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Child Safeguarding

Every girl in guiding has the right to be safe. This page sets out how we protect the children and young people in our care, what we expect of every adult in the movement, and how anyone can raise a concern.

Last reviewed:

Draft pending board approval. This text is published so visitors can see our position, but it has not yet been formally adopted by the association’s board. For a definitive answer on any point, contact the national office.

Reporting a concern

If you are worried about the safety or welfare of a child in guiding — or about the behaviour of any adult in the movement — tell us straight away. You do not need proof, and you do not need to be certain. Reporting a worry is always the right thing to do.

If a child is in immediate danger, contact the Uganda Police Child and Family Protection Unit or your nearest police station first, then tell us.

Our commitment

The Uganda Girl Guides Association exists to help girls and young women grow in confidence, skill and character. None of that is possible unless they are safe. We accept that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility — the national office, district commissioners, unit leaders, volunteers, parents and Guides themselves.

We commit to:

  • treating the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration in every decision we take;
  • valuing, listening to and respecting girls, and taking what they tell us seriously;
  • recruiting adults carefully, and training and supervising them properly;
  • responding to every concern promptly and in line with this policy;
  • reviewing this policy at least annually and after any significant incident.

Who this applies to

This policy applies to every adult acting on behalf of the association: national office staff, board members, district and divisional commissioners, unit leaders, assistant leaders, occasional helpers, trainers, drivers, caterers and anyone else present at an association activity in a position of trust.

What we expect of adults in guiding

Every adult in the movement is expected to:

  • follow the two-adult rule — avoid being alone and unobserved with a child, and never invite a Guide to your home;
  • keep communication with Guides open and appropriate, through their parent or guardian where the Guide is under 18, and never through private messaging that a parent or another leader cannot see;
  • respect physical boundaries, and never use physical punishment, humiliation or degrading treatment of any kind;
  • obtain a parent or guardian's written consent before photographing or filming a Guide, and never publish a child's full name alongside their image;
  • report any concern about a colleague's conduct rather than deciding for themselves whether it matters;
  • complete the association's safeguarding training and refresh it as required.

Safer recruitment

Adults who work with Guides are appointed only after we have taken up references, verified identity, and carried out the character and background checks required for the role. Volunteers serve an initial probationary period under the supervision of an experienced leader, and safeguarding training is a condition of appointment, not an optional extra.

How we respond to a concern

  1. Listen and record. The person receiving the concern listens without pressing for detail, reassures the child that they were right to speak, and writes down what was said in the child's own words as soon as possible. They do not promise secrecy.
  2. Report the same day. The concern goes to the national office. Nobody investigates on their own.
  3. Make the child safe. Immediate steps are taken to protect the child, which may include suspending an adult from contact with Guides while the matter is looked into. Suspension is a neutral protective act, not a finding of guilt.
  4. Refer where required. Where an offence may have been committed or a child is at risk of significant harm, we refer the matter to the police and the relevant statutory authorities.
  5. Follow through. The national office records the outcome, tells the people who need to know, and reviews what the incident says about our practice.

Confidentiality

Information about a safeguarding concern is shared only with those who need it to protect the child or to carry out the association's duties. Confidentiality is never a reason to withhold information from the police or statutory authorities where a child may be at risk.

If you are a Guide reading this

If something has happened that makes you uncomfortable, frightened or unsafe — whether it happened in guiding or somewhere else — you can tell any leader you trust, or contact the national office directly using the numbers above. You will be listened to. You will not be in trouble. And you can bring a friend or a parent with you when you talk to us.

Questions

Parents, schools and partner organisations are welcome to ask us anything about how we safeguard the girls in our care. Contact the national office and we will answer.