Policy introduction
Habitat for Humanity Korea, or Habitat Korea, is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Our ministry was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent place to live in dignity and safety. In accordance with our foundational mission and principles, we are committed to the highest ethical standards and oppose all forms of abuse, discrimination, exploitation and harassment (“harm”). 
This Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy — also referred to herein as the “safeguarding policy” or the “policy” — reflects our pledge to create and maintain a work and life environment that is safe, productive and respectful for the children and adults we serve. As a Christian organization rooted in undoing policies and practices embedded within institutions, organizations or society that prevent people from accessing opportunities and promoting housing equity, we believe that every child and adult with whom we have contact, whether intentional or incidental, has the right to be protected from any harm that can arise during our operations or project activities. Moreover, we recognize the unique vulnerabilities of children and at-risk adults living in fragile contexts and remain steadfast in our commitment to be a safe organization for all whom we serve or with whom we have contact. 
This policy defines Habitat Korea’s approach to creating safe, healthy workplace, operational and project environments. The accompanying Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures document — also referred to as the “safeguarding procedures” — provides guidance on how operational and project teams can make this policy actionable and adapt practices for the contextual needs and risks associated with the project and/or community. The directives contained in this policy, unless specified otherwise, are intended to apply to the conduct of Habitat Korea’s representatives, as defined in Appendix A.
Policy framework
We recognize that building and sustaining a safe organization requires a commitment to children, families who partner with Habitat, community members, partners and our colleagues. This policy establishes our commitment to children, at-risk adults in communities where we operate, and our staff and volunteers by referencing and acknowledging the role of other policies in reinforcing Habitat Korea’s responsibility to create and maintain operational, programmatic and workplace environments that are safe, mission driven and healthy for everyone. Our Safeguarding Policy Framework organizes safeguarding-related policies, procedures and materials in a way that is accessible and user-friendly. This framework includes but is not limited to the following policies and materials: 
1.    Habitat Korea Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy
2.    Ethics Covenant (Code of Conduct)
3.    Policy on Harassment, Bullying, & Discrimination
4.    Whistleblower Policy
5.    Volunteer Code of Conduct
6.    Safeguarding Self-Assessment
7.    Safe Recruitment for Employment Toolkit
8.    HFH Survivor Support Framework
Policy statement
Every person — child or adult — has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. We recognize and acknowledge our duty of care — our organizational, collective and individual responsibilities to safeguard children, families who partner with Habitat, program participants, community members with whom we have contact, and our colleagues and volunteers. This safeguarding policy has been developed as part of our safeguarding framework to reinforce the principles of “do no harm” and gender equality and is part of our risk-based approach to preventing and deterring unintentional or deliberate behaviors, actions or programming by Habitat Korea representatives that create a risk of or result in child and adult abuse; discrimination; sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, or SEAH; and labor exploitation. Habitat Korea maintains a zero tolerance approach for any abuse of power. All concerns, suspicions or known abuses of power must be reported in accordance with reporting protocols. Our Whistleblower Policy prohibits retaliation against any reporter acting in good faith, even if the allegation is later unsubstantiated. 
We acknowledge that inherently unequal power dynamics exist between Habitat Korea and children, families who partner with Habitat, and adults living in the communities where we operate. Housing inequities, disaster responses and community impact projects increase the likelihood of power being abused. Therefore, Habitat Korea strictly prohibits sexual activity with any person under the age of 18 years old, regardless of the legal age of consent in the country where the child lives or the contact occurs. Mistaken belief in the age of the child is not a defense. Habitat Korea also prohibits sexual activity with any program participant, project recipient or community member. And, during the project implementation period, sexual activity and relationships between and among staff members and volunteers who meet through the Habitat Korea project are strongly discouraged. Volunteers must also adhere to the policies restricting relationships with community members unless they live in and are from the community.   
When any abuse of power is reported, we maintain a zero tolerance for inaction approach. This means reports will be treated seriously, triaged and investigated in accordance with the respective Habitat Korea and Habitat for Humanity International investigations and disciplinary procedures. All legal actions will be pursued in consultation with the affected person. Where the affected person is a child, the child and the child’s parent, legal guardian or caregiver will be consulted, and Habitat Korea will pursue the necessary legal action to uphold the best interests of the child and comply with the governing local or national laws.  
Policy scope
This policy applies to all Habitat for Humanity entities, including headquarters, area offices, branches and consolidated entities. In addition, every legally independent national organization and affiliated organization outside the U.S. is required to adopt its own policies that incorporate the provisions of this policy to the extent permitted by applicable local law and to ensure that the intent of this policy is covered in the entity’s existing policies. U.S. affiliated organizations remain subject to existing Policy 34 of the U.S. Affiliated Organization Policy Handbook. Habitat Korea representatives must review the policy, complete the Individual Acknowledgment Form, and submit the completed form to their Area Office Safeguarding Regional Adviser. Every Habitat branch and national organization must sign the Policy Acknowledgment Form upon receipt or adoption of the policy or any updates and submit the acknowledgment to the entity’s respective area office safeguarding regional adviser and Governance, Risk Management and Compliance, or GRC, representative. 
All Habitat Korea representatives are required to read, acknowledge and comply with this policy. Habitat Korea representatives are responsible for understanding how safeguarding is applicable to their roles and responsibilities and for taking appropriate steps in accordance with this policy and its accompanying procedures to mitigate identified safeguarding risks.
Treating others with dignity and respect is a value that extends beyond working hours. Habitat Korea representatives are expected to engage in the highest ethical standards during interactions with each other, our partners, families who partner with Habitat, and community members. This policy and its commitments are applicable to both the professional and personal lives of our representatives. Ethical behaviors by all Habitat representatives are expected 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including before, during and after business hours.
Implementation
Safeguarding principles 
By living our values of humility, courage and accountability, we create safety for our colleagues, children, families who partner with Habitat, community members, and our partners. We ask that each Habitat Korea representative reflect on how they can contribute to a healthy organization and safeguard those with whom they have contact from preventable harm.
