Outline

1. 1. Introduction
   1.1 Aim and scope of the Child Protection Guideline
   1.2 Definitions
   1.3 Rights of the child
2. Preventive measures
   2.1 Declaration of commitment
   2.2 Child protection standards in personnel policies
   2.3 Child protection standards in communication
3. Intervention – complaint mechanism and case management
   3.1 Objectives
   3.2 Dealing with suspected cases
   3.3 Protection measures for affected children
4. Requirements for partner organizations, program and projects
5. Documentation and working methods of the child protection team

1. Introduction

The non-profit association Drip by Drip makes the damage visible that is caused by water
pollution, especially by the textile industry, in countries of the Global South. The organization
works primarily through education and awareness work in the Global North, as well as
concrete water treatment projects in the Global South. In addition to investigating the degree
and background of water pollution caused by the textile industry, Drip by Drip also works on
practical solutions as part of a global network. The basis of its work are the Sustainable
Development Goals of the United Nations – especially goals 6 (clean water and sanitation),
12 (sustainable consumption and production) and 17 (partnerships to achieve the goals).
Drip by Drip focuses primarily on partnerships between actors in the fields of water resource
management, textile and fashion production, and social activism.

Children and young people are an indirect target group of the association’s impact work, as
they suffer particularly from the lack of clean water. The lack of it not only affects the health
of children and adolescents, which is particularly endangered by the still ongoing
development, but also education, gender equality and prosperity or poverty. Girls and young
women in particular are inhibited in their development when they lack access to clean water.
On the one hand, hygiene is an important factor for them, on the other hand, educational
opportunities are lost if they go to fetch water instead of going to school, or if a lack of
sanitary facilities makes school attendance impossible.

Drip by Drip addresses its educational projects directly to children and young people in the
Global North and indirectly to children and young people in the Global South, whose water
supply is to be guaranteed by the water treatment projects. For this work, the Child
Protection Guideline forms an important basis, which is regularly updated, always in
accordance with the current provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the
German Civil Code and the German Basic Law.

1.1 Aim and scope of the Child Protection Guideline of Drip by Drip e.V.

The aim of the Child Protection Policy of the association Drip by Drip is to contribute to the
observance of the (basic) rights of children. At the same time, persons who encounter
children in the course of the association’s work and in the course of project work are to be
sensitized to the topic.

A guideline is hereby made available to employees of the office. These guidelines describe
how to deal with child endangerment and how to inform about (suspected) cases, taking into
account the protection of the child concerned.

An organizational climate of openness and transparency is created by an internally and
externally communicated child protection officer in the office of the association Drip by Drip
and external contact points.

The child protection guideline is binding for all employees of the office in the context of their
activities at home and abroad. The Child Protection Policy and its application by project
partners in the Global South form a system to protect against child maltreatment and to
promote the safeguarding of the best interests of the child.

1.2 Definitions

Children: In Germany, children are all persons before the age of 18 (see § 2 BGB). In projects abroad, this can be earlier or later, depending on the applicable national law of the project country.

Types of child endangerment – Child abuse or child welfare endangerment includes all forms of physical and/or emotional maltreatment, sexualized violence, neglect, abandonment, or commercial or other exploitation that result in an actual or potential threat to the child’s health, survival, development, or dignity within a relationship of responsibility, trust, or power. Based on this, the following five major categories of child maltreatment are derived:

Physical maltreatment: Is the actual or potential physical injury to a child due to malicious neglect of the duty of care and supervision.

Sexual violence: Is any actual or threatened sexually motivated touching of a child, i.e., all
forms of sexual activity, such as assaultive touching, penetration, as well as activities without
physical contact, such as soliciting or showing pornographic material, and analog or digital
showing of sexual images or films.

Emotional maltreatment: Includes the deprivation of an environment appropriate to the
child’s age and conducive to the child’s psychosocial development, as well as persistent or
severe verbal abuse, humiliation, devaluation, or rejection that causes negative effects on a
child’s emotional behavioral development.

Exploitation: Includes the commercial or other exploitation of a child through activities that
the child engages in for the benefit of a third party. These activities include child labor and
child prostitution, as well as any other activity that results in the economic exploitation of the
child, affects the child’s physical and mental health, detracts from the child’s education or
training, and disrupts the child’s moral and psychosocial development.

Neglect: Begins when a child is deprived of basic services for his or her physical and
psychosocial development – such as education, health, nutrition, clothing, shelter, or training.

1.3 Rights of the child

With this child protection guideline, Drip by Drip refers to applicable German law (including
the Basic Law, the Civil Code, the Child and Youth Welfare Act and the Federal Child Protection Act). It is also based on the following points of the United Nations Convention on
the Rights of the Child, among others:

Every child has a right to:

• Equal treatment and protection against discrimination regardless of religion, origin or
  gender,
• health,
• education and training,
• leisure, play and recreation,
• an own opinion and to information, communication and assembly,
• non-violent education within the framework of the supported institutions and in cooperation with local child protection initiatives/organizations, examination for compliance with national child rights laws and – as far as possible – the involvement of the legal guardians,
• immediate assistance in disasters and emergencies, e.g. if such an emergency suddenly becomes apparent at the project sites, and
• care in the event of disabilities.

