Jointly organized by Asia Pacific Justice and Peace Core Team GSIF Asia Pacific Regional Office Child Safe ME, the Asia Pacific Capacity Building and Training Workshop on Child Safeguarding, was held from 11^th – 15 September 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. This brought a total of 44 participants from 16 countries across the Asia Pacific who are directly involved with children in residential and non-residential programs.

The objectives of the workshop are:

• Introduction of the congregation’s Child Safeguarding Policy
• An understanding of Child Safeguarding versus Protection
• Identification of gaps in respective programmes and the intervention to mitigate the gaps (Where are we now and where do we want to be as individuals, as countries and as region)
• An action plan from units and a corporate ‘Declare-Action’ from the AP region on child Safeguarding and Protection

The Congregation engaged the services of Ms. Maryam Ehsani, a Consultant and Child Safeguarding specialist as our facilitator. She brought us through a paradigm shift of consciousness from child protection to child safeguarding.  At the end of the conference, all participants recognize that our mission involves situations and persons who are vulnerable and live in high-risk conditions. As such, we need to ensure and adopt the highest spiritual, ethical and professional standards in dealing with harm.  Child Safeguarding goes beyond the responsibility of our organization, but individuals like ourselves who are serving in our own capacity.  To be able to care and protect our children, we need to internalize and understand the importance of child safeguarding and be the advocate and champion to create a safe space for all our children at all times.

Our Congregation strongly endorsed the need for every Unit, every ministry, every community affiliated with our Congregation to comply with these Safeguarding Policy and Procedures that are consistent with the highest international human rights standards.  A copy of the Congregational Child Safeguarding Policy was given to every Unit that was represented at the Workshop.  It is now our turn to cascade it down to our Unit or Ministry, formulating our own Child Safeguarding Policy and implementing its procedures accordingly.

May the good Lord bless us as we commit ourselves to this duty of care and responsibility to ensure no harm and abuse of our children, whether they come into direct and indirect contact within our day-to-day operations and work.

Betty Lim

Head of Home,

Marymount Centre, Singapore

“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the reign of God.” Mark 10: 14

“If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.” Mark 9: 42

“Now you can see what to do for our young people, for the children God has entrusted to you. Watch over them carefully, noticing their needs of mind and body and prudently leading them to spiritual pastures suitable to each one’s state.” St. Mary Euphraisa, Conferences, pg 62