1.    We will work in community with children and adults to promote and uphold their rights to be protected from harm during our operations and project activities. 
2.    We will engage children and adults with empathy and treat each person with respect, courtesy and dignity. 
3.    We recognize the inherently unequal power dynamics between Habitat Korea and the communities where we operate and the particular vulnerability to abuses of power that these differentials create. Any abusive, harassing, humiliating, degrading, discriminatory or exploitative behavior demonstrated by our representatives toward any person is unacceptable. 
4.    We acknowledge the power we hold and the trust that has been given to us. We will not engage in any abuse of power or trust that harms  children or adults in the community. 
5.    We believe in creating systems of transparency to build safe and healthy operating environments with the aim of preventing child abuse; sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, or SEAH; discrimination; and labor exploitation.  
6.    We will continue to evolve our safeguarding practices and engage colleagues with humility and grace as we learn and make adjustments to strengthen our safeguarding systems.
Behavioral commitments ,  ,  
1.    We will work to create and maintain safe and healthy working environments that prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment and promote the implementation of the Habitat Korea Code of Conduct. Managers across all levels of the organization have particular responsibilities to support and develop systems that maintain a healthy workplace culture and environment. 
2.    We recognize that acts of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, or SEAH, constitute acts of gross misconduct and are, therefore, grounds for termination of employment or contract. 
3.    We prohibit sexual activity, including any direct or indirect contact or grooming, with any child (a person under 18 years old) regardless of the age of majority or consent in the local context. Mistaken belief regarding the age of a child is not a defense. 
4.    We prohibit the exchange of money, employment, goods, special considerations or services for sex,  including sexual favors or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behavior. This includes any assistance that is due to families who partner with Habitat, program participants or recipients, or other community members.
5.    We prohibit any sexual relationship between a Habitat Korea representative and any person benefiting from Habitat Korea programs or projects. We recognize that this type of relationship is improper because it is based on inherently unequal power dynamics, thus undermining the credibility and integrity of Habitat Korea’s charitable mission. 
6.    We will maintain an organizational mandate that if a Habitat Korea representative has a concern or suspicion about, or knows that a colleague has engaged in, SEAH or any other unsafe or harmful behavior, whether in the same organization or not, they must report their knowledge or concern via the Habitat Ethics and Accountability Line, or HEAL, or Human Resources team immediately or within 24 hours. All concerns reported in other available mechanisms will also be reported via HEAL or/and email hotline@habitat.or.kr and hotline number 02-3407-1919 immediately or within 24 hours. All concerns reported in other available mechanisms will also be reported via HEAL.  
7.    We prohibit modern slavery or any trafficking of people — children or adults — for procurement of commercial sex acts; commercial sexual exploitation of children, or CSEC; or forced labor. 
8.    We have zero tolerance for any representative accessing, possessing or circulating pornographic materials or indecent content, images, videos or messages of children or adults using phones, computers, email accounts, electronic distribution lists, Habitat Korea-paid internet connections, or VPN services. Inappropriate content sent to an individual or group via text containing explicit language, messages or jokes will not be tolerated.
9.    We actively support the legal prosecution of individuals in cases of substantiated misconduct if doing so is consistent with the wishes of the affected person or, where the victim is a child, it is in the best interests of the child.  
10.    We engage a trauma-informed, person-centered approach to consult with anyone harmed by misconduct involving a Habitat Korea representative or unsafe programming. The provision or referrals for care will be made in accordance with the person’s wishes. We recognize that children have the right to express their views, and for those views to be considered and reflected in decisions for their care.  
11.    We respond to all reports and investigate allegations, as necessary, to ensure accountability and administer proportionate discipline in cases of substantiated misconduct.
Safeguarding pillars
Habitat Korea has a commitment to ensure that our operations and programs are safe for children, families who partner with Habitat, community members, and Habitat Korea representatives and volunteers. All representatives are prohibited from engaging in any abuse of power. In furtherance of this policy, our safeguarding procedures describe activities to make this policy and our commitments actionable. 
•    Governance and culture: We will foster a safeguarding culture to protect children, at-risk adults, community members, and Habitat Korea representatives from harm that may arise during our operations or project activities. As we continuously learn and evolve our safeguarding approaches and systems, we will adopt a structure to support us in the achievement of our safeguarding objectives. Our leadership will remain steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding and prioritization of best practices, accountability and risk management.  
•    Prevention: We will implement best practices to reduce the likelihood of safeguarding breaches. We will ensure safeguarding is mainstreamed across all departments and functions and is integrated throughout the project life cycle. 
•    Training and awareness: We will deliver and make accessible the necessary safeguarding training so that all Habitat Korea representatives understand their responsibilities for protecting children, adults and community members from foreseeable and preventable safeguarding risks. Habitat Korea representatives will understand their obligation to contribute to healthy office, operational and program environments to protect each other from workplace harms. We will ensure that communities are aware of the Habitat Korea Ethics Covenant in order to socialize their right to be protected from harm that may arise during Habitat Korea operations and activities.
•    Reporting: We commit to educating all Habitat Korea representatives about their responsibilities for reporting any concerns, suspicions or known safeguarding incidents. We will ensure that safe, confidential and accessible reporting channels are available to representatives, and we will encourage families who partner with Habitat, children, at-risk adults, and community members to share their concerns through the preferred reporting method.
•    Response: We will act swiftly and with care whenever a safeguarding allegation is reported. We will prioritize the care and needs of any child or adult affected or harmed by misconduct or unsafe programming conditions and consider the wishes of the affected person through consultative decision-making. Trauma-informed practices will be applied to all investigations and case management activities, and disciplinary actions will be consistent and proportionate to any allegation that is substantiated. We will hold all information confidential and share information only when required by established legal, regulatory or donor mandates.
