Contents
1. Our Commitment
African Solidarity Civic Organization (ASCO) works with young people through its youth cultural exchange programmes and other community initiatives. We are committed to a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and any form of abuse of power over the people we serve — particularly children and youth. This commitment applies at every level of the Organization, without exception.
2. Scope
This policy applies to every Executive Structure member, staff member, volunteer, contractor, and partner organisation acting on ASCO's behalf, in every programme, event, and exchange ASCO organises or takes part in — in South Africa and in any partner country involved in a reciprocal exchange.
3. Guiding Principles
- The safety and wellbeing of programme participants — especially children and youth — comes before any other organisational consideration, including reputation.
- Every person in a position of trust or authority over a participant has a responsibility to protect that participant, not to exploit that position.
- Concerns are taken seriously, investigated fairly, and never dismissed or minimised.
- Confidentiality is respected, but never at the cost of a child or vulnerable person's safety.
4. Prevention Measures
ASCO takes the following steps to reduce risk before it arises:
- Everyone working directly with programme participants agrees to this policy and ASCO's Code of Conduct as a condition of their role;
- Activities involving minors are, wherever possible, supervised by more than one adult, and one-on-one unsupervised contact between an adult representative and a minor participant is avoided outside legitimate, transparent programme activity;
- International and reciprocal exchange partners are expected to uphold equivalent safeguarding standards for the duration of the exchange;
- Any prior safeguarding concern involving a prospective staff member, volunteer, or partner is a bar to their involvement in youth-facing programmes.
5. Reporting a Concern
Anyone — a participant, parent, guardian, staff member, volunteer, or member of the public — who has a concern about the safety of a child or vulnerable person in connection with ASCO's work should report it immediately. Reports can be made:
- By email to info@africansolidaritycivic.org, marked "Safeguarding — Confidential";
- By phone or WhatsApp to +27 76 757 5773;
- Directly to the National Chairperson or Executive Director where the concern involves another member of the Executive Structure.
You do not need proof to raise a concern — only a genuine, good-faith worry. Where a child may be in immediate danger, contact the South African Police Service or your local emergency services first, and inform ASCO as soon as safely possible afterward.
6. How Reports Are Handled
Every report is acknowledged promptly and treated confidentially, on a need-to-know basis. Where a report concerns a possible criminal offence, ASCO will refer the matter to the South African Police Service or the relevant authority in the country concerned, in addition to taking its own internal action. Any ASCO representative found to have committed sexual exploitation or abuse will be removed from their role and reported to the appropriate authorities.
7. Protection From Retaliation
No one who reports a safeguarding concern in good faith — including a participant, parent, staff member, or volunteer — will face retaliation, exclusion, or any negative consequence as a result of that report, even if an investigation does not substantiate the concern.