Child Safeguarding Charter

Say “NO” to Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Neglect, and Psychological Abuse

Our staff and associates should:

• Respect the rights, integrity, and dignity of children regardless of their differences in age, sex, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, race, language, religious belief, ability, disability, health, socio-economic or cultural background, or any other circumstances.
• Display high standards of professional behaviour at all times, providing a positive role model for children and young people.
• Respond to any concerns, suspicions, incidents or allegations of actual or potential abuse to a child or young person, and report in accordance with established procedures.
• Cooperate fully and confidentially in any investigation of concerns or allegations of abuse to children.

Our staff and associates should not:

• Hit, physically assault or physically abuse children including the use of corporal punishment or any harmful practices.
• Engage in any form of sexual activity or develop physical/sexual relationships with service clients under the age of 18 regardless of the age of sexual consent in Hong Kong.
• Use language which is intended to shame, humiliate, degrade or belittle the child, or otherwise offensive or abusive, sexually provocative, culturally insensitive, or otherwise perpetrate any form of emotional abuse.
• Leave children unattended or unsupervised for an excessive or inappropriate timeframe that might result in harm or potential harm to them.
• Use any computers, mobile phones, cameras, video or digital cameras or any such medium to exploit, harass or bully children; or to access, view, create, download or distribute child pornography, or any other abusive images of children.

The above is not an exhaustive or exclusive list. The principle is that staff and associates should avoid actions or behavior which may constitute poor practice or potentially abusive behavior. Children should also be EMPOWERED about their rights, what is acceptable and unacceptable, and what they can do if there is a problem.