Governance
The Habitat Korea board of directors will exercise oversight to ensure adoption and implementation of the Safeguarding Policy. The national director is accountable for prioritizing safeguarding objectives and delivering organization wide communications about this policy and the accompanying procedures. The Planning & Management Team is accountable for the implementation and management of this policy. The global senior director of safety and security and safeguarding is responsible for the development of the safeguarding strategy and may delegate implementation,  monitoring and evaluation activities to the global safeguarding director and regional safeguarding advisers.
Roles and responsibilities
•    Habitat for Humanity International global senior director of safety and security and safeguarding: This role is responsible for keeping the senior leadership team apprised of the safeguarding strategy, any needed changes to the policy and procedures, and progress on key performance indicators, or KPIs. This role will partner with Housing Opportunity and Mission Engagement, or HOME; Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning, or MEAL; Legal; and Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance, or GRC, teams to ensure a holistic and mainstreamed approach to safeguarding. 
•    Habitat for Humanity International global safeguarding director: This role is responsible for the day-to-day implementation and monitoring of the policy and procedures and for developing global safeguarding objectives to be reflected in the KPIs. 
•    Habitat for Humanity International regional safeguarding adviser: This role is responsible for supporting the mainstreaming of the policy and procedures within the respective region. The adviser offers technical assistance to ensure implementing teams have the necessary knowledge, tools and materials to integrate safeguarding as needed. Regional and country-specific KPIs will reflect global objectives and will be identified by the regional safeguarding advisers in coordination with the global safeguarding director.
•    Habitat for Humanity International Governance, Risk Management and Compliance, or GRC: This function is responsible for providing guidance on safeguarding risk management and managing reported concerns and subsequent investigations in coordination with the global safeguarding director and respective safeguarding adviser.
•    Habitat Korea safeguarding focal points: This role is responsible for coordinating and championing the mainstreaming of safeguarding, whether at the country, affiliate or program level. Primary responsibilities of focal points include delivering training and ensuring that representatives and community members can access reporting channels.
•    Habitat Korea human resources: This function is responsible for hiring and onboarding candidates, tracking the completion of mandatory training, managing personnel/disciplinary records, and applying personnel action whenever a safeguarding breach has occurred.
•    Habitat Korea managers: These roles are responsible for ensuring that their respective teams mainstream and implement the safeguarding procedures. Managers will ensure that project teams complete safeguarding risk assessments and develop mitigation and monitoring plans that are evaluated throughout the project life cycle. If a manager is told, learns about or witnesses a safeguarding incident, they must ensure that the allegation, including any unsafe programming concern, is reported to HEAL.
•    All Habitat Korea representatives: Our safeguarding values and principles codify the behaviors to which every representative is expected to understand and conform. All representatives are expected to be able to recognize and be alert for the signs of potential safeguarding misconduct and have an obligation to report any concern, suspicion or known safeguarding breach as outlined in this policy and to cooperate with any subsequent investigation. 
Pillars of safeguarding 
Governance and culture
Standard 1: Fostering a culture of safeguarding
•    Policy review: Our Safeguarding Policy and its procedures will be reviewed at a minimum every four years to ensure they evolve with and meet the requirements of the sector. 
•    Annual review and verification, or ARV:  To support a culture of safeguarding accountability, Habitat Korea will complete an ARV to acknowledge compliance with the Safeguarding Policy and its procedures. The ARV will use the standards outlined in this policy to inform the annual safeguarding plan. Any gaps that have been identified will be documented in an annual safeguarding plan with assigned roles, responsibilities and timelines to meet the requirements of the standard.
•    Board designation: Habitat for Humanity International has developed a structure to ensure that safeguarding is prioritized and integrated across our work at all levels. Habitat for Humanity International’s board of directors and Habitat Korea will designate a safeguarding board representative to enhance the visibility and prioritization of child and adult safeguarding by serving as an advocate within the board and Habitat Korea. The representative will receive periodic updates on the status of safeguarding within Habitat Korea. Additionally, the representative will oversee safeguarding improvements, controls and processes and will ensure the board considers safeguarding in its decision-making processes. 
•    Safeguarding strategy and personnel: To drive strategy and ensure implementation of day-to-day safeguarding measures, the global senior director of safety and security and safeguarding, with the support of the global safeguarding director, regional advisers and program- or location-specific focal points, will work with other functions and departments to meet their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. 
•    Leadership responsibilities: Our senior leadership team will ensure that safeguarding is a recurring agenda item for all regularly scheduled meetings and any safeguarding-related discussions or decisions are reflected in meeting minutes. 
•    Communications and fundraising guidelines: We are committed to preventing harm that may ensue as a result of the use of images, videos and stories in internal/external communications and fundraising. The use of photos, videos or storytelling, especially of children and at-risk adults on personal social media accounts, is strongly discouraged. In particular, we understand the ethical responsibility to represent children, adults and community members with dignity, respect and resiliency. We will not tolerate imagery or storytelling that reinforces negative stereotypes. All images, videos and stories will comply with the communications and fundraising guidelines set forth in our safeguarding procedures. 
Standard 2: Establishing accountability
•    Personnel: All Habitat Korea representatives will receive and acknowledge the policy. Records of this acknowledgement will be maintained by Human Resources. We will ensure that all representatives understand and fulfill their responsibilities to safeguarding through our annual performance review process. 
•    Budgets: Habitat Korea will fund operational and resourcing costs for safeguarding personnel and related activities. 
•    Key performance indicators, or KPIs: Metrics to evaluate KPIs are critical to support a culture of safeguarding engagement and knowledge and to support decision-making. KPIs will be assessed over time and evolve alongside our safeguarding culture and practice.
•    Board engagement: The board will play a key role in driving the organizational prioritization of safeguarding. On a regular basis, the board will review the status of safeguarding and make recommendations for improvements, as needed.
