Contractors termination of contract
· Depending on the nature, circumstances and location of the case, the organisation will also consider involving the police to ensure the protection of children and criminal prosecution where appropriate.
· The decision to suspend is not subject to challenge. When investigating and determining the concerns or complaints, the process should always be fair and any adverse determination should be open to challenge through an appeals process.
· An employee dismissed for proven misconduct will not receive severance pay. However, the organizations officers may decide to dismiss an employee for serious suspicions of misconduct, even if the misconduct has not been proven. In such cases the employee will be entitled to full severance benefits as outlined in the employment contract.
APPENDIX 1
Report Form for Suspected Abuse
Document the report using one of the forms for reporting suspected abuse. Form 1 is for relatively mild complaints; form 2 is for more serious complaints.
Form 1
1. About You
Your name:
Contact details:
2. Childs name and age:
3. Date of the report:
4. Nature of the alleged incident:
5. Action taken:
6. Date of the action taken:
Signed:
Date:
Form 2
Report Form for Suspected Abuse
If you have knowledge that a childs safety might be in danger, please complete this form to the best of your knowledge. For confidentiality reasons, the report should be written and signed solely by you. It should only be sent only to the designated contact person. It will be held in a safe and secure place and treated in the strictest confidence.
1. About You
Your name:
Your job title:
Workplace:
Your relationship to the child:
Contact details:
2. About the Child
Childs name:
Childs age:
3. About your Concern
Was the abuse observed or suspected?
Is this concern based on first hand information or information divulged to you
by someone else?
(If so who?)
Did the child disclose abuse to you?
Date of the alleged incident:
Time of the alleged incident:
Location of the alleged incident:
Name of alleged perpetrator:
Job title:
Nature of the allegation:
Your personal observations (visible injuries, childs emotional state,
etc.) [N.B. Make a clear distinction between what is fact and what is opinion
or hearsay]
Exactly what the child or other source said to you [if relevant] and how you
responded to him or her: [Do not lead the child. Record actual details]
Any other information not previously covered:
Were there any other children/people involved in the alleged incident?
Action Taken:
When the action was taken:
Signed:
Date:
APPENDIX 2
Guidelines for Child Sponsorship Programmes
1) If any concerns are raised in relation to a sponsorship application, the case will be discussed with the Chief Executive before a decision is made. If the application for sponsorship is declined or sponsorship brought to a close, the relevant program manager will write to the individual advising them of the decision and the reason. All consultation and decisions will be recorded.
2) A sponsored childs history, picture folders and photographs of children must be stored in locked and secure facilities to which a limited number of people have access.
3) All sponsor correspondence with a sponsored child must be reviewed for inappropriate or suggestive comments, requests or obscenities, including political or religious comments that could cause offence, and to ensure that letters do not contain the sponsors contact details. (This is to ensure that the sponsor is protected from receiving begging letters from people unconnected with the sponsored child). In the event of inappropriate correspondence being discovered, it will be returned to the sponsor explaining the organisations concerns. The organisation reserves the right to decline sponsorship or sever the sponsorship relationship.
4) At the time of sponsorship, sponsors must be advised that the organisations policy prohibits unannounced visits. Sponsors requesting a visit must be asked to sign a statement that they have received and understood the organisations visit policy.
5) A sponsor and his or her sponsored child must not exchange home addresses.
6) The organisation will not facilitate the visit of any child to a sponsors country or facilitate the adoption of children. Any request for such assistance will be tactfully declined.
7) The organisation reserves the right to terminate sponsors relationships for child protection or any other reasons.
SPONSOR VISITS TO THE ORGANISATIONS PROJECTS
A child sponsor who would like to visit the child they are sponsoring should follow the Rules for Volunteers, Visitors who Visit During a Period of More than 12 Hours, and Child Sponsors who wish to Visit the Child they are Sponsoring.
APPENDIX 3
Recognizing Signs of Abuse
Recognising indications of potential abuse is complex. There are potential warning signs that [you] can be alert to but they should be observed and assessed with care. It should not be automatically assumed that abuse is occurring, and talking to the child may reveal something quite innocent. It is important, however, not to dismiss significant changes in behaviour, fears, worries, and physical indicators a child is exhibiting. Do not ignore these signs, but remember it is not your role to become an investigator. Report any concerns to the designated child protection contact in your organisation.
Possible signs of physical abuse:
Possible signs of neglect:
Possible signs of emotional abuse:
Possible signs of sexual abuse:
Possible signs of concern regarding adult behaviour:
APPENDIX 4
STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT TO CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Loves Bridge / Zashita
For staff, contractors, trustees, officers, interns, volunteers, sponsors and guests
I, _____________________________________________________ [name], have read and understood the standards and guidelines outlined in this Child Protection Policy. I agree with the principles contained therein and accept the importance of implementing child protection policies and practice while working with Loves Bridge and Zashita or visiting Loves Bridge and Zashitas projects.
_____________________________
(Print name)
_____________________________
(Birth date)
____________________________
(Signature)
_____________________________
(Date)
APPENDIX 5
Rules for Volunteers and Visitors who Visit During a Period of Less than 12
Hours
Volunteers or visitors who plan to visit for a period exceeding 12 hours should observe both these rules and the rules outlined in appendix 6
1. Volunteers and individuals on project visits are welcome to visit any of our facilities during working hours. In the case of our 24 / 7 shelter, visits should end an hour before bed time. Currently the visiting hours are: from 12 PM to 6 PM at our day center; from 10 AM to 10 PM at the 24/7 shelter; from 10 AM to 8 PM at the ACT center except Saturdays and Sundays. Under special circumstances visitors may be permitted to visit at a different time by the project management.
