Child Protection at GSF
The wellbeing of children and young people is important to GSF. We want to see children and young people thriving regardless of their sex, gender identity, sexuality, ethnic grouping, faith, culture, family income, disability or any other defining feature. This is why we are committed to ensuring that all children and young people can access quality education.
GSF believes that a child or young person should never experience harm of any kind. While GSF does not work directly with children, GSF Representatives (including staff, volunteers, consultants, interns and the GSF Board) may come into contact with children as part of their work with members or partner organisations across 70+ countries. Our Child Protection Policy demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding children from harm and details the measures and structures GSF puts in place to prevent and respond to child abuse, including but not limited to physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and child sexual exploitation.
The purposes of our Child Protection Policy are to:
- Protect children and young people that GSF Representatives come into contact with
- Provide all GSF Representatives with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection
If you have a child protection concern, contact our Designated Safeguarding Officer on safeguarding@globalschoolsforum.org
How GSF protects children
The following are some of the ways we uphold our child protection commitments:
- Raising awareness – we will ensure that GSF Representatives, Partners and Members are aware of the need to keep children safe
- Prevention – we will ensure that GSF Representatives minimise risks to children through awareness, good practice and appropriate training
- Responding – we will ensure that all GSF Representatives and Partners take action to keep children safe where concerns arise regarding possible abuse
- Recording – we will be consistent and clear in our recording and ensure that GSF
- Representatives and Partners record incidents they have been made aware of
- Reporting – we will ensure that all GSF Representatives and Partners understand GSF’s procedure when concerns arise regarding the safety of children
- Referring – we will ensure that we make appropriate and timely referrals to statutory agencies in response to concerns arising regarding possible abuse
- Reporting a concern
If you become aware of a child protection concern – whether a disclosure, suspicion or allegation you must report it immediately.
If a child is in immediate danger, call the emergency services first, then contact our Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) at safeguarding@globalschoolsforum.org or the designated safeguarding Officer of the host organisation where the concern arose.