Standard 3: Risk management
Safeguarding is integral to our Risk Management Framework, and our risk appetite for safeguarding breaches is very low. The framework is supported by our Enterprise Risk Register, or ERR, and program-level safeguarding risks assessments, or SRAs. Our ERR is a top-down approach that aims to identify general safeguarding risks, assess our organization’s capacity for managing the risks, and implement mitigation measures to guard against safeguarding breaches that may interfere with our operations and projects and/or lead to serious harm of a child, adult, community member or Habitat representative. The SRAs contextualize our safeguarding practice to specific projects so that we can reduce the likelihood of child abuse; sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment; discrimination; and labor exploitation as we engage with communities. Through our risk-based approach, we embed these risk management practices into Habitat Korea’s at all levels and ensure these practices are consistently applied, monitored and evaluated. We recognize the active commitment that robust risk assessments demand, and we will support our representatives to apply a risk-based lens throughout the project life cycle, whereby we design, implement, measure and adjust safeguarding practices according to the associated risks. 
Our belief in prevention through risk management applies not only to Habitat Korea staff members and volunteers, but also to our partners and others working on our behalf. We will ensure that risk management obligations are clearly communicated to contractors, vendors, suppliers and implementing downstream partners, and we will share safeguarding risks and mitigation plans whenever possible and practical.
Prevention
Standard 4: Safe recruitment
Safe recruitment practices will be routinely applied to ensure that every candidate is suitable to work with children and at-risk adults living in fragile contexts, and that they are able to live our values by contributing to a safe and healthy workplace culture. Our commitment to safer recruitment includes: 
•    Contextualized job descriptions.
•    Notice of safeguarding commitments within the job advertisement.
•    Recruitment of multicultural and gender-balanced teams to promote equality and safety and reflect the populations we serve.
•    Robust interviewing practices where safeguarding is a core and consistent part of the process.
•    Thorough reference check questions to assess attitudes, behaviors and commitment to safeguarding.
•    Background record check or self-declaration if permitted by local law. 
Our safeguarding procedures and Safe Recruitment Employment Toolkit provide guidance for Human Resources and hiring managers.
Standard 5: Safer programming
Safer programming practices reflect Habitat Korea’s commitment to identify risks and prevent safeguarding breaches throughout the project life cycle. All project and program proposals include child and adult safeguarding considerations with accompanying resources to support cross-cutting and contextual safeguarding activities. During program design, our teams will ensure that risk assessments, mitigation measures and monitoring plans have been developed in collaboration with regional safeguarding advisers or designated safeguarding focal points, as needed, to ensure a robust and holistic safeguarding assessment at the onset. Additionally, all project designs will include donor-specific requirements to fulfill obligations and meet compliance standards. In addition to the Safer Programming Guidance Note, documents and materials that support our safer programming approach include: 
•    Project proposals
•    Project design
•    Budgeting
•    Project risk assessments
•    People-centered
•    Gender analysis
•    Safeguarding work plans (for projects)
•    Safer programming checklist
Standard 6: Safe partnerships
We will undertake the necessary steps to ensure that downstream partners undergo a due diligence assessment to the nature and extent of their engagement, to help ensure compliance with minimum safeguarding standards and/or identify areas for capacity building. Partner agreements include a safeguarding clause outlining required actions and responsibilities for carrying out projects in accordance with Habitat Korea’s Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy or the partner’s own policy, whichever offers greater protections to children and adults in fragile contexts. Partners are responsible for assuming a risk-based approach to projects, and Habitat Korea will collaborate with partners to identify, mitigate and monitor risks that are likely to arise during the project life cycle.
All partners agree to train their representatives on safeguarding with a focus on prevention, awareness, reporting and response obligations. The partner can request Habitat Korea to support in capacity building, wherever needed. Partners may agree to adopt Habitat Korea’s reporting systems or develop their own reporting channels. Regardless of the elected reporting mechanisms, partners must share all reported concerns affecting Habitat Korea -funded activities within 48 hours or two business days. In addition, partners will disclose the findings of all completed investigations on Habitat Korea-funded activities within five business days of conclusion. The partner report shall include the outcome of the investigation, along with any personnel or organizational action taken to address the misconduct and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Partners must agree to take the necessary action to respond to reported concerns swiftly and with care, exercising recognized standards for delivering supportive care and services, mobilizing an investigation (as needed), taking remedial personnel action, and documenting management responses for all substantiated allegations.  
Standard 7: Volunteer management 
Volunteers are expected to contribute to safe and healthy project environments. All volunteers, whether children, youth or adults, are prohibited from engaging in behaviors that create a risk of or actually result in harm, as outlined in our Volunteer Code of Conduct. All Habitat volunteers are expected to respect the rights of children and adults and to protect them from harm throughout the volunteer commitment. The safeguarding principles and behavioral commitments outlined in this policy apply to volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
Habitat Korea vets volunteers based upon guidance and/or legal requirements in the country where they reside. Upon selection, volunteers will complete contextualized safeguarding training, and an appropriate supervision plan will be developed for every project involving volunteers, especially where children are present.
We believe that child and youth engagement is important. For this reason, we have created child engagement guidance, outlining active supervision standards, ratio requirements and child labor restrictions to ensure the safety and well-being of children on or off work sites and during activities.
Standard 8: Community engagement and child participation
Community engagement is an important part of creating a safeguarding culture that encourages partnership with the community and seeks to include child participation so that projects are child- and adult-focused and community-driven. Habitat Korea will ensure that communities — especially children and adults in fragile contexts — understand and exercise their right to be protected against child abuse, discrimination, SEAH, labor exploitation or other forms of harm. Habitat Korea will work strategically with other functions to partner with communities in meaningful and sustainable ways. To identify existing vulnerabilities and risks, Habitat Korea will engage in community assessments whereby we will meet with key stakeholders, including but not limited to children; women; LGBTQI+; people with disabilities; people in ethnic, racial, religious and cultural minorities; and elders, to understand the local context. 
