Wedu is committed to safeguarding people by ensuring our programmes and activities are delivered in a way which keeps all involved parties safe. Wedu is committed to creating a culture of care and of zero-tolerance of harm to community members which necessitates an organisation-wide ability to:

1. Recognise adults who may be at risk and the circumstances that can increase risk;
2. Know how abuse and exploitation can manifest; and
3. Be willing to report safeguarding concerns.

This extends to preventing, recognising, and reporting harm both within the activities directly implemented by Wedu, and voluntary activities that are implemented through Wedu, by our community.

Wed are committed to engaging the best safeguarding practices and to uphold the rights of all people to live a life free from harm from abuse, exploitation and any misconduct. Safeguarding practices at Wedu are informed by the Safeguarding Principles (see appendix 3 in full policy PDF).

Policy statement

1. Wedu has a zero tolerance policy on any misconduct towards its staff, volunteers, and community members. This includes misconduct against applicants in the process of joining the Wedu community as well as current members. The policy applies to activities conducted online and during official in-person events.
2. All associated individuals are united under the common vision of advancing women’s leadership, which demands behaviour that is ethical, respectful, and meets the highest standard of conduct. All individuals have the obligation to not engage in misconduct with others who are working with Wedu.
3. All associated individuals will have access to Wedu’s safeguarding policy and are requested to respect Wedu’s safeguarding principles.
4. Wedu is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment and an open, listening culture of care where people feel able to share concerns without fear of retribution.
5. Wedu is committed to preventing misconduct to the extent possible by maintaining communication channels conducive to prevention, establishing procedures and reporting mechanisms, communicating the policy to associated individuals, training staff, and educating all associated individuals on the importance of safeguarding.
6. Should a case of misconduct occur, the complainant should report immediately to a member of staff or the Safeguarding Officer who will report it to the Protection Safeguarding Lead, if required. Alternatively, the complainant can also contact any other members of the Wedu team, as appropriate.
7. Wedu has a duty to provide effective mechanisms for dealing with the case of misconduct as well as complainant support. This is done through the designated Safeguarding Officer and includes intervening immediately to end the misconduct; conducting an investigation as necessary; consulting the complainant on due processes for resolution (informal and formal); and survivor support (e.g. signposting mental health resources).
8. Actions taken by Wedu will be consistent with the safeguarding principles, ensuring that any action taken is prompt, proportionate and that it includes and respects the voice of the complainant(s) concerned.
9. While Wedu is committed to ensuring the safety of all concerned individuals, the individuals themselves also hold a personal responsibility to assess and mitigate risk as far as they are able, and are encouraged to do so – consulting with the Safeguarding Officer where needed.
10. Wedu recognises that health, ability, disability, need for care and support, English language proficiency, digital literacy, and cultural norms can affect people’s decision-making. We recognise that people experience varying barriers to raising concerns or seeking help, which shift at different points in their lives. Wedu is committed to working towards building a culture of care where anyone needing additional support is supported to understand their choices and make decisions.
11. Wedu adopts the concept of ‘Person-Centred Safeguarding’: engaging the complainant in a conversation about how best to respond to their situation in a way that enhances their involvement, choice and control, as well as improving their quality of life, well-being and safety.

Resolution

Any behaviour that constitutes any form of misconduct (physical, sexual, emotional) to associated individuals is strictly prohibited, with serious disciplinary action in cases of a breach. Upon being informed of misconduct, resolution mechanisms shall be immediately taken to ensure the safety of the individual(s) concerned.

To report a safeguarding issue or complaint you can email safeguarding@weduglobal.org or fill the incident report form.