All organisations that work with children must ensure children are safeguarded from harm – Poole

The Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Jennifer Poole says all organisations that work with children must have policies, practices and procedures in place to ensure the children they come into contact with are safeguarded from harm.

She says this includes government ministries and departments, civil society organisations and the private sector.

While speaking at the National Child Safeguarding Policy consultation today, Poole says when a child steps out from their home, they are vulnerable, at risk and can even be exposed to abuse and depending on the severity, it can leave lasting effects as they grow up.

She says the government is committed to keep children safe from all violence, abuse and exploitation which is why the Ministry has developed the policy making it the first of its kind in Fiji.

The Permanent Secretary further says the policy outlines a number of concrete actions that will be taken to safeguard children in the delivery of services in a child-safe and child-friendly manner.

The policy is expected to go to cabinet for approval by June.