We recognize the strength and capabilities of the people we serve and the communities where we operate. We are committed to listening to their voices — individual and collective — to apply their suggestions and feedback and share our power across the continuum of decisions that affect the lives of community members. Through our monitoring and evaluation protocols, we will seek feedback on safeguarding from children and adults and schedule regular focus group discussions to raise visibility about their rights.
Training and awareness
Standard 9: Training and management responsibilities
•    Mandatory training: Safeguarding induction training is mandatory as part of onboarding for all Habitat Korea staff members, volunteers and board members within 90 days and prior to contact with children, families who partner with Habitat, and community members. Representatives who have not completed the safeguarding induction will not be able to work in communities until verification of training has been completed. The safeguarding induction training will engage representatives so that they are able to prevent, recognize and detect, report, and respond to any concerns, suspicions or known incidents of a child or adult safeguarding breach. 
•    Contextualized training: Project teams, including disaster and emergency response, may be required to engage in contextualized training in addition to the mandatory induction.
•    Refresher training: Refresher safeguarding training is required every two years for general staff members and key volunteers. Project teams may be required to complete supplemental and/or contextualized safeguarding training more frequently, in accordance with project risks and donor requirements.
•    Managers: As part of their responsibilities for creating and maintaining a safeguarding environment, managers are responsible for ensuring their team members complete all required training. Managers must also communicate any safeguarding-specific responsibilities that team members have during the life cycle of the project.
•    Implementing partners, contractors and suppliers: For information related to training for implementing partners, contractors and suppliers, please review Standard 6.  
•    Visitors: All casual visitors and visiting Habitat Korea staff members are given a verbal safeguarding briefing before visiting a project site. Whenever possible and according to local practice, visitors will sign the Code of Conduct and/or Safeguarding Policy.
Standard 10: Raising awareness
•    Awareness materials: Signs or posters will be affixed in all Habitat offices and at work sites with messaging about the “do no harm” principle and information on how to report a safeguarding allegation. Such messages may include “zero tolerance” for child abuse, SEAH, labor exploitation, and other human rights abuses; the right of community members to be protected from such harms; and Habitat’s prohibition against the exchange of services or resources for sex or exploitative labor (e.g., drawing a distinction between sweat equity and forced labor).
•    Availability of information: Safeguarding information and policies will be available in local languages. Materials will be child-friendly and understandable across a range of cognitive and developmental abilities. Words and concepts used in awareness-raising materials will be adapted to the local context. Communities will have access to information about the safeguarding risks and project benefits associated with Habitat’s work in the community.
Reporting
Standard 11: Reporting procedures and mechanisms
We endeavor to prevent harm through the activities outlined in this policy and its accompanying procedures. We also recognize that in our endeavor to reduce safeguarding incidents from occurring or recurring, our representatives have the responsibility of detecting and reporting concerns, as early as possible, to interrupt harms to children, at-risk adults, community members and our colleagues, whether internal or external to Habitat. All Habitat offices are expected to adopt clear management protocols and procedures on how to manage a safeguarding concern.
•    Responsibility to report: All Habitat representatives, especially managers, have the responsibility to report any conduct or unsafe programming activities that may be a breach of this policy or its procedures.
•    Whistleblower Policy: Habitat Korea’s Whistleblower Policy expressly prohibits retaliation and protects representatives engaged in good faith reporting from retaliation or any threat of retaliation by any other Habitat representative. Any person who engages in retaliation will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination of employment. (Note: Intentional submission of false allegations is a fraudulent activity and will be handled in accordance with Habitat Korea’s policies.) 
•    Failure to report: We recognize our collective duty to create safe, healthy work and project environments. Failure to timely report a safeguarding concern, suspicion or known incident will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination of employment or contract. Failing to report is a serious breach of this policy and leaves the child, at-risk adult, community member or colleague experiencing the alleged harm vulnerable to further harm without appropriate and timely intervention.  
•    Reporting misconduct or unsafe programming: Any Habitat Korea representative who receives a safeguarding complaint or who has knowledge or reasonable suspicion of safeguarding misconduct (whether by an Habitat Korea representative or any other organization’s representatives operating in the local context) or who knows of any unsafe programming risks must engage the following protocol: 
    How to report: Inform their direct supervisor of the concern, suspicion, incident or complaint. If the representative has reason to believe that their direct supervisor may either be involved in the misconduct or has a conflict of interest in connection with it, the reporting party may report to: 
o    A higher-level supervisor in their reporting line; or 
o    The global or area office safeguarding officer, the local safeguarding focal point, a Human Resources Officer, the Governance Risk and Compliance department, the HFHI Internal Audit department; or 
o    The Habitat Ethics and Accountability Line, or HEAL  
o    Email to hotline@habitat.or.kr or report to hotline number 02-3407-1919
All reported concerns and allegations received by a safeguarding adviser, officer or focal point; any manager, supervisor or HR personnel; or any member of the GRC or Internal Audit must be entered into HEAL within 24 hours of notice.
    Confidentiality and anonymity: Report a concern anonymously or in name. A representative may choose to report a concern anonymously — in other words, without identifying who they are. When a report is made anonymously, Habitat Korea has no means for identifying or attributing the source of the information. Whether the reporter wishes to be anonymous or identified, all safeguarding reports are confidential. 
    Timing: All Habitat Korea representatives are required to report any safeguarding concern as soon as it becomes known but, in any case, within 24 hours or one business day. 
    Local reporting mechanisms:  Habitat Korea will ensure that there are project-specific, local reporting mechanisms that are functional and confidential for all children, adults, community members and Habitat for Humanity International representatives to access.
    Report management: All reported concerns of unsafe programming or alleged safeguarding misconduct are managed through HEAL. It is critical that any concern, suspicion or known incident is reported in a timely manner to ensure that that GRC within Habitat for Humanity International and Habitat Korea can mobilize a response to interrupt harm, address any imminent safety issues, and deliver time-sensitive care and services. HEAL is Habitat for Humanity International’s confidential, anonymous reporting hotline and central tracking repository for allegations of serious misconduct made by or against any Habitat stakeholder anywhere in the Habitat for Humanity International network. 
