Our Commitment to Safeguarding
UPHWO is committed to safeguarding the people and communities we serve and support, as well as our staff, volunteers, and partners, from any harm, abuse, or exploitation that may result from our work and activities. We adhere to the highest standards and principles of safeguarding, such as respect, dignity, participation, and accountability. We have various policies and mechanisms to ensure and enhance our safeguarding, such as:
- Our safeguarding policy: This is the policy that defines our safeguarding framework, objectives, and commitments, and that guides our safeguarding practices and actions. Our safeguarding policy is based on the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Minimum Operating Standards for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), which are:
- Leadership and governance: We ensure that our leadership and governance structures and processes are accountable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs and priorities of the people and communities we serve and support.
- Prevention and risk management: We ensure that we prevent and mitigate the risks and opportunities for harm, abuse, or exploitation, by conducting regular risk assessments, implementing robust safeguarding measures, and promoting a culture of safeguarding within our organization and among our stakeholders.
- Response and reporting: We ensure that we respond and report effectively and appropriately to any safeguarding concerns or incidents, by providing safe, confidential, and accessible reporting mechanisms, by conducting timely and impartial investigations, and by taking corrective and disciplinary actions as needed.
- Learning and improvement: We ensure that we learn and improve continuously from our safeguarding experiences and feedback, by monitoring and evaluating our safeguarding performance and impact, and by using the evidence and knowledge to improve our safeguarding policies and practices.
- Our safeguarding report: This is the report that presents and demonstrates our safeguarding performance and achievements, and that highlights the challenges and opportunities we face in enhancing our safeguarding. Our safeguarding report is produced annually, and is based on the data and information collected and analyzed by our safeguarding unit, which is responsible for coordinating and implementing our safeguarding policy and mechanisms. Our safeguarding report is also validated and endorsed by our safeguarding committee, which is composed of representatives from our board of directors, management team, staff, partners, and beneficiaries. Our safeguarding report is also disseminated and published on our website and social media, and is shared with our partners, donors, and other stakeholders.
UPHWO ensures the confidentiality and safety of the people who report safeguarding concerns or incidents, such as victims or witnesses, by:
- Providing safe, confidential, and accessible reporting mechanisms, such as a hotline, an email, a suggestion box, or a trusted person, where people can report their concerns or incidents without fear of retaliation or stigma.
- Conducting timely and impartial investigations, by trained and qualified staff, who respect the privacy and dignity of the people involved, and who follow the principles of confidentiality, consent, and do no harm.
- Taking corrective and disciplinary actions as needed, by applying the appropriate sanctions and measures, such as suspension, dismissal, or referral to the authorities, to the perpetrators of harm, abuse, or exploitation, and by providing support and assistance, such as medical care, counseling, or legal aid, to the survivors and witnesses.
- Learning and improving continuously from the safeguarding experiences and feedback, by monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness and impact of the safeguarding reporting mechanism, and by using the evidence and knowledge to improve the safeguarding policies and practices.
How we improve
We improve our safeguarding through various processes and mechanisms, such as:
- Our safeguarding audit: This is the process that we conduct periodically, to assess and verify our compliance and alignment with our safeguarding policy and commitments, and to identify the gaps and areas for improvement. Our safeguarding audit is conducted by an external and independent auditor, who is selected and contracted by our board of directors, and who reports to the board of directors and the general assembly.
- Our safeguarding action plan: This is the plan that we develop and implement, to address and close the gaps and areas for improvement identified by our safeguarding audit, and to enhance our safeguarding performance and impact. Our safeguarding action plan is developed by our safeguarding unit, in consultation and collaboration with our management team, staff, partners, and beneficiaries, and is approved and monitored by our safeguarding committee.
- Our safeguarding training and capacity building: This is the mechanism that we use to enhance the skills and knowledge of our staff and volunteers, as well as our partners and beneficiaries, on our safeguarding policy and mechanisms, and to foster a culture of safeguarding within our organization and among our stakeholders. We provide regular and tailored training and capacity building sessions, using various methods and tools, such as workshops, webinars, manuals, and online courses.