SAFEGUARDING
Child Safeguarding Policy
Improving Lives in Nepal (ILIN) is committed to protecting the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of every child who comes into contact with our organization, programs, and people. This policy sets the standards that everyone connected with ILIN must follow.
Our commitment: zero tolerance
ILIN has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, exploitation, neglect, or harm. The best interests and safety of the child are always our first priority. Safeguarding children is the responsibility of everyone associated with ILIN — staff, board members, volunteers, partners, contractors, and visitors — without exception.
If you have a concern about a child
If a child is in immediate danger, contact local police or emergency services first. You can also call Nepal’s National Child Helpline on 1098 (toll-free).
To report any safeguarding concern to ILIN, contact our Safeguarding Focal Point at info@ilin.org.np or +977 9860411832. Every concern is taken seriously and handled confidentially.
1. Policy Statement
ILIN believes that every child has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation, regardless of their age, gender, ability, ethnicity, religion, caste, or background. As an organization that works directly with children through education, healthcare, and community programs, ILIN is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment for children and to acting in their best interests at all times.
2. Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this policy is to protect children from harm and to make clear to everyone the standards of behaviour expected when working with or around children. It sets out how ILIN prevents abuse, and how concerns are reported and responded to.
This policy applies to all ILIN personnel, including staff, board members, volunteers, interns, fellows, consultants, contractors, partners, and visitors who, through their involvement with ILIN, may come into contact with children or have access to information about them.
3. Definitions
A child is any person under the age of 18 years, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Child abuse and harm can take many forms, including:
- Physical abuse — causing physical harm or injury to a child.
- Emotional abuse — persistent emotional mistreatment, humiliation, threats, or rejection.
- Sexual abuse and exploitation — involving a child in any sexual activity or exploiting them sexually.
- Neglect — failing to meet a child’s basic physical, emotional, or safety needs.
- Exploitation — using a child for labour, trafficking, or other purposes that harm their wellbeing.
- Online and digital abuse — bullying, grooming, or exploitation through digital means.
4. Guiding Principles
- Zero tolerance of child abuse, exploitation, and neglect in any form.
- The best interests and safety of the child are the paramount consideration in all decisions.
- All children are entitled to equal protection, without discrimination of any kind.
- Children have the right to be heard and to participate in decisions that affect them, in an age-appropriate way.
- Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and everyone is expected to act on concerns.
5. Code of Conduct
Everyone connected with ILIN must uphold the following standards when in contact with children.
You must always:
- Treat all children with respect, dignity, and care.
- Ensure that another adult is present, or that activities are visible to others, whenever working with children.
- Listen to children and take their views and concerns seriously.
- Report any concern about a child’s safety immediately.
You must never:
- Hit, physically assault, or emotionally abuse a child.
- Engage in any sexual activity with, or behave inappropriately toward, a child.
- Spend excessive time alone with a child away from others, or invite a child to your home or accommodation unsupervised.
- Develop secret relationships with children or ask them to keep secrets from their parents or guardians.
- Use language, make suggestions, or offer advice that is inappropriate, offensive, or abusive.
6. Safe Recruitment, Training, and Supervision
ILIN takes reasonable steps to ensure that people who work with children are suitable to do so. This includes appropriate screening and reference checks during recruitment, requiring all personnel to read and agree to this policy, providing safeguarding orientation and training, and supervising activities that involve children. Anyone who does not meet these standards will not be permitted to work with children on ILIN’s behalf.
7. Images and Information about Children
ILIN uses images and stories of children responsibly and with respect for their dignity and privacy. We will:
- Obtain informed consent from the child and their parent or guardian before taking or publishing images or stories.
- Ensure children are appropriately and respectfully portrayed.
- Avoid sharing information that could identify or locate a child in a way that puts them at risk.
- Use such images and information only for the purpose for which consent was given.
8. Online and Digital Safeguarding
ILIN is committed to protecting children in digital and online spaces. Personnel must not contact children through personal social media or messaging accounts, must keep any necessary online communication appropriate and transparent, and must report any online behaviour that could put a child at risk.
9. Reporting a Concern
Anyone who has a concern, suspicion, or disclosure about the safety of a child — whether related to ILIN’s work or otherwise — must report it. You do not need to be certain; if in doubt, report.
- Ensure the child is safe. If a child is in immediate danger, contact local police or emergency services first, and Nepal’s National Child Helpline on 1098.
- Report promptly to ILIN’s Safeguarding Focal Point using the contact details below.
- Record what you know — the facts as you understand them, without investigating or questioning the child yourself.
- Maintain confidentiality — share information only with those who need to know.
ILIN does not tolerate retaliation against anyone who reports a concern in good faith.
10. How We Respond
ILIN takes every safeguarding concern seriously and responds promptly, sensitively, and confidentially, always prioritizing the safety and best interests of the child. Depending on the nature of the concern, this may include internal review, protective action, referral to appropriate authorities or child protection services, and cooperation with any official investigation. Personnel found to have breached this policy may face disciplinary action, up to and including termination and referral to the authorities.
11. Roles and Responsibilities
The ILIN Board holds overall responsibility for this policy and for ensuring a culture of safeguarding across the organization. A designated Safeguarding Focal Point is responsible for receiving and responding to concerns, providing guidance, and maintaining records. Every individual associated with ILIN is responsible for understanding and following this policy and for reporting concerns.
12. Confidentiality and Records
Information about a safeguarding concern is kept confidential and shared strictly on a need-to-know basis, in the best interests of the child. Records are stored securely and handled in line with ILIN’s data protection commitments.
13. Monitoring and Review
ILIN will review this policy regularly, and at least once every two years, or sooner if there are changes in law, guidance, or the organization’s activities, to ensure it remains effective and up to date.
Report a Safeguarding Concern
If you have any concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child, please contact us. Every report is treated seriously and confidentially.
👤 Safeguarding Focal Point: Ms. Sushila Khadgi
📞 +977 9841366419
Emergency: If a child is in immediate danger, contact local police/emergency services first, or Nepal’s National Child Helpline on 1098.