    Reporter’s responsibilities: Because of the sensitivity of safeguarding, anyone reporting a concern (“reporter”) must not start an investigation on their own or engage in investigation-type activities. Reporters are responsible for reporting information shared with them or events that they heard or witnessed directly but should refrain from gathering evidence or questioning the child, adult or staff member affected by the alleged misconduct or unsafe programming activity. Furthermore, reporters must not inform or question potential witnesses or the person who has allegedly engaged in misconduct. 
    Community feedback loop: Whenever safe and practical, Habitat Korea will provide feedback to the community about reported safeguarding incidents to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of each concern. Because of confidentiality, it will not be possible to share specific information without the full informed consent of the person affected, including assent from any affected child. The regional safeguarding adviser or a designee will collaborate with the MEAL team to design a feedback loop as part of the local community feedback and reporting mechanism, or CFRM. 
    External reporting to authorities, donors or the public: Where required or appropriate because of a contractual, legal or other donor obligation, there are circumstances where it is required or appropriate for Habitat Korea’s and/or Habitat for Humanity International to disclose alleged or confirmed safeguarding misconduct to external parties, such as donors, regulators or other governing bodies. Decisions related to “whether, what and to whom” to report externally under such circumstances will be guided by: 
o    Jurisdictional or legal requirements within the country where the alleged incident occurred.
o    Any requirements defined in Habitat Korea’s and/or Habitat for Humanity International contractual commitments to external parties (e.g., reporting requirements based on a grant agreement, etc.).
o    Any requirements for mandatory reporting of serious incidents that are established by charity watchdogs or other governing bodies in the relevant jurisdiction, such as required by the UK Charities Commission and other comparable organizations. 
As appropriate to raise awareness and demonstrate public accountability, Habitat for Humanity International (and/or a designated Habitat entity) may voluntarily share information related to allegations of safeguarding misconduct and/or investigations, as guided by the parallel philosophies of transparency (to donors, regulators) and confidentiality (protection of affected parties). 
Habitat Korea and/or Habitat for Humanity International may choose to report certain issues to donors or governing bodies where no clear contractual or legal requirement exists but where we determine the disclosure to be in the best interest of the public trust. 
Habitat Korea and Habitat for Humanity International will provide the Habitat for Humanity International board of directors and Habitat Korea’s board of directors with routine updates on safeguarding allegations and investigations to facilitate proper oversight.

Response
Standard 12: Responding to reported concerns
Habitat for Humanity International handles all safeguarding investigations with due diligence and professional care and has established an independent investigations unit within the Governance, Risk Management and Compliance, or GRC, department. The GRC unit is composed of experienced investigators specifically trained in safeguarding investigations, including sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. In addition, GRC’s investigators may partner with third-party legal and investigative experts to assist in conducting safeguarding investigations. Further details of the expected processes when conducting appropriate safeguarding investigations can be found in the safeguarding procedures and the Investigations Handbook.  
•    Investigation procedures and legal mapping: Our investigation procedures include best practices and established protocols to ensure due process and consistent management of safeguarding allegations. Upon receipt of an allegation, the report will be screened and triaged to ensure all necessary information has been reported so that Habitat for Humanity International can plan the best approach and mobilize a response, which may include coordination with Habitat Korea. As part of our response, we will engage in a legal mapping exercise to comply with local or national laws while identifying any protective risks that may threaten further harm (e.g., if reporting to local authorities increases harm to the affected child or adult). 
•    Trauma-informed practice: We will engage trauma-informed practices by consulting with any child or adult harmed by alleged misconduct to ensure that their rights and wishes are prioritized and supported.
•    After- and survivor-care referrals: Any child or adult affected by misconduct (“victim,” “survivor” or “affected child/adult/person”) has the right to receive imminent and extended care to assist in their recovery from harm. Our Safeguarding Survivor Support Services Framework aims to guide all organizations operating under the Habitat for Humanity International network (including Habitat Korea) to comply with the expectations to provide appropriate assistance to any child or adult affected by a safeguarding breach. Habitat Korea, with the support of Habitat for Humanity International, will consult with the affected child or adult to conduct a Safety and Risk Assessment, which will inform the short-, mid- and long-term care needs and risks associated with the delivery of care and/or investigation activities. Habitat Korea will maintain an aftercare directory that will record community-based services where referrals can be made.
•    Communications: We are committed to communicating with the child or adult affected by the alleged misconduct throughout and upon conclusion of the investigation.
•    Investigations: Habitat Korea and/or Habitat for Humanity International will investigate all credible safeguarding concerns, collect evidence, conduct interviews with witnesses, and reach a conclusion based upon the weight of the evidence and applying the workplace standard of proof (e.g., more likely than not to have occurred). 
•    Management response: Final investigation reports will help to inform the necessary management response, action plans and/or application of lessons learned.
Retaliation
We will not tolerate retaliation against any representative who has engaged in a legally protected activity. Protected activities include good faith reporting of a safeguarding allegation, participation in a safeguarding investigation, and reasonably opposing conduct made unlawful by the local laws, legislation or regulations where the misconduct is alleged to have occurred. 
Anyone who has engaged in retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, and in accordance with our disciplinary protocols.
Retaliation can take many forms. Adverse actions that may indicate retaliation has occurred include but are not limited to: 
•    Demotion, reassignment, or transfer.
•    Termination.
•    Salary or benefit reduction.
•    Exclusion or being passed over for opportunities.
•    Denial of time off, a promotion or a raise.
•    An unwarranted negative performance review.
•    Harassment.
•    Threats.
•    Any other form of physical, psychological, social, spiritual or financial harm.
Any representative who experiences or believes they have experienced retaliation should report it immediately.
