CHILD PROTECTION POLICY – ГО “БРІТ”

1. Introduction

NGO Bureau of Research, Innovations and Technologies (BRIT) is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment for all children and young people (anyone under the age of 18) with whom we interact through our research, projects, activities, and partnerships. This policy outlines BRIT’s commitment to protecting children from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation and provides clear guidelines and procedures for all personnel. This policy is guided by the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), relevant Ukrainian legislation, and best practices in child safeguarding prevalent within the European Union.

2 Policy Statement

BRIT believes that every child has the right to protection from all forms of harm. We have a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and exploitation. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children involved in or affected by our work and ensuring that our activities minimize risks and promote children’s well-being.

3 Scope

This policy applies to all BRIT personnel, including:

Full-time and part-time employees
Board members and trustees
Volunteers and interns
Consultants and contractors working on behalf of BRIT
Partners involved in joint projects where children participate or are impacted.

This policy applies to all activities undertaken by BRIT, whether directly involving children (e.g., workshops, interviews, user testing, operation of Science Museum ‘New Energy’) or indirectly affecting them (e.g., developing technologies used by children, research impacting child-related policies).

4 Definitions

Child: Any person under the age of 18 years, as defined by the UNCRC and Ukrainian law.
Child Abuse: Any act or failure to act that results in actual or potential harm to a child’s health, survival, development, or dignity. This includes physical abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation, emotional/psychological abuse, and neglect.
Child Safeguarding: Proactive measures taken to prevent harm to children and promote their welfare. It involves creating safe environments, implementing robust procedures, and responding effectively to concerns.
Personnel: All individuals covered under the scope of this policy (Section 3).
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): The designated person(s) within BRIT responsible for overseeing child protection measures and procedures.

5 Guiding Principles

Our approach to child protection is based on the following principles:

Best Interests of the Child: The child’s welfare and safety are paramount in all decisions and actions.
Non-Discrimination: All children shall be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other status.
Child Participation: Where appropriate and safe, children’s views will be sought and considered in decisions that affect them.
Protection: All necessary steps will be taken to prevent abuse and protect children from harm.
Confidentiality: Information regarding child protection concerns will be shared only on a strict need-to-know basis for the purpose of protecting the child, respecting privacy while prioritizing safety.
Accountability: All personnel are accountable for upholding this policy.

6 Code of Conduct for Personnel

All BRIT personnel are expected to adhere to the following code of conduct when interacting with children or working on projects affecting them:

Treat all children with respect and dignity.
Never engage in any form of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, neglect).
Avoid situations where personnel are alone with a single child without clear visibility or justification related to the activity (seek alternatives like open spaces and the presence of other adults/children).
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times. Avoid favoritism.
Use appropriate language and tone. Do not use sexually suggestive language or behavior.
Obtain informed consent from parents/guardians (and assent from children where appropriate) before engaging children in activities, research, photography, or videography, clearly explaining the purpose and how data/images will be used and stored.
Communicate responsibly and safely, including online interactions. Do not request or share private contact information or connect via personal social media accounts.
Do not administer physical punishment or discipline.
Report any child protection concerns immediately according to the procedures outlined in this policy.
Respect cultural differences while always prioritizing the child’s safety and rights.

7 Prevention Strategies

BRIT commits to implementing preventative measures, including:

Safe Recruitment: Implementing vetting procedures for personnel who will have significant contact with children, including reference checks and background checks where legally permissible and appropriate in the Ukrainian context. Interview processes will explore applicants’ attitudes towards child safeguarding.
Training and Awareness: Providing mandatory child protection training for all relevant personnel, covering this policy, recognition of abuse indicators, reporting procedures, and the Code of Conduct. Regular refresher training will be provided.
Risk Assessment: Conducting risk assessments for all projects and activities involving children to identify potential risks and implement mitigation strategies.
Safe Programming: Designing and implementing projects and activities in a way that minimizes risks to children and promotes their safety and well-being.

8 Reporting Procedures

8.1 Responsibility to Report: Every member of BRIT personnel has a mandatory responsibility to report any concerns, suspicions, or allegations of child abuse or breaches of the Code of Conduct, whether occurring within BRIT activities or observed outside.

8.2 Internal Reporting: Concerns must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) via official e-mail ngo@gobrit.org.ua. If the concern involves the DSL, it should be reported to CEO.

8.3 External Reporting: The DSL is responsible for assessing the information and, where appropriate and potentially legally required, reporting concerns to the relevant Ukrainian authorities (National Police of Ukraine, Social Services, Child Rights Ombudsman).

8.4 Confidentiality: Reports will be treated confidentially and shared only on a need-to-know basis to ensure the child’s safety and well-being and comply with legal obligations. Reporters acting in good faith will be supported and protected from retaliation.

9 Responding to Concerns and Allegations

9.1 Assessment: The DSL will promptly assess all reported concerns to determine the level of risk and the appropriate course of action.

9.2 Actions include:

Immediate steps to ensure the child’s safety.
Internal investigation (following principles of fairness and confidentiality).
Reporting to statutory authorities.
Providing support to the child and family (liaising with relevant services).
Disciplinary action against personnel found to be in breach of the policy, up to and including dismissal and reporting to authorities.
Reviewing and revising procedures based on lessons learned.

9.3 Record Keeping: Accurate and confidential records of all concerns, actions taken, and decisions made will be maintained securely by the DSL.

10 Confidentiality and Data Protection

All information related to child protection concerns will be handled sensitively and confidentially. Data will be stored securely and shared only when necessary for the protection of the child, in line with Ukrainian data protection laws regarding sensitive personal data. Consent procedures for collecting data or images involving children will clearly state storage, usage, and retention periods.

11 Monitoring and Review

BRIT leadership and the DSL will review this policy annually, or sooner if changes in legislation, best practices, or incidents are required. The review will assess the policy’s effectiveness and incorporate feedback and lessons learned.

12 Dissemination

This policy will be communicated to all personnel upon induction and made readily available (internally on BRIT’s internal network). Key partners will be made aware of BRIT’s commitment to child safeguarding. Age-appropriate versions or summaries may be developed for children and communities participating in BRIT activities.