2. Preventive measures

2.1 Declaration of commitment

Drip by Drip is committed to protecting the rights and well-being of children within the
framework of its own activities, to strengthening their promotion and participation, and to
establishing the following standards in its work. In doing so, it aims to,

1. to contribute to creating an environment that is safe for children and in which respect
   for children’s and human rights is ensured,
2. to raise awareness of the issue of child protection within Drip by Drip among the staff
   of the office and the partners,
3. to respect the dignity of children in its press, education and public relations work and
   to observe the general standards for communication,
4. to take all suspected cases seriously and to seek immediate advice from a
   recognized list of contact points for child protection known to all employees of the
   office,
5. to enter into specific written agreements on child protection with its partner
   organizations in the Global South.

2.2 Child protection standards in personnel policies

In an effort to ensure a safe environment for children, Drip by Drip also takes basic
preventive measures within the framework of its personnel management, which are outlined
below. In this context, Drip by Drip is aware that a prudent hiring and selection process
cannot provide 100% protection against the hiring of potential perpetrators. However, a
proactive approach to the issue of child protection signals the high sensitivity of the employer
and thus has a deterrent effect on potential perpetrators.

Recruitment procedure and job evaluation

All employees are required to actively contribute to creating a culture of mindfulness and
safety for the children associated with Drip by Drip’s offerings or services, the organization,
and themselves.

For each position to be filled, it will be checked in advance whether the position holder will
have direct or indirect contact with children. If the duties assigned will result in direct contact
with children, an extended certificate of good conduct will be required. In the interview, the
commitment of Drip by Drip to child protection is mentioned. In this way, the relevance of the
topic of child protection is already made clear in the selection process.

Extended certificate of good conduct

All employees of Drip by Drip who come into contact with children in the course of their work
are required to submit an extended certificate of good conduct. The extended certificate of
good conduct must be resubmitted every five years. Drip by Drip bears the costs incurred for
the regular check and issues the necessary cover letters for the authorities. Indications of a
legally binding conviction in Germany or in another country for a sexual offense against
children or for human trafficking are clear grounds for exclusion from employment.
In addition, all new hires are checked to determine whether an extended certificate of good
conduct is necessary, for example if there is direct contact with children. This necessity is
explained to employees and applicants.

In addition, it is being examined whether it should be introduced for all employees of Drip by
Drip who make foreign service trips that the extended certificate of good conduct is
inspected. The need for an extended certificate of good conduct for employees with foreign service trips is due to the special position they hold and an increased risk of abuse of power associated with it.

Before outgoing professionals and volunteers, as well as people who deal with children on
behalf of Drip by Drip, are placed, they must always present an extended certificate of good
conduct.

Staff development

All employees are sensitized to the topic of child protection and receive ongoing training in
accordance with their tasks and functions. Child protection also plays an integral role in the
onboarding of new employees and other information days on strategic topics. Particular
attention is paid to training project staff who are involved in the partner dialog. In addition,
HR managers must ensure that employees traveling abroad are sensitized to the issue of
child protection.

2.3 Child protection standards in communication

In order to protect the children and young people involved in the activities of Drip by Drip
from danger, violence or stigmatization, Drip by Drip demands that any production and
distribution of media content respects the dignity of children and protects their identity. The
association therefore obligates all reporters to observe the following general communication
standards and data protection principles to protect the welfare of children.

All media content is based on the values of respect and equality and upholds the dignity of
the person portrayed. Children are portrayed as personalities with many facets and
potentials. Reduction to a victim or other stereotypical roles is avoided. Before creating
media content and project documents on which children are depicted, such as flyers or
proofs of use, the children concerned and their parents/guardians are to be informed in an
understandable way about the purpose and use and their consent is to be obtained. The
privacy of all persons in projects and in the project environment shall be respected at all
times. Thus, pseudonyms are always to be used for the children, unless the naming of the
child is in the interest of the child in question and is done with the consent of the child and
his/her parents/guardians. The description of the children’s life situation is made against the
background of their social, cultural and economic environment in order to show the
complexity of the context.

3. Intervention – complaint mechanism and case management

3.1 Objectives

Drip by Drip has a complaints mechanism, i.e. an institutionalized procedure for dealing with
indications of a threat to the welfare of children/abuse/sexualized violence and other
violations of legal requirements.

Through the Drip by Drip complaint mechanism, reports of suspected cases can be received
and processed in a qualified and targeted manner. The Drip by Drip complaint mechanism
enables:

•  identify cases of child welfare endangerment at an early stage,
• initiate an appropriate response to the respective situation in the event of suspected
  cases, and
• initiate necessary measures to protect the best interests of the child.

