Safeguarding & Child Protection

At SOS Children's Villages in Ghana, protecting every child and young person is not just policy, it is a promise woven into everything we do. "Together, we can strengthen systems and communities to ensure that every child feels safe."

Report a concern

Our Commitment

Safeguarding, Protection
& Integrity

Across all programmes and operations, we are committed to ensuring that children and young people without parental care or at risk of losing it are protected from harm, abuse, exploitation and misconduct. We extend this commitment to staff members, partners and community stakeholders who engage with our work.

1

🛡️

Child & Youth Safeguarding

Our responsibility to ensure that our staff, representatives, operations, and programmes do not harm children and young people or expose them to any risk of harm — including harm between children in our care.

Read our policy

2

🚫

Prevention of Sexual Harassment, Exploitation & Abuse

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach. Sexual misconduct is classified as gross misconduct and is strictly prohibited. Learn more

3

⚖️

Anti-Corruption & Accountability

Integrity and transparency guide our stewardship of resources. Our Anti-Corruption Management System emphasizes prevention, detection and response through risk assessments and independent investigations.

Our approach

Child safeguarding policies

Policy Area 01

Child & Youth Safeguarding

Our policy applies to all children and young people up to the age of 24 who engage with our organisation. We define harm broadly, encompassing physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, bullying, financial abuse, and violations of privacy  and we respond appropriately when harm occurs. Through structured risk management, annual safeguarding assessments, child-safe recruitment, trained safeguarding focal persons, confidential reporting channels (including independent Ombuds mechanisms), and regular safeguarding audits, we strengthen accountability and promote continuous learning. Read more:  Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy

 

 

Policy Area 02

Prevention of Sexual Harassment,
Exploitation & Abuse (PSHEA)

Sexual misconduct  including harassment, exploitation, abuse and coercion is classified as gross misconduct and is strictly prohibited. We maintain a zero-tolerance approach throughout our entire federation. Our Sexual Misconduct (PSHEA) Regulation sets out clear prevention, reporting and response procedures. It applies to all staff, volunteers, governing body members and partners.  Read more:  Sexual Misconduct Regulation  and  Code of Conduct

Policy Area 03

Anti-Corruption & Accountability

Integrity and transparency guide our stewardship of resources and relationships. In line with our Anti-Corruption Regulation, corruption is defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Our Anti-Corruption Management System emphasizes prevention, detection and response through regular risk assessments, strong internal controls, staff training, confidential whistleblowing channels and independent investigations. All allegations of corruption are handled in accordance with established incident management and investigation procedures to ensure fairness, confidentiality and due process. Read more:  Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Regulation

How to Speak Up

Reporting Channels

We are committed to ensuring that every person, child, staff member, partner or community member can safely raise a concern. All reports are treated with the highest confidentiality and are acted upon promptly.

🔒

Confidential Hotline

A dedicated confidential line available for reporting any safeguarding, PSHEA or corruption concern. You do not need to give your name.

📧

Written / Online Reporting

Submit your concern in writing through our secure online reporting portal. Reports can be submitted anonymously if preferred.

👤

Safeguarding Focal Person

Every SOS Children's Villages site has a trained Safeguarding Focal Person who can receive concerns and provide immediate guidance and support.

⚖️

Independent Ombuds

Our independent Ombuds mechanism offers a neutral, confidential avenue for raising concerns fully independent from SOS management structures.

Our Process

What happens when you report

Every concern raised is taken seriously. Here is what to expect when you make a report to SOS Children's Villages Ghana.

1

Receive & Acknowledge

Your report is received and acknowledged promptly. You are informed about the process and what to expect.

2

Assess & Triage

The concern is assessed by trained personnel. Immediate protection measures are implemented if needed.

3

Investigate

A fair, independent and confidential investigation is conducted following established procedures

4

Act & Learn

Appropriate action is taken. Findings are used to improve policies, practices and safeguarding systems.

Safeguarding is
everyone's business

Whether you are a staff member, a partner, a community member or a child , your voice matters. Together we keep children safe.

Report a concern Download Safeguarding Policy Contact us