Confidentiality
We observe the principle of confidentiality throughout our safeguarding case management processes. Wherever possible, private information will be shared with people who “need to know” and only after analyzing the requirements and use of the information. People who need to know may include specific people in Habitat Korea and Habitat for Humanity International leadership, GRC/safeguarding investigators, or external parties such as attorneys, law enforcement, courts, regulatory authorities and/or donors.
We believe in managing information with confidentiality to: 
•    Prevent harm that can be caused when information is not shared in an ethical or responsible way.
•    Safeguard against the misuse of information.
•    Protect the reputation of people and Habitat Korea.
•    Encourage reporting by building trust. 
For these reasons, we will protect the identities of all witnesses (e.g., complainants, reporters, respondents and general witnesses) wherever safety issues require and whenever possible in conformity with local laws. Any information that Habitat Korea or Habitat for Humanity International is required to share will be reviewed with the legal and GRC teams before it is released to any external party or authorities. In the case that confidential information must be disclosed, any witness will be informed about how their information is being shared.
Informed consent and assent
We believe that fully informed consent and child assent are critical to promote the rights of children and adults and to dismantle oppressive and exploitative practices to which marginalized and disenfranchised communities have historically been subjected. As we engage children and adults, we are committed to ensuring that they understand the risks and benefits of their participation and the uses of their sensitive data or personally identifiable information, or PII. 
We will never coerce, require, rush or manipulate any child or adult to consent or assent to any activity. Whenever the activity for which we are seeking consent and assent (e.g., photos for communications or fundraising) is not required to receive the service or benefit being offered, Habitat Korea will not withhold or refuse services, programs or access to resources because of the child’s or adult’s refusal.
Children and adults may rescind informed consent or assent at any time. In any case where consent or assent of a photo, video or story has been revoked, Habitat Korea will make reasonable efforts to ensure that all such materials are removed from circulation. The child and/or adult will be informed of any limitations involved in retracting materials (e.g., if images, films or stories are archived but searchable news articles, commercials or marketing materials have been released to the public) at the time that informed consent and assent is given. 
Revision/review history
Date    Explanation
[Date policy adopted]    [Initial policy approved.]
[Date policy reviewed]    [No updates made.]
[Date policy revised]    [Summary of revisions]
Appendix A: Definitions
Abuse of power: When a person uses their position of power, trust or influence to their own advantage, to place another person at a disadvantage, or to harm another person inadvertently or deliberately. 
Adult: Any person over the age of 18 (in most countries).
Affected person: Sometimes referred to as the “complainant,” “survivor” or “victim.” The affected person is someone who has experienced the alleged misconduct or harm.
Assent (child): Child assent is the process by which a child is consulted about their participation and/or use of sensitive data or PII. Whenever consent is required for a child to participate in a project or for Habitat for Humanity to use their sensitive data or PII, child assent should be obtained contemporaneously to informed consent by their parent, legal guardian or responsible caretaker.
At-risk adult: A person over the age of 18 with a physical, mental or life status that causes particular vulnerability (such as a physical or mental disability), or any adult living in a fragile context that heightens the risk of an abuse of power because of limited access to basic resources, including food, housing, safety or water.
Best interests of the child: Deciding what type of services, actions and orders will best serve a child and who is best suited to take care of a child.
Bullying: A form of aggressive behavior that occurs in an intentional and repeated manner, causing another person to feel hurt. Bullying can take multiple forms, including spreading rumors, threatening, physical or verbal assault, engaging in insidious practices such as excluding a person from a group, or any other gestures or actions that occur in a less visible manner.
Casual visitor: Any short-term or one-time visitor. The casual visitor may be a nonrepresentative (e.g., donor, Habitat celebrity ambassador, guest) invited to visit a project site or participate in a Habitat-sponsored or Habitat-funded activity.
Child: Any person under the age of 18, regardless of the local legal age of majority or consent.
Child abuse: Any form of physical, emotional or sexual abuse; neglect; or exploitation resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, well-being, survival, development or dignity by an individual or an institution. It includes but is not limited to any act or failure to act that results in death or serious physical or emotional harm to a child, or an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm to a child. 
Child labor: Exploitive work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity and is harmful to their physical, social, psychological and/or mental development. It refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children and that may also interfere with their schooling. 
Child rights: International standards memorialized within the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child that recognizes the unique vulnerabilities and protections for people under the age of 18. It also upholds the principles of treating all children, without distinction, with dignity and integrity. 
Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC): The sexual abuse or exploitation of a child in return for cash or any other goods or services. Examples of CSEC include child prostitution, child pornography or indecent images, and child sex tourism. 
Complainant: Sometimes referred to as the “affected child or adult,” “survivor” or “victim.” The complainant is the person who has experienced the alleged misconduct or harm.
Confidentiality: Confidentiality refers to keeping a person’s or Habitat’s information private or protected.
Disaster response: Habitat’s progressing after a disaster or crisis, focusing on both early and long-term recovery.
Discrimination: Unjust or unfair treatment of people based on certain prejudices or characteristics, including an individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnic background, national origin, age, religion, disability, military or veteran status, or other legally protected characteristic.
Emotional abuse: Any isolated or ongoing harm to a child’s or adult’s emotional, intellectual, mental or psychological well-being or development. 
Exploitation: The actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, power differential or trust for the benefit of the individual leveraging their position, power, privilege or wealth, sometimes through enticement, manipulation, coercion or trickery, to engage a child or adult in labor, domestic servitude, forced criminality or other illegal acts to profit monetarily, socially or politically.
Fragile or emergency contexts: Geographic areas (e.g., communities, regions, countries) where there has been an emergency or destabilization due to a disturbance in social order or rule of law, or other disrupting event or where there is limited access to basic needs like clean water, food, shelter and safety. 
Good faith reporting: The genuine belief that a risk or harm has arisen at the time it was reported.
