Child Protection Policy

Last Updated: August 27, 2026

Sewa Bhav Foundation (“Sewa Bhav Foundation”, “we”, “our” or “us”) is committed to ensuring the safety, protection, dignity, rights and wellbeing of all children and young people who participate in, benefit from or otherwise come into contact with our programs, activities, representatives and partners.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach towards child abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination and any other form of harm. This Policy outlines our commitment to creating safe, respectful and child-friendly environments and to preventing and responding appropriately to risks affecting children.

1. Purpose of This Policy

The purpose of this Child Protection Policy is to:

• Protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of harm.
• Promote safe, respectful and child-friendly environments.
• Establish clear child protection responsibilities.
• Promote appropriate conduct and professional boundaries.
• Provide mechanisms for reporting child protection concerns.
• Support appropriate responses to child protection incidents or allegations.
• Promote awareness, accountability and responsible conduct across relevant organizational activities.

2. Scope and Applicability

This Policy applies, where relevant, to individuals associated with Sewa Bhav Foundation, including:

• Governing body members and authorized representatives.
• Employees and staff members.
• Volunteers and interns.
• Consultants, trainers and resource persons.
• Partner organizations and their representatives involved in relevant activities.
• Visitors or other individuals participating in organizational programs or activities.

This Policy applies to organizational programs, trainings, workshops, awareness sessions, events, outreach activities, field visits and relevant online or digital interactions involving children.

3. Child Protection Principles

Sewa Bhav Foundation is committed to the following principles:

• The safety and wellbeing of children should be given appropriate priority.
• Every child should be treated with dignity and respect.
• Children should be protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination.
• Safe and appropriate professional boundaries must be maintained.
• Children should be treated fairly and without discrimination.
• Concerns relating to the safety or wellbeing of a child should be taken seriously.
• Information relating to child protection concerns should be handled sensitively and responsibly.
• Appropriate action should be taken in accordance with the nature of the concern and applicable requirements.

4. Prohibited Conduct

The following conduct is strictly prohibited in connection with activities associated with Sewa Bhav Foundation:

• Physical abuse or violence against a child.
• Sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or sexual harassment of a child.
• Emotional or psychological abuse.
• Neglect or deliberate failure to provide appropriate care where there is a responsibility to do so.
• Grooming or inappropriate relationships with children.
• Bullying, intimidation or harassment.
• Discrimination or unfair treatment.
• Exploiting a child’s vulnerability for personal, financial or other benefit.
• Sharing, creating or distributing inappropriate content involving children.
• Inappropriate photography, videography or online interaction involving children.
• Any other conduct that may place a child at risk of harm.

5. Responsibilities of Representatives

All individuals covered by this Policy are expected to:

• Treat children with dignity, respect and fairness.
• Follow applicable child protection and safeguarding requirements.
• Maintain appropriate professional and personal boundaries.
• Avoid behaviour that may be inappropriate, exploitative or harmful.
• Remain alert to potential child protection risks or concerns.
• Report concerns, allegations or incidents promptly through the appropriate organizational channel.
• Respect confidentiality and privacy while sharing information responsibly where protection or reporting is necessary.
• Cooperate with reasonable child protection or safeguarding-related reviews or enquiries.

6. Safe Conduct and Appropriate Boundaries

Individuals working with or interacting with children should maintain appropriate conduct at all times.

They should not:

• Engage in inappropriate physical, verbal or online behaviour.
• Communicate with children in a sexually suggestive, exploitative or otherwise inappropriate manner.
• Develop exploitative or inappropriate personal relationships with children.
• Request, receive or share inappropriate images, videos or other content.
• Use their position of trust or authority for personal benefit.
• Engage in conduct that could reasonably place a child at risk.

Any photography, videography, communication or digital interaction involving children should be undertaken responsibly and in accordance with applicable organizational requirements.

7. Reporting Child Protection Concerns

Any person who becomes aware of, witnesses or reasonably suspects child abuse, neglect, exploitation or another serious risk to a child should report the concern as soon as reasonably possible through the appropriate organizational channel.

A report should contain relevant factual information available to the reporting person.

Individuals should not conduct their own investigation or question a child repeatedly about an allegation unless specifically authorized or required to do so.

Sewa Bhav Foundation will seek to handle reported concerns responsibly and sensitively, taking into account the nature and seriousness of the concern and any applicable legal or safeguarding requirements.

8. Responding to Concerns

Where a child protection concern is reported, Sewa Bhav Foundation may take appropriate steps depending on the circumstances.

This may include:

• Assessing the immediate safety of the child.
• Taking reasonable measures to reduce further risk.
• Reviewing the information available.
• Seeking appropriate guidance or support.
• Referring or reporting the matter to appropriate authorities or agencies where required or considered necessary.
• Taking appropriate organizational action in relation to individuals associated with the concern.

The specific response will depend on the nature of the concern and applicable circumstances.

9. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Information relating to child protection concerns may be highly sensitive and will be handled with appropriate care.

Information should generally be shared only with individuals who have a legitimate need to know or where sharing is necessary to protect a child, comply with applicable requirements or respond appropriately to a safeguarding concern.

Confidentiality does not prevent information from being shared where disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect a child from harm or where required by applicable law.

10. Protection from Retaliation

Sewa Bhav Foundation does not tolerate retaliation, victimization or unfair treatment against any person who raises a child protection concern in good faith or participates appropriately in a related review or enquiry.

Any person who experiences or becomes aware of such retaliation should report the matter through the appropriate organizational channel.

11. Training and Awareness

Where appropriate to the nature of a role or activity, Sewa Bhav Foundation may provide relevant child protection and safeguarding information, guidance or awareness.

Additional requirements may apply to individuals whose roles involve direct or regular interaction with children.

12. Relationship with Other Policies

This Child Protection Policy should be read together with other relevant policies and guidelines of Sewa Bhav Foundation, including:

• Safeguarding Policy.
• Volunteer Policy.
• Privacy Policy.
• Applicable codes of conduct and organizational guidelines.

Additional procedures or requirements may apply depending on the nature of a particular program, activity or role.

13. Policy Review and Updates

This Policy may be reviewed and updated from time to time to reflect changes in organizational activities, practices or applicable requirements.

Any updated version will be published on this page with a revised Last Updated date.

14. Contact Us

For questions or concerns regarding this Child Protection Policy, please contact:

Sewa Bhav Foundation
Email: info@sewabhav.org
Helpline: +91 94581 03242
Website: www.sewabhav.org
Location: Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India