Child Protection Policy

BIG Foundation is dedicated to safeguarding the health and safety of children. BIG Foundation has therefore implemented this Child Protection Policy (CPP), which requires organisation representatives to behave appropriately with children who engage in BIG Foundation-related initiatives and to take necessary precautions to protect the safety of such children.

This policy defines the behaviours and actions constituting child abuse. In addition, it will outline the organisation's behaviour requirements, the policy's applicability scope, and reporting and redress protocols.

What is considered child abuse?

Child abuse or maltreatment encompasses all forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the Child's health, survival, programme Management development, or dignity in the context of a relationship of trust/power (Source: A report of the consultation on child abuse prevention, WHO, Geneva, 29-31 March 1999, defines child abuse as).

BIG Foundation Staff and Trainers must know and comprehend the following banned forms of misuse.

Physical abuse is the delebrate use of physical force on a child that causes or has a high chance to harm the Child's health, survival, development, or dignity. This includes striking, kicking, shaking, biting, strangulation, scalding, burning, poisoning, and suffocation.

Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse includes failure to provide a developmentally appropriate, supportive environment for the Child to develop a stable and full range of emotional and social competencies commensurate with their potential and within the context of the society in which the Child resides. Acts include movement restrictions, patterns of belittling, degrading, scapegoating, threatening, frightening, discriminating, mocking, and other unfriendly or rejecting non-physical forms of treatment.
Neglect and negligent treatment: We hold ourselves accountable, and there is no neglect in our classroom. Neglect is the failure of parents, guardians, teachers, or other responsible parties to meet a child's educational opportunities, protection, and supervision. It is the omission of the environment and resources essential for the Child to realise their full potential, as well as the failure to recognise physical or mental abuse. Commercial or other misuse of a child refers to the use of the Child in work or other activities for the advantage of others. This covers child labour and child prostitution, among others. These activities are important to the Child's physical/mental health, education, and spiritual, moral, and social-emotional growth.
Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse is a sexual offence under section 1.5.1 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012, as amended from time to time. These sexual offences include penetrative sexual assault (including rape), non-penetrative sexual assault (including touching a Child's private parts), sexual harassment (including stalking a Child, showing a Child pornography, and compelling a Child to expose their body), and using a Child for pornographic purposes (including storing of pornographic material involving a Child for commercial purposes).

Certain violations of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012, are aggravated offences with severe penalties like sexual assault committed by persons in a position of authority concerning the Child (such as relatives of the Child, persons managing or working in an educational institution, police officers, or public servants) is considered a severe offence. 1.5.2 Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act of 2012, abetting and attempting to commit a sexual offence are also deemed crimes.

Scope of Child Protection Policy Application

This CPP applies to all part-time and full-time workers (including but not limited to Staff, Trainers, and Interns) of BIG Foundation and any other individual who has been obligated to the Child Protection Policy as per their MoU with us
This policy shall be communicated to and explained to all participant organisations.
Each state's Child Protection Policies control our activities.

Expected and Prohibited Behavior

Without regard to race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, religious belief, heritage, political/another view, national/ethnic/ or property/disability/birth/another status, treat every Child with empathy and respect.

Do not use inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, humiliating, frightening, disrespectful, discriminating, or culturally insensitive language or behaviour towards children.

Respect Children's opinions and heed their advice.

Ensure that physical contact if any, with a Child is polite, culturally appropriate, and necessary to the interaction's purpose.

Do not subject children to any corporal punishment.

Create an environment that encourages children's growth through your actions and words.

Do not put a Child at risk of damage or abuse, and do not physically, emotionally, or sexually harm or abuse any Child.

Always obtain permission from Children before photographing or filming them.

Do not exchange or display (electronic or otherwise) improper materials, such as pornographic material or material that promotes crime, violence, terrorism, racism, sexism, self-harm, suicide, cruelty, or gambling, with children.

Keep the confidentiality and security of personal information about Children or their parents/guardians, and ensure that such information is only shared with those legally authorised.

Do not develop, induce or facilitate physical or sexual interactions with Children in any form.

While interacting with Children, do not use or encourage the use of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, or other intoxicating substances, and refrain from providing such substances to Children.

Do not build (financial or otherwise) relationships or arrangements with Children that could be construed as exploitative or harmful. Do not utilise any form of child labour.

Attend all of the Organization's practical training courses and workshops on the CPP and child-related regulations. Ensure you incorporate the lessons learnt from such sessions and seminars.

BIG Foundation's Measures to Prevent Child Abuse

Staff Orientation and Trainers: As part of their application to BIG Foundation, all Trainers and Staff are required to self-declare any prior convictions for criminal offences or child abuse.
All Trainers and Staff must get training in child protection
Enforce child safety requirements that Staff and Trainers must follow during activities.
Ensuring all Trainers and Staff sign the Child Protection Policy.
Require that a Staff Member or trainer accompany visits to an orphanage.
The organisation conducts research or data collection on children, ensuring that no children are harmed or traumatised during the process.
Partnerships to Support Implementation whenever possible
Partnering with organisations to provide age-appropriate sessions on the personal safety of Students (containing modules/materials on body parts, online security, protection against Child abuse, and available services for the protection of Children).

We are partnering with organisations in child abuse and child rights to assist Staff and Trainers in implementing the CPP effectively.

We are partnering with organisations specialising in child abuse and child rights to assist Staff and Trainers in implementing the CPP effectively.

Redress Mechanisms:

Assigning responsibility to specific individuals or groups within the organisation to ensure that procedures and arrangements are in place for the efficient Implementation of the policy and the redress of Child abuse accusations.