02/18/2009

• Discrimination
• Harassment
• Sexual Harassment
• Exploitation
• Sexual Exploitation
• Prostitution and Sex Trafficking
• Child Abuse, Neglect and Safety
• Reporting

Discrimination:   
Definition: Discrimination is unequal treatment of individuals or groups on the basis of personal characteristics such as disability or appearance or group characteristics such as ethnicity or religious orientation.
Policies:

• War Child UK will not discriminate in its employment, program, or services on the grounds of religion, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, language, sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status, marital status, disability, age, or political conviction.
• War Child UK will not discriminate against or favor particular children.
• War Child UK will respect the cultures, practices, and traditions of all people and display cultural sensitivity to host communities and countries where it works.
• War Child UK will promote gender equity in all its programs.

Harassment and Sexual Harassment:
Policy:
Definition: Harassment consists of unwelcome comments or behavior that is offensive, demeaning, intimidating, or physically harmful.  

• War Child UK prohibits harassment of any employee, program participant, partner, vendor, or member of communities in which War Child UK conducts programs.
• War Child UK employees and project workers will treat each other and those whom they serve with respect and dignity.
• War Child UK will hire and train representatives who treat all involved with the highest standards of respect.
• War Child UK will hire representatives of the highest integrity who are accountable, responsible and create an environment of openness for all involved.
• War Child UK will maintain a safe environment that enables beneficiaries to participate in program activities.
• War Child UK representatives will not use their relationship of authority inappropriately.

Sexual Harassment:
Definition:  Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, comments, jokes, or conduct of a sexual nature.  
 Policy:

• War Child UK prohibits sexual harassment of any individuals, employee or program participant, regardless of their work relationship.

Exploitation:
Definition: The abuse of one’s power by coercing or leading children, beneficiaries (including staff of partner organisations), co-workers, national staff members or any other situation where a power differential exists between a War Child UK employee and another person into activities such as child labor and trafficking that violate children’s or individual’s rights.   It is the abuse of a child or other individual where some form of remuneration is involved or whereby the perpetrators benefit in some manner – monetarily, socially, politically, etc. Exploitation constitutes a form of coercion and violence, detrimental to the child’s physical and mental health, development, and education.
Policy:

• War Child UK prohibits exploitation of all individuals, whether staff, children, or participants in community projects.  
• War Child UK staff will uphold the child labor laws of the country and ensure children are protected by these laws by reporting any witnessed or suspected exploitation.

Sexual Exploitation:
Definition: Sexual exploitation consists of misusing a position of power to pressure or demand others to provide sexual favors.
Policy:
War Child UK adheres to the six core principles established recorded in the Secretary Generals Bulletin ST/SGB/2003/13: Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

• Sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers constitute acts of gross misconduct and are therefore grounds for termination of employment;
• Sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18) is prohibited regardless of the age of majority or age of consent locally.  Mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defense;

* “Different considerations will arise regarding the enforcement of some of these principles for humanitarian workers hired from the beneficiary community.  While sexual exploitation and abuse and the misuse of humanitarian assistance will always be prohibited, discretion may be used in the application of the principles regarding sexual relationships for this category of humanitarian worker.”  This footnote is contained in the InterAction taskforce report and is intended to addresses situations such as the employment eligibility of a person who is married and his/her husband/wife is less than 18 years of age.

• Exchange of money, employment, goods, or services for sex, including sexual favors or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behavior is prohibited.  This includes exchange of assistance that is due to beneficiaries.
• Sexual relationships between humanitarian workers and beneficiaries are forbidden since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics.  Such relationships undermine the credibility and integrity of humanitarian aid work.
• Where a humanitarian worker develops concerns or suspicions regarding sexual abuse or exploitation by a fellow worker, whether in the same agency or not, s/he must report such concerns via established agency reporting mechanisms.
• Humanitarian workers are obliged to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of their code of conduct.  

Prostitution and Sex Trafficking:
Definition:  Prostitution consists of providing sexual favors or activity in exchange for money or other economic gain.  War Child UK follows the definition of sex trafficking outlined in the UN Protocol to Prevent Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, which prohibits the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, sale, or transfer of persons for purposes of commercial exploitation, including sexual exploitation.
Policy:  

• War Child UK opposes prostitution, sex trafficking, and other forms of trafficking in persons.

Child Abuse, Neglect and Safety:
N.B. Please see the Code of Conduct appended to War Child's Child Protection Policy for comprehensive guidelines on appropriate behaviour in relation to children.

Definition: Child abuse consists of children’s exposure to situations that cause children harm.  Abuse may be physical, sexual, or emotional harm.  Abuse also includes neglect, the failure to meet a child’s basic needs or to protect the child from hazards such as extreme cold or playing in dangerous places.  
Policy:

• War Child UK staff and volunteer workers will not abuse children through either action or neglect – this includes drinking alcohol during working hours and especially before coming into contact with children. Only in exceptional circumstances is alcohol consumption permitted during working hours and this must never be when a staff member expects contact with children and requires sign off by their line manager.
• War Child UK staff will work in a proactive manner to protect children’s safety from preventable harm.
• War Child UK representatives will avoid being placed in compromising or vulnerable positions.
• War Child UK representatives will realize that they are always the responsible parties, even if a child behaves inappropriately.
• War Child UK representatives will not participate in activities that are illegal, unsafe or abusive for children.
• War Child UK representatives will not put themselves in positions where their actions (physical, verbal or otherwise) are offensive, inappropriate, abusive, neglectful or exploitative.
• War Child UK representatives will ensure that all confidential information is handled appropriately.

Reporting, Investigations and Penalties:

• All employees have an obligation to report actual or suspected violations of these policies.  War Child will not tolerate any form of coercion, intimidation, reprisal, or retaliation against any employee who makes a report regarding a possible violation of this policy or who provides information or assistance in an investigation
• If a breach of the CoC relates to a child, the Child Protection Policy investigatory procedure must be followed
• Following an allegation of violation of the CoC, an initial clarification will be carried out by the individual’s line manager in consultation their line manager. The individual’s line manager will record the allegation and the findings of their initial investigation in writing and submit it to the HR Coordinator in London and the individual concerned within 48 hours
• If the line manager judges that a further investigation is required, a panel will be convened to carry this out. The panel will comprise the individual’s line manager, a Child protection Officer and a member of the Senior Management Team
• If the alleged incident is judged to be sufficiently serious, an individual may be suspended on full pay until a full investigation has been completed. The decision to suspend must be taken by a member of SMT and is not open to challenge.  For the protection of witnesses the complainant may be sent out of country during the investigation.
• The investigation process will be confidential and information limited only to those who need to know. All parties involved will be required to keep all information relating to the case confidential and documentation will be filed securely
• If any individual associated with War Child is found to have violated the organisation’s CoC, immediate disciplinary action will take place. This may include:

•    Employees – disciplinary action (e.g., verbal or written earning) or dismissal. (International staff may be repatriated to their country of origin)
•    Volunteers, trustees, interns – ending the relationship with War Child
•    Local partner organisations – withdrawal of funding/support and ending the relationship with War Child

•    Consultants/contractors – termination of contract

• Adverse determination from an investigation should be open to challenge through an appeals process which will follow the right to appeal procedure contained within War Child’s Grievance and Disciplinary Policy
• All parties concerned will be notified of War Child processes and the outcome of the investigation in a timely manner
• If necessary, the media will be dealt with by the CEO, guided by the Campaigns Director and Media Manager

War_Child_Code_of_Conduct.doc