This week we came across a campaign to drive global improvements to safeguarding by Keeping Children Safe who launched their International Safeguarding Week (ICSW 2024) from October 21st to 25th. This dedicated week aims to raise global awareness about the importance of safeguarding children – a responsibility that extends far beyond a single week.
Excuse the analogy but it links well with the ‘global’ view point. We think this is a great opportunity for all organisations to take stock and think of it like the safety demonstration on a flight. We are all guilty of not watching it every time we fly but every now and then you do pay attention. It's crucial to refresh your knowledge periodically - you hope it won’t come in handy but if it does, you’ll be glad you did. Similarly, safeguarding children isn't just a one-week concern; it's a year-round commitment and refreshing yourself and your organisation might just help protect a child.
Why should we have an International Safeguarding Week?
ICSW serves as a valuable opportunity for individuals and organisations working with children to:
Safeguarding requires continuous vigilance and it’s a lot easier when it becomes habit and part of your culture. 'Research' shows it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to form a new habit; we didn’t say it was easy! So International Safeguarding Week is an ‘excuse’ to put it back on people’s radar and to actively participate in creating a safer world for children.
Learning from the Global Stage
One of the most exciting aspects of ICSW is the spotlight it shines on international safeguarding practices. While the UK has established safeguarding frameworks, challenges still exist and International Safeguarding Week allows us to learn from countries with unique approaches and best practices. Here are just some we think are worth a Google:
1. Early Intervention and Prevention:
2. Multi-agency Collaboration:
3. Technology and Innovation:
4. Community Engagement:
Don't forget our own LinkedIn community where you can ask any safeguarding questions you have to our experts.
5. Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity:
Cross-border safeguarding:
It’s also worth noting it’s not just within our borders where we need to be vigilant. The case of Mo Farah, the gold medal-winning Olympian, serves as a stark reminder that child trafficking can occur anywhere, even in developed nations. Farah's experience highlights the vulnerability of children crossing borders into our country and the importance of robust safeguarding measures to help identify and protect them.
The Transient Nature of the Humanitarian Workforce
There is also another cross-border viewpoint to consider in humanitarian sector that often involves individuals working in challenging and remote environments, moving from one crisis to another. This transient nature underscores the need for stringent safeguarding practices and vetting checks within humanitarian organisations. Issues can remain undetected for many years as the individuals simply move on to a new country when any suspicion is aroused.
Ensuring Staff Safety and Accountability
To protect children in humanitarian settings, organisations must:
A Call to Action
Use International Safeguarding Week is a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect children. Put it back on people's radars this week by using any of the examples above or resources from KCS. Engage with safeguarding resources, refresh knowledge and advocate for stronger measures.
Remember: Safeguarding is a year-round commitment. Let's continue to prioritise child safety and well-being in all aspects of our lives. We all need to pay a little more attention to the ‘flight safety demonstration’
Visit the International Safeguarding Week website (https://www.keepingchildrensafe.global/icsw2024/) to learn more about daily themes, resources, and events happening throughout the week.
Excuse the analogy but it links well with the ‘global’ view point. We think this is a great opportunity for all organisations to take stock and think of it like the safety demonstration on a flight. We are all guilty of not watching it every time we fly but every now and then you do pay attention. It's crucial to refresh your knowledge periodically - you hope it won’t come in handy but if it does, you’ll be glad you did. Similarly, safeguarding children isn't just a one-week concern; it's a year-round commitment and refreshing yourself and your organisation might just help protect a child.
Why should we have an International Safeguarding Week?
ICSW serves as a valuable opportunity for individuals and organisations working with children to:
- Re-engage with safeguarding resources: Check out all of available materials and training programs to enhance your child protection knowledge. New content is being produced and there are new ‘lessons learned’ all the time
- Revisit key elements of safeguarding: Refresh yourself on the core principles to ensure the safety and well-being of children in your care and whether your organisation needs a refresher.
Safeguarding requires continuous vigilance and it’s a lot easier when it becomes habit and part of your culture. 'Research' shows it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to form a new habit; we didn’t say it was easy! So International Safeguarding Week is an ‘excuse’ to put it back on people’s radar and to actively participate in creating a safer world for children.
