SAFE FROM HARM

Visit the Safe from Harm Service for resources and support!

World Safe from Harm policy

Safe from Harm is a key priority for the Scout Movement. It is everyone’s responsibility to create a safe environment for all, enabling the self-development of young people through positive and healthy interpersonal relationships. One incident of abuse is one too many.

Significant efforts are made to emphasise the importance of safeguarding to all who are involved in Scouting, including the mechanisms to build a safe environment. Each National Scout Organization is required to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of young people is a key priority through a holistic approach in their structures and educational programmes. World Scouting provides support on a daily basis to National Scout Organizations to ensure Safe from Harm is a reality for all.

World Safe from Harm policy

The World Safe from Harm policy was approved by the 2017 World Scout Conference and is the cornerstone of WOSM’s efforts to reduce risks of harm and abuse to children and young people. The policy focuses on implementation through national Youth Programmes, and in the different areas of the Adults in Scouting lifecycle. The policy builds on Conference Resolution 2002-07 – Keeping Children Safe from Harm and WOSM’s Position Paper on Child and Youth Protection (2016)

WOSM Services

The WOSM Safe from Harm Service provides National Scout Organizations with resources and toolkits to support in developing and strengthening national Safe from Harm frameworks. Key resources available include the National Safe from Harm guidelines and the Safe from Harm self-assessment tool for National Scout Organizations. In addition, support from over 50 expert WOSM Consultants on Safe from Harm is available through requesting a WOSM Service.

World and Regional events

The 2019 World Scout Jamboree significantly upgraded the mandatory e-learning experience for adult participants and organising teams. In addition, standard operating procedures were developed for WOSM’s largest World Scout Event, JOTA-JOTI, which included duty teams across time zones to monitor Safe from Harm in the online context. A dedicated Code of Conduct, e-learning for participants and procedures are now part of the standard toolkit for World Scout Events. Safe from Harm is also part of our educational offering at World Scout Events in programmes such as the Better World Tent and the well-being area of JOTA-JOTI.

Volunteer and staff training

WOSM embodies the importance of providing training for Adults in Scouting to ensure their competencies in protecting themselves and young people from any harm. A mandatory Safe from Harm training is in place for all WOSM volunteers and staff in the 5 working languages. This training is complemented by additional learning opportunities and workshops for all WOSM volunteers, staff and NSOs about online safety and responding to Safe from Harm case studies.