By Hassan Gbassay Koroma
A coalition of international non-governmental organizations, national non-governmental organisations, Community-Based Organizations, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, on Thursday officially launched the National Safeguarding Community of Practice (CoP) to prevent children from harm, abuse and sexual exploitation.
CoP was established to bring together diverse stakeholders and professionals who are committed to combating harm, exploitation, and abuse in their organizations and programs implementation.
They seek to facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration and the exchange of best practices, to strengthen efforts in preventing and responding to harm, exploitation, and abuse.
Their objectives include fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for members to share experiences, challenges, and successful initiatives related to safeguards.
Speaking at the launching ceremony at the New Brookfields Hotel, COP Tamba Aliyu, said safeguarding means respecting people’s human rights and keeping them safe and free from harm, abuse and exploitation relating to anyone impacted by their work, including children, vulnerable adults and staff.
He said the launching marked an important milestone in their collective efforts to protect and empower the most vulnerable in communities.
He highlighted that the purpose of setting up CoP was to create a space or platform where International/National Non-Governmental Organizations/NGOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs),and private organizations will come together and provide support to ensuring that programme implementation is safe for children, young people, and vulnerable adults and also to influence national frameworks and make Sierra Leone safe for all.
“Safeguarding is not just a set of policies or procedures; it’s a commitment to fostering an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. Our Community of Practice aims to be a hub for knowledge, collaboration, and support, enabling us to share best practices and innovative solutions,” he said.
He assured that together, they will tackle the challenges of safeguarding and called on donors and government ministries-the Family Support Unit, NGOs and the private sector to join them in the journey.
He said CoP and its members shall work to create a safe environment for everyone, particularly women and girls, and to prevent their physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, said Cop is a collective effort against gender based violence, and that the launch was to provide support and safety for children, young people and others.
She noted that it is fundamental that they protect children, young people and vulnerable adults and ensure their rights to live in safety, freedom and free from abuse and neglect.
She said CoP is about people and organizations working together to prevent and support the risk experience of abuse.
The minister continued that sometimes, people’s rights are abuse due to their vulnerability.
She noted that sometimes developments are taken to communities without the involvement of beneficiaries and that in most cases those projects end up not being successful because they are not the felt need of the recipient communities.
“Safeguarding of children, young people and adults who are at risk is a fundamental obligation for each and every one of us who is a member of the community of practice. We will be drafting the child safeguarding policy that will provide the framework of sampling child protection mechanisms in Sierra Leone,” she said.
National Public Relationships Officer of the Children’s Forum Network, Fatmata Ibrahim Kargbo, said safeguarding is not just a process, it’s a promise to be the voice of those who cannot speak, the strength for those who are venerable and the shield for those in need.
She said the lunching was a reminder to working collaboratively for the betterment of children’s safety and protection in all forms.
She said safeguarding policies for children are essential frameworks designed to protect young individuals from harm, abuse, and neglect.
“These policies outline the responsibilities of adults and organizations in creating a safe environment for children, ensuring that their welfare is prioritized. Key components often include clear procedures for reporting concerns, regular training for staff on recognizing signs of abuse, and guidelines for maintaining appropriate relationships with children,” adding that by implementing robust safeguarding measures, “we can ensure that children feel secure and supported, enabling us to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.
Director of Development at the British High Commission, Alex Maclean said the protection of women and girls against sexual exploitation is very important and called on donor partners to make a commitment to Cop.
