Youth Protection Policy To Prevent Child Abuse and Harassment
Youth Protection Policy To Prevent Child Abuse and Harassment
Youth Protection Policy To Prevent Child Abuse and Harassment
It is the duty of all Rotarians, Rotarians spouses, partners, and other volunteers to prevent the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of children and young people.
A district must adopt following guidelines in order to be certified under RIs Youth Exchange Certification Program.
Education and prevention are the best remedies for the RYE Program.
Students, Rotarians and parents need to know that this can happen, what they can do to help prevent it and what to do if it happens.
An educational / preventive approach should not scare anyone into withdrawing from the program. It needs to be done in a straightforward manner, putting the potential problem in as realistic a way as possible but there is no evidence that the risks are any higher for an exchange student than a student who doesnt go abroad. We should not blow the issue out of proportion.
Unique Problems related to R.Y.E Cultural differences make universal definitions of sexual abuse extremely difficult to establish. Cultural stereotyping can expose exchange students to abuse that other students from the host culture would not be subjected to.
It is common to be defensive
and protective of ones own rotary club, and the people involved. When allegations of abuse within ones own program surface, there can be a tendency to deny, minimize or blame the victim.
The RYE program, as a part of its policy, should make a commitment to students concerned about being sexually abused. This commitment should be that:
We are committed to insuring the safety of every student. We will take any allegations or reports of sexual abuse seriously.
Students should continue reporting their concerns until someone listens seriously. No student will be sent home because of sexual abuse, unless they wish it or their safety is in question.