Inter-Faith Leaders in Kenya Adopt Collective Child Safeguarding Policy

The policy seeks to ensure the “best interest of the child in all the organization’s endeavors” and “zero tolerance to discrimination.”

The policy also seeks the promotion of “respect for child opinion in matters affecting him/her,” and “involvement of the child whenever necessary.”    

The document further reads “no child or group of children must be treated any less favorably than others.”

The policy document the religious leaders adopted seeks “to ensure that IRCK has procedures to prevent and deal with child abuse and exploitation by the secretariat and all her management and oversight organs at the national and county level.”    

Child safeguarding, according to IRCK policy, is “protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of children’s health and development. It also ensures that with the provision of safe and effective care, children have the best outcomes.”       

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The child safeguarding policy document signed by the chairman and executive director of IRCK outlines that “The policy is binding to all IRCK officials, namely members of all the standing commissions, leaders of KWFN (Kenya Women of Faith Network) and KIYN (Kenya Interfaith Youth Network) as well as elected leaders of all County Interfaith Networks.”

IRCK is a “coalition of all major faith communities in Kenya that works together to deepen inter-faith dialogue and collaboration among members for a common endeavour to mobilize the unique moral and social resources of religious people and address shared concerns.”