Safeguarding and protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

1. Commitment

TIPCS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, trafficking, and any form of physical, emotional or economic abuse or neglect. Safeguarding is the responsibility of every member of the Board, every staff member, expert, intern, volunteer, consultant and partner who acts for TIPCS.

2. Scope and definitions

This policy applies to all activities, online and in person, including research fieldwork, interviews, workshops, courses, events and communications. A child is anyone under 18. An adult at risk is a person who cannot protect themselves because of age, disability, displacement, dependence, poverty or conflict. Sexual exploitation is any abuse of a position of vulnerability, power or trust for sexual purposes. Sexual abuse is actual or threatened sexual contact by force or under unequal conditions. Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual conduct that offends, humiliates or intimidates.

3. Rules of conduct

• Never engage in sexual activity with a child. A mistaken belief about age is not a defence.
• Never exchange money, work, goods, services, grades, references or any advantage for sex or sexual favours, with anyone.
• Do not start a sexual or romantic relationship with a participant, interviewee or beneficiary, or with anyone you supervise or evaluate, because the imbalance of power makes consent unreliable.
• Do not take, publish or share images of children or of adults at risk without informed written consent (and the consent of a parent or guardian for children). Never publish names, faces or details that could endanger a person.
• Do not be alone with a child in a closed space during TIPCS activities. Keep doors open or another adult present.
• Treat everyone with dignity. No bullying, humiliation, discrimination or retaliation.

4. Prevention

• Safer recruitment: identity and reference checks, a signed commitment to this policy, and a criminal-record extract (bulletin n° 3) for any role with regular contact with children, where the law allows.
• Induction and yearly refresher training for all personnel; briefing before any fieldwork.
• Risk assessment for each project that involves children, displaced people, victims of violence or other at-risk groups, with mitigation and a named focal point.
• Partners and consultants must accept equivalent standards in writing before funds or access are given.
• Research ethics: informed, voluntary and revocable consent; no pressure on anyone to speak about trauma; referral to support services where available.

5. Reporting a concern

Everyone must report any suspicion or incident at once, even if unsure. Reports can be made to the safeguarding focal point (the Secretary General, or the Chair of the Board if the report concerns the Secretary General) at Contact@tipcs.org, subject line “CONFIDENTIAL – Safeguarding”, by phone to the contact numbers on the Contact page, or through the confidential channel in the Whistleblowing and complaints policy. Anyone, inside or outside TIPCS, may report. Reports may be anonymous. Where a person is in immediate danger, call the emergency services first (Police 197, Civil Protection 198, SAMU 190). Child-protection delegates (délégués à la protection de l’enfance) of the Ministry in charge of children can also be alerted.

6. Response

• Safety of the survivor first: immediate protection, medical and psychosocial support, and respect for their wishes and confidentiality (survivor-centred approach).
• Acknowledge every report within 3 working days; assess within 7; an impartial investigator (external where there is a conflict) concludes in normally 60 days.
• Where the facts suggest a criminal offence, TIPCS will report to the competent authorities (the public prosecutor), with the survivor’s informed consent wherever the law does not require otherwise, and in all cases involving children.
• Proven breaches lead to disciplinary action up to dismissal or termination of the relationship, and are notified to relevant donors where their agreements require it.
• No retaliation: anyone who reports in good faith is protected (see the Whistleblowing and complaints policy).

7. Governance and review

The Secretary General is responsible for implementation and reports yearly to the Board on cases (without identifying survivors), training and lessons learned. The policy is reviewed every year, and after any serious incident.