Grooming: The process in which an adult or older child or youth builds a relationship with a child and/or the child’s caretaker to gain the child’s and caretaker’s trust for the purposes of sexually abusing or exploiting the child. Grooming can happen online or in person and is a gradual process that can sometimes be difficult to detect. Grooming may include but is not limited to:
1.    Showing preferential treatment or favor to a child.
2.    Giving the child gifts, rewards or special privileges.
3.    Removing the child from interactions with their peers or safe adults in their life.
4.    Using knowledge of a child’s vulnerability to build a close relationship.
5.    Befriending the parents or caretakers who are responsible for protecting the child.
6.    Allowing the child access to alcohol or drugs or encouraging illegal activity.
7.    Building intimacy through “special” experiences shared only by the child and groomer.
Harm: Any form of abuse, discrimination, exploitation and harassment, or any injury resulting from unsafe programming.
Harassment: Any comment or behavior that is offensive, demeaning, humiliating, derogatory or otherwise inappropriate or that fails to respect the dignity of an individual. It can be committed by or against a beneficiary, partner, staff member, official or any other person involved in any way in a Habitat program or operation. 
Human rights: International standards, as articulated by the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that recognize and protect the dignity and integrity of every individual without distinction. 
Informed consent: The process by which a competent adult is given information about the risks, benefits and use of their information or that of their child so that they can make an informed decision about their participation and/or use of sensitive data or PII.
Modern slavery (aka human trafficking or combating trafficking in persons, or TiP): Holding a person in slavery or servitude or requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labor are to be construed in accordance with Article 4 of the Human Rights Convention, as further defined by the UK Modern Slavery Act of 2015, and the U.S. government clause for Combating Trafficking in Persons. 
Neglect: The failure to meet a child’s or adult’s basic physical and/or psychological needs either deliberately or through negligence. This may include but is not limited to failure to prevent harm, inadequate supervision of children, failure to access urgent medical care for a child or adult, exposure to unsafe project environments (e.g., unsafe programming or access to harmful objects or building materials), and/or failure to properly child-proof project environments, as needed.
Partner: Any organization or individual receiving Habitat funding or supporting or implementing a project or program on behalf of Habitat. 
Personally identifiable information (PII): Any information that can be used on its own or with other information (e.g., triangulation) to identify, contact or locate a single person or group of people (e.g., a Habitat homeowner).
Physical abuse or assault: The non-accidental use of physical force that inadvertently or deliberately causes a risk of or actual injury to a child or adult. 
Pornography: Any indecent images, videos or content involving the partial or full nudity of any child or adult.
Prostitution: The exchange of money, goods, resources or favors for any sexual act involving direct or indirect contact.
Protection (child or adult): In the humanitarian and development sector, protection is distinct from safeguarding. Protection concerns arise when a person unaffiliated with Habitat engages in harmful, abusive, discriminatory, exploitative or harassing behaviors toward a child or adult. For example, a child protection issue can involve the abuse or neglect of a child by their parent, a relative or another community member. Another example may be an adult from the community who is experiencing domestic violence (e.g., intimate partner, dating or familial violence). This would be considered an adult protection concern. In other words, protection issues involve abuses of power or acts of violence, maltreatment or harm toward children and adults by people within their family or community. Protection may necessitate external reporting. Safeguarding advisers should be consulted to determine if external reporting (e.g., law enforcement, child protection, elder services, etc.) is safe and practical within a specific context. It is possible for a protection concern to also be a safeguarding concern (and vice versa), so please speak with a safeguarding adviser, officer or focal point to ensure proper reporting of any concern, suspicion or known incident.
PSEAH: The protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
Reporter: Any person who reports a concern, suspicion or known incident, whether anonymously or in name.
Representatives: An individual acting on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, including but not limited to board members, staff members, contractors, interns, AmeriCorps members (including VISTA members), volunteers, implementing partners and suppliers (suppliers also include local volunteers and artisans).
Respondent: The person who is responding to an allegation of misconduct, or the person alleged to have engaged in misconduct.
Retaliation: Any negative or adverse action taken against any Habitat representative engaged in a protected activity (e.g., reporting an abuse of power or participating in an investigation). 
Safeguarding: The organizational policies, procedures and practices identifying the behavioral expectations and prohibitions to ensure that interactions between Habitat representatives and children, adults, community members, partners and colleagues are safe and healthy, offering people opportunities to thrive while respecting their unique identities and lived experiences. Safeguarding policies, procedures and practices endeavor to ensure that abuses of power by Habitat representatives are first prevented. When an abuse of power occurs, safeguarding systems ensure that concerns, suspicions and known incidents are reported in a timely manner to allow for an organizational response that interrupts harm, assesses safety, delivers necessary care and services, and addresses misconduct through established protocols.
Sexual abuse: Any actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature (including inappropriate touching), whether by force or under unequal power dynamics or otherwise coercive conditions. 
Sexual exploitation: Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power or trust for sexual purposes, including but not limited to profiting monetarily, socially,or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. 
Sexual harassment: Any unwelcome sexual advance, comment, expressed or implied sexual demand, touch, joke, gesture, or any other communication or conduct of a sexual nature (whether verbal, written or visual) that occurs between a Habitat staff member or representative and any person with whom they interact in their Habitat role. For further details, see the Policy on Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination. 
Survivor: Sometimes referred to as the “affected person,” “victim” or “complainant.” The survivor is the person who has experienced the alleged misconduct or harm.
Victim: Sometimes referred to as the “affected person,” “survivor” or “complainant.” The victim is the person who has experienced the alleged misconduct or harm.
Youth: Any person between the ages of 15 and 24, as defined by the United Nations for statistical analyses. It is important to note that the term includes people who are defined in this policy as both children and adults. For this reason, any engagement with anyone under the age of 18 must abide by the Safeguarding Policy provisions.
Zero tolerance: The organizational commitment to hold accountable any Habitat representative who engages in harmful, unhealthy or unsafe behaviors with any child, adult, community member, partner and/or colleague. 
Zero tolerance for inaction: The organizational commitment to take all credible reportable concerns seriously and ensure proper care and support are provided to any person who has been harmed, abused, discriminated against, exploited and/or harassed.