The International Hands in Service (Salud y Paz) team and all people who have any kind of contact with children and/or adolescents (employees, volunteers, collaborators) must govern their conduct and behavior according to this Code of Conduct.
You should always:
- Put a child’s care, welfare and safety needs first.
- Respect the child’s right to participate in making decisions and choices that directly affect him/her.
- Respect a child’s culture (e.g., faith, religious beliefs, etc.).
- Respect the child’s right to privacy and personal space.
- Respond sensitively to children who seem anxious to participate in certain activities.
- Be aware of the vulnerability of some groups of children to isolation and harm (e.g., children with disabilities and learning difficulties).
- Treat all children with respect regardless of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
- When possible, ensure that another adult is present when working around children.
- Promptly report any concerns or allegations of child abuse or exploitation or non-compliance policy in accordance with appropriate procedures.
- Listen carefully to any child who tells you at times (through pictures, behavior, or words) that he or she is being harmed and report immediately to your supervisor what you have discovered.
- 10. Comply with all relevant legislation, including labor laws related to child labor.
- Be aware of behaviors, and avoid actions and behaviors that may be perceived by others as child abuse or exploitation.
- Promptly disclose all charges, convictions and other consequences of an offense related to child abuse and exploitation, including those under traditional law.
When photographing or filming a child, or using images of children, you should always:
- Ensure that local traditions or restrictions on the reproduction of personal images are respected before photographing or filming a child
- Obtain the informed consent of the child and the parent or guardian of the child before photographing or filming a child. An explanation of how the photograph or film will be used must be provided.
- Ensure that photographs, films, videos and DVDs present children in a dignified and respectful manner and not in a vulnerable or submissive manner. Children must be appropriately dressed and not in poses that could be considered sexually suggestive.
- Ensure that images are honest representations of context and facts.
- Ensure that file labels, metadata, or text descriptions do not reveal identifying information about a child when images are sent electronically or images are posted in any way.
You should never:
- Use language or behavior that is inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning or culturally inappropriate for children.
- Allow children to swear or use sexualized language without questioning them
- Engage with any child under the age of 18 in any sexual relationship or sexual activity, including payment for sexual acts or services
- Allow others or yourself to engage in touching a child in a sexually provocative way
- Engage in physical or rough contact unless it is permitted within the rules of a game or sporting activity, or conforms to appropriate physical restraint guidelines.
- Establish inappropriate emotional or physical relationships with children
- Invite unaccompanied children to private residences, unless they are at imminent risk of injury or physical danger.
- Sleep near unsupervised children unless absolutely necessary, in which case, you must obtain permission from the supervisor, and if possible make sure another adult is present (note: this guideline does not apply in the case of your own children).
- Use computers, cell phones, video cameras, cameras, or social networks to exploit or harass children, or to access child exploitation material in any medium
- Use physical punishment against children
- Harass or intimidate a child or worker because of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, economic status or disability.
- Hire children for household chores or any other type of work: which is inappropriate for their age and developmental stage; which interferes with the time available for their education and recreational activities; or by placing them at significant risk of injury
- Dismiss what a child tells you as lies or exaggeration
- Trivialize another worker’s concerns about a child or ignore an allegation or suspicion of abuse in the hope that it will go away or that someone else will take care of it.
- Allow a child, youth or adult to be bullied or harmed by anyone in the organization
- Discuss personal matters about a child or family with others, except your supervisor or executive director of the project when concerned about the child’s welfare
These behaviors are not expected to interfere with normal family interactions.