Ensuring the protection of the rights of children and young people

PROTECTING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: A WHOLE CONCEPT!
― PATRICK BARTH

Respect for children’s rights is the essential foundation of the concept of their protection. However, other complementary dimensions also deserve to be taken into account.

All employees of the Foundation commit to a shared stance against any form of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or exploitation, including sexual abuse (cf. Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child).

Beyond this, through our behaviour and the continuous improvement of our practices, we ensure that each child can grow up in a safe and protective environment. To this end, we have conceptualised the protection of the children and young people entrusted to us around several key pillars.

VALUES IN THE SERVICE OF BENEFICIARIES’ PROTECTION

Our commitment to protecting children and adolescents is based on a deeply moral attitude, a clear vision and mission, and strong values of courage, commitment, trust and responsibility, present in every area of the organisation.

These values take shape in numerous individual-oriented prevention measures, such as pedagogical guidelines or skills‑development procedures and, since 2019, in the appointment of Child Protection Delegates, true experts in listening, providing information and prevention for children and young people.

PUTTING THIS CONCEPT INTO PERSPECTIVE

A protection concept is both a systemic working framework and a dynamic process, closely linked to all areas of the organisation.

• It systematically analyses and evaluates the current situation and identifies risks.
• It implements measures to prevent abuse and minimise risks.
• It establishes clear and binding procedures.
• It is regularly audited and reviewed.

To develop the protection concept, a multi‑ and interdisciplinary working group carried out an initial systemic analysis of risk factors and compiled them in a criticality matrix. This analysis provided an overview of existing prevention measures and triggered further initiatives aimed at preventing any non‑compliance.

At the same time, the protection concept guidelines were integrated into the “National Framework Plan for Child and Family Welfare”.

This large‑scale project revealed the full complexity inherent in the concept of child and youth protection. At the same time, it made it possible to quickly establish a pedagogical foundation for child welfare.

BRINGING CHILD AND YOUTH PROTECTION TO THE FIELD

How does a protection‑oriented attitude translate into concrete action? How is the protection concept embedded in our different fields of activity in line with our strategic priorities?

The diagram above shows how the child and youth protection concept, based on our protection policy, is reflected across the four strategic pillars through clearly formulated objectives and priority tasks.

The example of risk analyses illustrates this principle very well. It clearly shows that risks to the protection of the children and young people entrusted to us exist at many levels of the organisation. Our approach requires that these risks be analysed and that specific, formalised and closely monitored preventive measures be implemented with determination. In line with our quality approach and participatory methodology, their effectiveness is regularly evaluated.

OUR HUMAN RESOURCES AND PROCESSES, GUARANTORS OF PROTECTION

We define clear procedures and criteria for the selection and recruitment of new employees.

We raise awareness among our new colleagues of our protection‑oriented attitude during the induction day and inform them about the procedures to follow in the event of complaints. Each new employee becomes familiar with our code of conduct and participates in continuing training on the topic of positive care.

An adequate level of pedagogical competence is a prerequisite for successful care. Ensuring this is an important measure for preventing violence and abuse.

We therefore define competency profiles for all staff and offer training opportunities to build or strengthen these competencies in all relevant areas, such as trauma‑informed pedagogy, safety‑oriented practice and crisis intervention.

PARTICIPATION AS A KEY FACTOR IN PREVENTION

Our pedagogical stance integrates the notion of participation of our beneficiaries.

The children and young people we support are regularly consulted about their needs, expectations and opinions. They are actively involved in designing their individual intervention plans.

Through various platforms for exchange, such as information meetings with the Child Protection Delegates, different assemblies or the Children and Young People’s Parliament (KaJuPa), they are encouraged to speak up, share their views, approach staff and projects, strengthen their resilience and be continuously made aware of their rights and responsibilities.

We always consider children and young people as experts in their own life stories. Their experiences, perspectives and perceptions are essential to our work and to the development of our prevention measures.

Their involvement supports the expression of worries, pain and grief. Beneficiaries experience personal growth and build self‑confidence. They see that their individual wishes, perspectives, needs and fears are heard and taken seriously.

A CONCEPT IN MOTION

As a service provider committed to child protection in Luxembourg, we regard safeguarding not only as a legal obligation, but above all as a fundamental ethical responsibility. Throughout the past year, we have strengthened our internal mechanisms, trained our teams and continued to build an organisational culture focused on vigilance, prevention and proactive response to any form of risk or maltreatment.

Our priority remains to ensure a safe, caring and respectful environment for every child we support. In 2025, we will continue our efforts to further improve our practices, in close collaboration with our institutional partners and civil society.

Child protection can never be the responsibility of a single actor; it relies on collective, constant and determined mobilisation.

I warmly invite all of you to join us!