safeguarding
at UNICEF UK

UNICEF UK’s Commitment to Safeguarding 

As the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), we work to build a better world for every child, every day. A world where every child has the chance to fulfil their potential and grow up healthy and safe. 

As the custodian of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), we embed the General Principles and Articles of the UNCRC in all that we do. 

We are committed to upholding Article 19 of the UNCRC, which states that all children, wherever they may live and whatever their circumstances, have the right to be protected, nurtured and to be free from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, maltreatment, and exploitation. At UNICEF UK we endeavour to make this a reality for all children. 

We help promote every child’s right to be safe from harm by ensuring we meet the highest standards of behaviour and conduct whenever anyone representing UNICEF UK interacts with children, either directly or indirectly. Safeguarding also includes the way we protect and support adults who we meet in the course of our work. 

Our policies outline the protective measures and actions we put in place to keep all children and adults safe when we come into contact with them. UNICEF UK has both a Child Safeguarding Policy and an Adult Safeguarding Policy. 

Safeguarding is led by our Interim Director of Safeguarding, a team of Safeguarding Specialists, and is supported by a cross-organisational working group. Safeguarding is championed by our Trustees and is part of our Audit and Risk Committee Governance Group. We are an active member of the UNICEF National Committees Child Safeguarding Focal Point group. We work with Young People across our projects to ensure we hear and integrate respect for the views of the child. 

Our Duty of Care 

Everyone acting on behalf of UNICEF UK in any capacity is required to uphold the principles and behaviours in our safeguarding statements and fulfil their duty of care to the best of their ability. As individuals, we have a duty to behave in a way that does not place children and adults at risk of harm and report all safeguarding concerns about specific children or adults to UNCIEF UK. 

UNICFEF UK has a duty to ensure concerns are reported onto the appropriate authorities who can act to protect them, and a duty to follow up such referrals to ensure action has been taken. We cannot give advice, help, or lead investigations into individual cases of child abuse or neglect in the UK. If you have a concern about a child, please visit our contact us page.