Learning from the Global Stage
One of the most exciting aspects of ICSW is the spotlight it shines on international safeguarding practices. While the UK has established safeguarding frameworks, challenges still exist and International Safeguarding Week allows us to learn from countries with unique approaches and best practices. Here are just some we think are worth a Google:
1. Early Intervention and Prevention:
- Norway's Early Intervention Services: Norway's emphasis on early intervention and prevention programs has been effective in identifying and addressing potential risks to children's well-being.
- Canada's Indigenous Child Welfare: Canada's approach to Indigenous child welfare, which prioritises cultural sensitivity and community-based programs, offers valuable lessons for the UKs multicultural society.
2. Multi-agency Collaboration:
- Australia's Child Protection Framework: Australia's strong emphasis on multi-agency collaboration and information sharing has been instrumental in improving child protection outcomes. Something the UK can definitely learn from.
- New Zealand's Oranga Tamariki: New Zealand's child protection agency, Oranga Tamariki, provides a model for effective multi-agency working and a focus on child well-being.
3. Technology and Innovation:
- Estonia's Digital Solutions: Estonia's use of digital technologies in child protection, such as online reporting and data analysis, can inform the UK's approach to modernising safeguarding systems. Something close to our heart at Safeguard-Me
- Sweden's National Child Welfare Register: Sweden's national register provides a centralised database for child welfare information, which can be a valuable tool for improving data management and decision-making.
- USA Mobile Alerts: And don't our recent bog about using mobile phone alerts for abducted children along with many more tech innovations available today
4. Community Engagement:
- Denmark's Strong Community Involvement: Denmark's emphasis on community involvement and empowerment in child protection is a world leading benchmark to aim for.
- Finland's Family Support Services: Finland's comprehensive family support services can offer guidance on strengthening families and preventing child protection issues.
Don't forget our own LinkedIn community where you can ask any safeguarding questions you have to our experts.
5. Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity:
- Canada's Indigenous Child Welfare: As mentioned earlier, Canada's approach to Indigenous child welfare emphasises cultural sensitivity and community-based programs, which can be adapted to the UK's diverse population.
- Australia's First Nations Child Protection: Australia's focus on First Nations child protection provides valuable lessons in culturally appropriate safeguarding practices.
Cross-border safeguarding:
It’s also worth noting it’s not just within our borders where we need to be vigilant. The case of Mo Farah, the gold medal-winning Olympian, serves as a stark reminder that child trafficking can occur anywhere, even in developed nations. Farah's experience highlights the vulnerability of children crossing borders into our country and the importance of robust safeguarding measures to help identify and protect them.
The Transient Nature of the Humanitarian Workforce
There is also another cross-border viewpoint to consider in humanitarian sector that often involves individuals working in challenging and remote environments, moving from one crisis to another. This transient nature underscores the need for stringent safeguarding practices and vetting checks within humanitarian organisations. Issues can remain undetected for many years as the individuals simply move on to a new country when any suspicion is aroused.
Ensuring Staff Safety and Accountability
To protect children in humanitarian settings, organisations must:
- Conduct thorough background checks: Verify the credentials and suitability of all staff members.
- Provide comprehensive training: Equip staff with the knowledge and skills to identify and prevent safeguarding risks.
- Establish clear reporting mechanisms: Create a system for staff to report concerns or suspected incidents.
- Implement accountability measures: Hold staff accountable for their actions and ensure compliance with safeguarding standards.
A Call to Action
Use International Safeguarding Week is a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect children. Put it back on people's radars this week by using any of the examples above or resources from KCS. Engage with safeguarding resources, refresh knowledge and advocate for stronger measures.
Remember: Safeguarding is a year-round commitment. Let's continue to prioritise child safety and well-being in all aspects of our lives. We all need to pay a little more attention to the ‘flight safety demonstration’
Visit the International Safeguarding Week website (https://www.keepingchildrensafe.global/icsw2024/) to learn more about daily themes, resources, and events happening throughout the week.