Safeguarding Policy
Last updated: 16 August 2026
Draft pending approval by the Shaathi Foundation board. The named safeguarding lead and the formal review date are still to be confirmed; until then, concerns should be sent to the address below and will be handled by the executive team.
Shaathi Foundation works directly with adolescent girls in schools, with women in community training groups, and with volunteers and community educators who represent us in those settings. That access carries a duty of care.
This policy sets out what we expect of everyone who works or volunteers with us, how we reduce the risk of harm, and what happens when someone raises a concern. It applies whether the concern involves a member of our team, a partner organisation, or anyone else connected with our work.
Purpose and scope
The purpose of this policy is to prevent harm to the people who take part in our programmes, and to make sure that where harm is alleged or suspected, it is reported and acted on quickly.
- It applies to all staff, trustees, volunteers, interns, community educators, contractors and consultants.
- It applies to partner organisations, schools and suppliers when they are delivering activity with or on behalf of Shaathi.
- It covers children and young people under 18, and adults who may be at risk because of disability, illness, displacement or economic dependence.
- It covers activity in person, in writing, by phone and online.
Our principles
- The welfare of the child or adult at risk comes before the reputation of the organisation.
- Everyone has a right to protection from harm regardless of age, disability, gender, religion, ethnicity or economic status.
- Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, not one person's job.
- We listen to and believe people who raise concerns, and we do not require proof before acting.
- We are open about mistakes and we act on what we learn from them.
Code of conduct
Everyone acting for Shaathi is expected to follow these rules. Breaching them is a disciplinary matter and may end an engagement immediately.
- Treat every participant with respect. Never use language or behaviour that is humiliating, discriminatory, sexually suggestive or abusive.
- Do not meet a child or adult at risk alone or without the knowledge of a colleague, teacher or guardian. Sessions in schools take place with school staff present.
- Do not offer money, gifts, employment, or preferential access to products or programmes in exchange for anything.
- Do not photograph or film participants without informed consent from them and, for children, from a parent, guardian or school. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
- Do not share participants' names, images, health information or contact details outside the people who need them for the work.
- Do not develop a personal or sexual relationship with anyone we support. Any sexual activity with a person under 18 is prohibited, regardless of local age of consent.
- Report any concern you have, including about a colleague, rather than deciding on your own that it is not serious enough.
Safe recruitment and induction
- Roles with contact with children or adults at risk are advertised with the safeguarding expectations stated up front.
- We take up references and verify identity before an engagement begins.
- Every new member of the team, including volunteers and interns, reads this policy and confirms in writing that they will follow it.
- Safeguarding is covered again in the training that community educators complete before they run sessions.
How to raise a concern
If you believe someone has been harmed, is at risk of harm, or has behaved in a way that breaches this policy, tell us. You do not need to be certain, and you do not need to investigate first.
Email [email protected] with "Safeguarding" in the subject line, or write to us at House # 27, Road # 6, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh. If a person is in immediate danger, contact the local authorities first, then tell us.
You can raise a concern anonymously. Anonymity may limit how far we can investigate, but it will not stop us acting on what you tell us.
What happens next
- We acknowledge every report within three working days.
- We record the concern securely and share it only with the people who need to know in order to act.
- We assess immediate risk first and take steps to make the person safe, which may include suspending an individual or pausing an activity while we look into it.
- We refer to the police, social services or other statutory bodies where the law requires it or where doing so protects the person.
- We tell the person who raised the concern what action has been taken, as far as confidentiality allows.
Confidentiality and information handling
Safeguarding records are kept securely, separately from general programme records, and are accessible only to the people handling the case. We share information on a need-to-know basis and only where it protects someone or where the law requires it. Our wider handling of personal data is described in our Privacy Policy.
Protection from retaliation
No one who raises a concern in good faith will be penalised for it, whatever the outcome of the investigation. Retaliating against someone for reporting is itself a breach of this policy and will be treated as a disciplinary matter.
Partners, schools and suppliers
Organisations that deliver activity with us are expected to have their own safeguarding arrangements, or to work under this policy where they do not. We ask about safeguarding before entering a partnership, and we will end a partnership where concerns are not addressed.
Review
This policy will be reviewed at least once a year, and sooner if an incident, a change in the law, or a change in how we work makes it necessary. Comments on it are welcome at the address above.