Protection Policy For Volunteers
Abuse Prevention, Reporting and Response
Collin, A.C., Asistencia a Migrantes en Oaxaca
Collin is committed to a safe environment for everyone. We have zero tolerance for inaction in the face of abuse. No organization is immune from abuse and no policy is completely failsafe, however, this document outlines the practices we will use to prevent abuse from happening within the organization, to report abuse, and to respond to reports of abuse. Any deviation from this policy must be detailed in official organization documents.
Interpersonal abuse is understood to include any form of humiliating, degrading, or exploitative behavior, including but not limited to sexual exploitation and harassment. Misuse of organization property and assets, including purposeful damage, destruction and unauthorized use is an abuse of the integrity and trust required by this organization from its employees and volunteers.
Prevention
The contents of this Protection Policy will be familiar to all volunteers. Volunteer training will include the definition, indications, and responses to abuse.
A child will never be allowed to be alone with a non-familial adult. If a child arrives without a family member, or without documentation that grants authority to the accompanying adult(s), the Executive Director will be notified and Mexican law will be followed.
Reporting
Anyone who observes or is told about abuse is required to report the abuse to the Executive Director and the Volunteer Training Coordinator (VTC) immediately. The Executive Director or the VTC will talk with the involved people at once, and make a written Incident Report which shall be forwarded to the Board for investigation. The Board will conduct an investigation and make a Board report within thirty (30) days of receipt of an Incident Report. All such reports will be maintained on Collin’s premises for review consistent with Mexican privacy laws.
Response
Every report of abuse is to be taken seriously, that is, the initial assumption is that a victim or observer is telling the truth. An accused employee or volunteer will be immediately suspended from all activities with Collin until the report of abuse has been determined to be true or untrue. If the person reporting abuse recants or is proven by substantial evidence to have been lying, the Board will be responsible for addressing the report in a compassionate, just and transparent manner.
Collin will comply with the requirements of all applicable Mexican laws.The Board will take any other actions deemed necessary to prevent an abuser from harming others in the future.
