Want Children and Youth’s Participation to be Meaningful? Make it Safe

Today we celebrate World Children’s Day, which commemorates the Declaration of and Convention on the Rights of the Child. At IYF we are particularly fond of championing Article 12 which states that children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them and that adults should listen and take children seriously. This right lies at the heart of our commitment to meaningful youth engagement.  

Our decades of experience supporting youth-led social change have taught us that when we listen and take young people seriously, our world is more sustainable, inclusive, and just. That same experience has also shown us that you can’t divorce Article 12 from Articles 34 and 36 which enshrine the right to be protected from sexual abuse and exploitation.  

While IYF has always taken safeguarding and protection seriously, in 2024 we established a Safeguarding Steering Committee to strengthen our policies and procedures and make sure that in addition to promoting compliance, we are also promoting a culture that proactively aims to prevent harm and promote the welfare of our participants and partners.  

What is Safeguarding? 

Safeguarding refers to the measures and actions we take to protect children and young people from harm, abuse, exploitation, and neglect. It encompasses a range of policies, procedures, and practices designed to ensure that children and young people are physically and psychologically safe in all environments – both in-person and virtually.  

“Youth protection and safeguarding are not just policies—they are the foundation of our commitment to every young person we serve. By strengthening our ability to provide safe, high-quality programs, we affirm our dedication to creating environments where youth can thrive, confident that they are valued and protected.” Christina Sass, IYF President and CEO 

Why is Safeguarding Important to IYF? 

IYF’s meaningful youth engagement programming takes place in many different contexts and ways, with a diverse group of stakeholders, and for a variety of purposes. This year, for example, our PROPEL Youth &and Gender project sponsored young sexual and reproductive health (SRH) advocates to attend global SRH forums and our Unique Perspectives for Change Young Leaders convened in Chicago to select the recipients of $600,000 in grant funding.   

While our strategies vary, there are certain pre-conditions we consider and uphold no matter what: safety and transparency; capacity; respect and inclusion; and interest and motivation.  

Robust safeguarding and protection mechanisms are critical to effectively managing the inherent tensions between the risks and opportunities of youth participation. They help us do things such as: 

• Build thriving online communities that are safe for young women and LGBTQ+ youth. 
• Facilitate life-changing travel and trainings.  
• Promote bonding and pro-social involvement in culturally appropriate ways.  
• Solicit the support of parents and guardians.     
• Create compelling marketing and communications materials without compromising consent or exposing young people to potential harm. 

How are we Keeping Youth Safe at IYF? 

Over the past year, with the help of a dedicated consultant, we meticulously evaluated our policies and procedures, identifying gaps and areas for improvement. As a result, we have made significant updates to our policies, guidelines, and forms. A graphic included below illustrates the comprehensive set of changes, which includes the revision of our Child Protection Policy and the creation of two new guidelines, four new policies, and eight new forms. By addressing these critical areas and prioritizing the holistic needs of young people, we aim to create a supportive environment where they can thrive, feeling safe and equipped to exercise their agency.  

“By evaluating and enhancing our safeguarding policies and procedures, the Unique Perspectives (UP) for Change program team was able to create a strong foundation for a successful in-person workshop with youth and parents from six states. This groundwork allowed us to deliver a meaningful, engaging youth leadership experience full of fun, learning, and growth, knowing we had everything in place to keep everyone safe and handle any unexpected situations with confidence.” Ana Evancic, Program Officer 

Conclusion 

We are proud of the work our safeguarding champions did, confident it will strengthen our meaningful youth engagement capacity, and inspired to continue supporting children and youth to exercise their right to be heard. To learn more about our commitment, see IYF’s Child Protection Policy.   

A special thank you to all the members of the Safeguarding Steering Committee: Rahaf Badawi, Award Management Unit Coordinator, Palestine; Ivelina Benitez, Program Director, US; Edmari Del Valle, Senior Program Manager, US; Maria Esquivelzeta, Program Manager, Mexico; Ana Evancic, Program Officer, US; Linda Fogarty, Global Director of Measurement, Evaluation, Research and Learning, US; Karen Gonzalez, Global HR Director, Mexico; Rhonda Greenway, Global Digital Development Coordinator, US; Marlene Nunez, Administrative Officer, Mexico; and Sarah Jonson, Technical Advisor of Youth Engagement and Agency, US. We also extend our gratitude to those who provided feedback and reviews to ensure our policies were relevant and responsive.