The basis of all decisions on child-related suspected cases within the complaint
management system is the well-being and protection of the children. The flow of information
to relevant stakeholders is ensured through transparent documentation. The Drip by Drip
complaints mechanism is made known to all Drip by Drip employees and all contact persons
inside and outside the organization, and the relevant procedures are communicated.

3.2 Dealing with suspected cases

Drip by Drip has an institutional system for dealing with (suspected) cases of child welfare
endangerment (see Appendix 1). The aim of the case management system is to enable an
adequate and quick clarification of the respective situation in suspected cases and to identify
cases of child welfare endangerment at an early stage. It also aims to ensure that affected
children are protected and have access to special assistance services in order to prevent
further harm to them. This system is known to all employees of the office and is to be applied
without exception.

If a (suspected) case is brought to the attention of the association, the person responsible for
child protection is obliged to follow the case management system of the association. She/He
is obliged to pick up and clarify all (suspected) cases. Based on the information, the child
protection officer shall then immediately make a decision on how to proceed. As far as
possible, the case shall be discussed with at least one colleague in the office. The procedure
is to be documented.

Information should be forwarded to at least the following offices (see Appendix 3):
a) In the event of a criminal offense and persistent danger to the child, information is
provided to the local youth welfare office or a report is made to the police.

b) and contact will be established between the responsible body, care services and, if
applicable, the child/children concerned as well as their legal guardians, if this has not
already been done.

Suspicion case with employees of the office of Drip by Drip:

If there are indications of a risk to the well-being of a child by an employee of the office of
Drip by Drip or its honorary staff, this must be reported immediately to the managing director
or the respective chairperson. The latter will then take the steps described under a) and b) in
accordance with the case management system.

Suspicious cases involving employees of a partner institution in the Global South:

In principle, Drip by Drip is responsible for case management. A written documentation of all
occurring cases by the person responsible for child protection of Drip by Drip is obligatory.
Corresponding (suspected) cases are to be handled according to a) and b). Depending on
the national legislation, the association is obligated to report the incident to the locally
responsible authorities if those responsible do not act in the sense of safeguarding the best
interests of the child.

With the notification of a (suspicious) case, the association also checks the resulting
consequences for the funding of this project, if necessary up to a reclaim of the grants
already made.

3.3 Protection measures for affected children

Children who are affected by violence by employees of Drip by Drip or persons
commissioned by Drip by Drip need help and support throughout the entire process. As a
matter of principle, care must be taken to ensure that they are adequately informed about
institutional procedures in a manner appropriate to their age and that they are involved in
them to the extent that they are able.

If necessary, trained psychologists are consulted and medical care measures are initiated
and other governmental or non-governmental institutions are involved in order to ensure the
greatest possible protection of the child. This applies in particular to institutional care
facilities. It is ensured that the person under suspicion can no longer have any contact
whatsoever with children, especially with the child in question.

The child’s environment (caregiver and/or family) – if they are not themselves under
suspicion – will be informed immediately and also supported in order to provide the child with
a safe environment. The necessary measures will be arranged by the child protection officer
of Drip by Drip. Necessary financial resources will be provided by Drip by Drip as needed.
This includes the involvement of specialized psychologists to conduct interviews with the children concerned. Interviews with children by members of the child protection team, by persons reporting suspicions or by other Drip by Drip employees are to be avoided because
of the risk of re-traumatization.

The minimum standards formulated here for the protection of affected children also apply to
the independent case management of suspected cases at partner organizations. Drip by
Drip is developing a corresponding handout for partner organizations in which these
standards are defined as minimum requirements.

4. Requirements for partner organizations, program and projects

Drip by Drip cooperates with organizations in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Pakistan for joint
projects. It is Drip by Drip’s responsibility to ensure that partner organizations either develop
their own child protection policy or adhere to Drip by Drip’s child protection policy. Child
protection is a key concern in all phases of joint projects: development, implementation, and
monitoring. Project coordinators communicate this Child Protection Policy and Code of
Conduct to partner organizations to ensure that child rights are also protected in partner
countries.

5. Documentation and working methods of the child protection team

The child protection team consists of the child protection officers, the project manager of the
corresponding project, and a member of the board of directors. It meets at least every six
months to discuss cases that have arisen and current developments in the field of child
protection, to inform each other and to plan training events for staff. The goal is to ensure
ongoing internal organizational learning to improve Drip by Drip’s child protection system.
Each individual case is finally documented by the child protection team and filed in a central
location in a data-protected manner. The child protection team has access to the child
protection-related cases. The child protection officer must submit a report to the Board of
Management once a year, which includes empirical values from the current work as well as
suggestions for changes in the handling of future cases.

Drip by Drip’s Child Protection Policy will be reviewed and adapted on a maximum five-year
cycle and by the Child Protection Team as needed. The revision is based on analyzed
empirical values of the organization’s internal child protection practice as well as on external
changes in the internationally applicable child protection standards.

Validity: This Child Protection Policy shall become effective upon adoption by the Board of
Directors on May 3, 2022, and shall be reviewed and amended as necessary every three
years by the child protection officer and resubmitted to the Board of Directors for adoption.

Appendices