2. Volunteers and visitors are welcome to engage in activities with the project participants in our facilities; however, we recommend avoidance of situations in which a volunteer or visitor is alone with one of the project participants for an extended period of time. During activities outside our facilities the project participants should always be accompanied by at least one of our staff members.
3. Volunteers and visitors should employ caution in regards to physical contact with project participants, and keep in mind that even appropriate physical contact can be misinterpreted.
4. Project participants should not be punished by volunteers or visitors under any circumstances. Misbehavior should be handled by our full-time staff.
5. The organization is committed to ensuring that the service environment is free from bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. Each person is expected to treat all individuals, both project participants and staff members, with dignity and respect. Any behavior that is deemed to be bullying, harassment and or sexual harassment is unlawful and will not be tolerated in our facilities.
6. Communication guidelines:
· We ask that you refrain from discussing inappropriate subjects with project participants; including violence and sexuality (this includes both sexually explicit language and descriptions of your romantic life). Please avoid using expletives, and language that might suggest a romantic interest in the participant.
· You are welcome to discuss religious topics, but please avoid pressuring the recipient to accept specific beliefs or practices. This applies to non-religious topics as well. Put differently, you are welcome to share appropriate (non sexual and non violent) opinions with the recipient, but please don't try to convince him or her to accept your opinions.
Note: after a trial period of 30 days rules 1, 2 and 4 may be relaxed, if a volunteer goes through the standard Personnel Recruitment Procedure (see page 2 of this document). Project management may reduce the time requirement by a unanimous decision.
APPENDIX 6
R ules for Volunteers, Visitors who Visit During a Period of More than 12 Hours,
and Child Sponsors who wish to Visit the Child they are Sponsoring
1) Volunteers, visitors who visit the project for more than 12 hours, and child sponsors who wish to visit the child they are sponsoring should abide by the rules in appendix 5, and observe the following rules as well.
2) Visitors that fall in this category should notify project management of their intentions at least two months in advance. The visitor should not inform any of the project participants of his or her intentions until he or she has received approval. If one of our staff knows the visitor personally, this period can be reduced.
3) We are responsible for the safety of the children in our care; with this in mind we need to do a background check on anyone who plans to visit the project during a period of more than 12 hours or visit a specific child. The visitor will be:
· required to obtain a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure check, or equivalent;
· expected to sign the appropriate Statement of Commitment to the organisations Child Protection Policy as a condition of the visit;
· expected to sign a personal declaration (appendix 7) stating any criminal convictions, including those considered spent, and declaring any previous investigations or allegations made against them with respect to child protection issues (N.B. only convictions or history that might be considered dangerous to the safety or well-being of children or their families will be considered as reasonable cause to decline sponsorship visits);
· expected to provide 2 contacts for referees;
· expected to provide the organisation with a copy of the photo page of their passport;
· The visitor may also be interviewed by the organisations designated child protection person / Officer to ensure their suitability for the visit. This briefing should include briefing on the code of behaviour and guidelines on communications about children.
4) If a visitor chooses not to comply with any of the requirements listed above the visit will be cancelled.
5) Group visits will be subject to the same requirements above.
6) The organisation will retain the right to cancel a visitors visit at any time. The management must be informed if the organisations staff members have any suspicions, so that the situation can be monitored.
7) Communities and families participating in sponsorship programmes are advised of the organisations procedures regarding visitors. They are encouraged to report immediately any visit that has not been arranged by the organisations staff or any request from a sponsor or visitor that encourages withholding information from the organisations staff or other members of the community.
In the case of any breach of the above guidelines, the organisation should be careful to thoroughly investigate every case by contacting the child and their family, the in-country staff and the sponsor or person visiting. Possible action may include taking follow-up action with external bodies as appropriate.
APPENDIX 7
Personal declaration of criminal convictions, arrests, official investigations
or allegations
This form should be filled out by volunteers or visitors who wish to visit during a period of more than 12 hours, child sponsors who wish to visit the child they are sponsoring, and potential employees. Only convictions or history that might be considered dangerous to the safety or well-being of project participants will be considered as reasonable cause to decline visits. Extra pages should be attached, if needed.
I, __________________________________________ [name] have been convicted of the following crime(s):
[please answer none if you have never been convicted of a crime]
Description: _____________________________________________________________________________
Date of conviction: _________________
Jurisdiction: _________________________________________
I have been arrested for the following reason(s):
[please answer none if you have never been arrested]
Description: _____________________________________________________________________________
Date of arrest: _________________ Date of release: __________________
Jurisdiction: _________________________________________
Description: _____________________________________________________________________________
Date of arrest: _________________ Date of release: __________________
Jurisdiction: _________________________________________
The following investigation(s) and / or allegation(s) have been made concerning me:
Description:_____________________________________________________________________
Who initiated the investigation(s) / allegation(s): ________________________________________________
Your view on the investigation(s) / allegation(s): ________________________________________________
Signature: _______________________ Date:__________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] The WHO definition of Child Abuse as defined by the Report of the Consultation on Child Abuse Prevention WHO 1999.
[2] Judith Ennew, Why the Convention is Not About Street Children, in Revisiting Childrens Rights: 10 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Kluwer Law International, 2000, p. 180.
[3] See Appendix 3 for Guidelines on Child Sponsorship Programmes.