Child Protection Policy

The National Association of Social Gerontology (ANGES), as part of its mission to promote active ageing, intergenerational dialogue and social inclusion, recognizes that contact with children and young people is an essential part of its activities, especially in programs that promote interaction between generations in schools, institutions and local communities.
This Child and Youth Protection Policy establishes the principles, standards and procedures that ANGES and all persons and entities connected to it are obliged to observe in order to ensure the full protection of children and young people, preventing any form of abuse, neglect, exploitation or violence, as well as promoting their well-being, development and active participation.
For the purposes of this policy, ANGES adopts the definition of child established in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), ratified by Portugal on September 12, 1990, i.e. all persons under the age of 18.

ANGES therefore undertakes to:

• • Respect and promote the rights of children and young people in all its activities;
  • Integrate the principle of the best interests of the child into all decisions and projects;
  • Guarantee the protection of children and young people against all forms of physical, psychological, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation or degrading treatment;
  • Promote the right of children and young people to participate and express their opinion on matters that concern them, in accordance with their age and level of maturity.

This Policy is guided by the following principles, enshrined in the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, in the Law for the Protection of Children and Young People in Danger (Law no. 147/99, of September 1, with subsequent amendments), in Law no. 113/2009, of September 17, and in other international instruments ratified by the Portuguese State:

a) The best interests of the child – prevail in all decisions and actions;
b) Equality and non-discrimination – no child shall be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, origin, religion, ethnicity, language, disability or other personal or social condition;
c) Protection against all forms of violence – including physical, psychological, sexual abuse, economic exploitation or neglect;
d) Privacy and confidentiality – respect for the private life and privacy of children and their families;
e) Participation – the right of children and young people to be heard and to participate in decisions that affect them;
f) Prevention and early intervention – rapid identification of risks and immediate action when a dangerous situation is known;
g) Proportionality and necessity – intervention only to the extent strictly necessary to protect the child;
h) Parental responsibility – recognition of the role of parents and legal representatives, except when they are unable or unwilling to fulfill their protective duties.

The main objectives of this Policy are:

• • Defining and standardizing ANGES’ internal procedures for the protection of children and young people;
  • Ensure that all employees, trainees, volunteers and partners know, understand and apply the principles and rules of child and youth protection;
  • Preventing and reducing the risk of abuse or exploitation within the scope of ANGES’ activities;
  • Ensure that there are clear mechanisms for reporting, following up and responding to concerns or suspicions of abuse;
  • Fostering an organizational culture of respect, protection and promotion of children’s rights, in conjunction with the relevant national and local authorities.

The ANGES Board of Directors assumes ultimate responsibility for the implementation of this Policy. It is responsible for:

• • Formally approve the Child and Youth Protection Policy;
  • Ensure its public and internal dissemination;
  • Ensure adequate resources for its implementation and monitoring;
  • Appoint a Child and Youth Protection Officer, with specific duties
    to monitor and report; Ensure coordination with national authorities responsible for protecting children and young people.

All ANGES employees, trainees and volunteers, regardless of their position, have a duty to:

• • Know, respect and apply this Policy;
  • Actively ensure the safety and protection of the children and young people they come into contact with;
  • Participate in mandatory awareness-raising and training courses;
  • Immediately and reliably report any suspicions or risk situations related to children or young people.

All partner entities, contractors or subcontractors of ANGES that involve contact with children and young people are bound to comply with this Policy and must sign a term of adhesion and commitment.

ANGES undertakes to adopt recruitment procedures that ensure the suitability of all persons who come to work with children and young people, including the requirement of a criminal record certificate, under the terms of Law no. 113/2009.

Any partnership or subcontracting must first be assessed for compliance with this Policy. ANGES will not enter into contractual relations with entities that contradict or jeopardize children’s rights.

ANGES ensures that mandatory training on the protection of children and young people is carried out on a regular basis. The Policy will be disseminated through all internal channels, ensuring that everyone involved has access to up-to-date information.

The processing of personal data of children and young people will comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable national legislation. The collection, use or disclosure of data or images of children requires the written consent of their parents or legal representatives, as well as the child themselves when they are 12 years old or older.

ANGES guarantees the existence of accessible, confidential and secure mechanisms for submitting reports or complaints related to suspected abuse or violation of children’s rights. All complaints will be recorded, assessed and forwarded immediately to the competent authorities, always safeguarding the best interests of the child.

All ANGES professionals, trainees, volunteers and partners undertake to

• • Treat all children with respect and dignity, without discrimination;
  • Avoid any behavior, language or attitude that could be interpreted as abusive, negligent or disrespectful;
  • Do not establish personal or emotional relationships of an inappropriate nature with children or young people;
  • Do not use children’s images, videos or data for external purposes without formal consent;
  • Immediately report any concerns or suspected violations of rights.

The implementation of this Policy will be overseen by a Child and Youth Protection Officer appointed by the ANGES Board.
Monitoring will be carried out on an ongoing basis and an annual report will be submitted to the Board.
This Policy will be reviewed periodically, at least every three years, or whenever legislative changes or practical needs so warrant.

This Child and Youth Protection Policy shall come into force on the date of its approval by the ANGES Board of Directors and shall be published on the association’s institutional website, in Portuguese and in English.

This document has been approved by the ANGES Board of Directors and enters into force on the date indicated