Safeguarding Policy

At Associated Initiative for Mankind Foundation (hereinafter referred to as "AIM Foundation"), we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all individuals who engage with our organization — especially children, women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities.

This Safeguarding Policy outlines our principles and procedures to prevent and respond to any form of abuse, exploitation, harassment, or neglect. It applies to all staff, volunteers, partners, and anyone representing or working on behalf of AIM Foundation.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy is to:

• Protect beneficiaries, especially children and vulnerable adults, from harm or abuse.
• Ensure all AIM Foundation representatives understand their safeguarding responsibilities.
• Provide a clear procedure for responding to safeguarding concerns or allegations.

This policy applies to:

• All employees, board members, interns, and volunteers
• Contractors, consultants, donors, and program partners
• Any individual involved in AIM Foundation programs, whether directly or indirectly

Key Definitions

• Safeguarding: The proactive responsibility to protect people from harm or abuse, especially children and vulnerable individuals.
• Child: Any individual under the age of 18, as defined by the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 (India).
• Vulnerable Adult: A person aged 18 or over who may be unable to protect themselves due to age, illness, disability, or social circumstances.
• Abuse: Includes physical, emotional, sexual, or financial harm, neglect, and exploitation.

Legal Framework

This policy complies with:

• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
• The Information Technology Act, 2000
• International standards such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Policy Commitments

AIM Foundation commits to:

• Prioritise safety and dignity of all participants in every program and interaction.
• Ensure all staff and volunteers undergo orientation on safeguarding and code of conduct.
• Require background checks and screening for individuals working directly with children or vulnerable groups.
• Obtain informed consent from parents or guardians for activities involving children.
• Never engage in or tolerate any form of abuse, harassment, or exploitation.

Code of Conduct for Staff and Volunteers

All AIM Foundation personnel must adhere to our full Code of Conduct and are expected to:

• Treat all individuals with respect and fairness
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• Avoid being alone with a child in a private or secluded setting
• Not engage in any form of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse
• Immediately report any concern, suspicion, or incident of abuse

Reporting and Response Mechanism

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and are committed to responding swiftly and fairly. Any safeguarding concern must be reported to the Trustees at AIM Foundation. Our Whistleblower Policy ensures that all reports are handled with confidentiality and without fear of retaliation.

Reports can be made confidentially via:

All complaints will be investigated promptly, fairly, and in accordance with due process.

If required, the matter will be referred to local authorities or child protection agencies.

Confidentiality

All safeguarding concerns will be handled with strict confidentiality in line with our Privacy Policy. Information will be shared only on a need-to-know basis for the purpose of investigation and protection.

Training and Awareness

• Regular training on safeguarding, child rights, and gender sensitivity will be conducted.
• All staff and volunteers will be required to sign a Code of Conduct as a condition of engagement.

Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to comply with evolving legal, regulatory, and organizational requirements.

Contact Information

For concerns or questions related to this policy, please contact: