Circular No. GLB-C01-2023
Dear friends,
Providing a safe and inclusive environment for all children, young people, and adults to experience Scouting is one of our highest priorities, and is a membership requirement for all National Scout Organizations (NSOs).
As part of our ongoing effort to support NSOs in this area, we are pleased to release a new Safe from Harm Assessment Tool and accompanying Guidelines to help Member Organizations strengthen their child and youth safeguarding policies, structures, and procedures, and meet the requirements for WOSM membership.
Built on the Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT) model, the Safe from Harm Assessment Tool is a set of 22 criteria that enables NSOs to evaluate their Safe from Harm policies, structures, and procedures against international standards for child and youth safeguarding. NSOs can use the new Assessment Tool to conduct an internal self-assessment of their organisation’s Safe from Harm practices and meet the standards for WOSM membership.
NSOs are required to complete and submit a Safe from Harm Self-Assessment as part of the annual reporting process, as well as provide their National Safe from Harm Policy, Safeguarding Reporting Procedures, and the contact details of their Safe from Harm coordinator.
After completing the Self-Assessment, Member Organizations can request support from a WOSM assessor and Safe from Harm consultant to conduct a more in-depth, follow-up WOSM Safe from Harm Assessment if needed.
A set of Guidelines have been developed as a resource to assist NSOs with how to use the Safe from Harm Assessment Tool to conduct assessments. The Safe from Harm Assessment Tool and accompanying Guidelines are both available on the Safe from Harm page of the Members Portal. More details about a new digital solution to support the Self-Assessment process will be communicated in the coming months.
If you have any questions about the new Safe from Harm Assessment Tool and Guidelines, or require any further support in the area of Safe from Harm, please contact Pauline Grangette, Manager Child Protection and Safeguarding, by email at [email protected].
Yours in Scouting,
Ahmad Alhendawi
Secretary General
World Organization of the Scout Movement