Earthquake in Venezuela: Help provide shelter, clean water and emergency supplies.

Safeguarding

Maintaining the safety and protection of the communities with whom we work and of our staff is of primary importance to Concern.

Women collecting water at dusk in South Sudan

We are a signatory to the Statement of Commitment on Eliminating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN and Non-UN Personnel and to the Red Cross Code of Conduct. 

Concern places particular emphasis on standards of behavior that we expect from our staff, visitors to our programs and those of our local partner staff. To this end we have the Concern Code of Conduct (CCoC) and Associated Policies i.e. Program Participant Protection Policy (P4), Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy and Child Safeguarding Policy. These policies were reviewed in 2021 and a comprehensive roll out of the updated policies was delivered to all our staff who were asked to recommit upholding them.  

These policies are reflected in all aspects of our daily work and set out the standards of behavior expected from all employees in relation to each other, our program participants and other relevant parties. 

 

Since 2018, safeguarding has been led by a dedicated team in our headquarters, now known as the Safe and Inclusive Programming Unit. This Unit oversees the implementation of our safeguarding policies and procedures with the aim of ensuring that the organization is taking all reasonable measures to ensure all who come into contact with Concern’s work are protected from harm perpetrated by its representatives.  

Complaint Response

We also have a Complaints Response Mechanism and are committed to investigating allegations of behavior that breach the above policies. Complaints that are investigated, follow Concern’s established investigation guidelines. Where substantiated, disciplinary action may be taken, up to and including dismissal. 

Child Safeguarding

Revised in 2025, our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Republic of Ireland’s Children First Act (2015), Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and TUSLA’s Child Safeguarding a Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice. Concern also maintains a list of Designated Liaison Persons (DLPs) who are trained to deal with child safeguarding concerns and liaise with the relevant authorities. Their contact details are available in our Child Safeguarding Statement.

More Codes & Policies

  • Woman walking with child in a field

    Concern Code of Conduct

    Our Code of Conduct and Associated Policies provides clear guidance on the standards of behavior that we expect from all of our staff, including around the issue of safeguarding.

  • Concern Worldwide’s Kirk Prichard hands a man a tarp at a distribution in Botase, Nepal.

    Concern Anti-Fraud Policy

    Concern’s Anti-Fraud Policy is a testament to our commitment to the highest possible standards of openness, transparency and accountability and our desire to promote a culture of honesty and opposition to fraud at all times.