This document discusses policies and guidelines for protecting youth involved in Rotary programs from harassment and abuse. It outlines that Rotary International is committed to safeguarding youth and has a zero tolerance policy for harassment or abuse. It provides warning signs for such behavior and discusses the role of District Protection Officers in training volunteers, developing response procedures, and handling any reported incidents confidentially. The document emphasizes preparing both outbound and inbound youth to understand risks and know who to report any issues to immediately.

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Preconvention 2017
Student WellbeingStudent Wellbeing
Ekkehard Musick, D1800, Northern Germany

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Working with Youth
Rotary International strives to create and maintain a
safe environment for all youth who participate in
Rotary activities. To the best of their ability,
Rotarians, Rotarians´ spouses and partners and
other volunteers must safeguard the children and
young people they come into contact with and
protect them from physical, sexual, and emotional
abuse or harassment.

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Definition Youth and Consequence
 Every participant of our exchange program (LTEP &
STEP), will be treated like a minor, irrespective of
whether she/he according to national law is of age
and will be regarded as “youth“
 RI Student Protection Policy applies for all
participants of RI Youth Exchange Programs

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Basics
 No organization working with youth is free of cases
of harassment and abuse
 Rotary International is absolutely serious about the
protection of the youth entrusted to us
 RI is committed to a Zero Tolerance Policy.
 Harassment and abuse can happen anywhere.
 The hosting side must be aware that according to
sending family traditions, upbringing, education
and cultural background, harassment may be
defined differently.

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Warning Signals
 Warning signals that harassment or abuse might have
happened or is still happening (but attention: someone who
is suffering from severe forms of cuture shock after arrival
may send the same signals!)
Extreme activity or total withdrawal
Extreme changes of mood, a lot of crying
Unexplained injuries (doubtful explanations)
Anxieties concerning certain places, persons or
activities
Eating disorder
Agressiveness
Attempted suicide, hints at possible suicide

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Let us be prepared
 Every district should have a District Protection
Officer (DPO)
The DPO is responsible for a training program for
the prevention of harassment and abuse for all
grown ups involved in the program
This training is regularly evaluated and updated
The DPO develops a step by step catalogue of
measures to be taken if a case of harassment or
abuse is reported or suspected

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Addressees of Training Program
District Youth Exchange Team
Rotary Club: YEO and Counselors
Host Families
Rotex Team
Inbounds
Outbounds

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District Guidelines for the Prevention of Harassment and Abuse
 regular training for all Host Families, YEOs,
Counselors and other volunteers
 regular checks that our young people are always
safe and that their privacy is respected
 the district has trained and installed an DPO
 DPO controls regular training (see above)
 all reports of alleged harassment or abuse go to
the DPO; it is the DPO´s responsibility to report to
the Governor and RI, and whenever advised, the
law enforcement agencies.
 DPO is responsible for a regular (f.e. every next
year?) evaluation of the guidelines

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Proactive Planning to prevent Abuse and Harassment
We must make our Outbounds strong so that they
understand possible dangers early enough and
look for immediate help if needed.
Understanding that our Inbounds come from
different cultural backgrounds, we carefully and
tactfully lead them to understand possible dangers
in our culture in order to make them strong enough
to stand up against any attempted abuse or
harassment. Whatever might happen, we ask for
immediate report. We are prepared to provide direct
support and help. We explain our zero tolerance policy.

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What must I do when an incident is reported to me?
 Listen carefully and stay calm
 Promise discretion but make clear you will report
to the DPO
Try to assemble facts (possible questions: who?
When? Where ? What? (NEVER ask Why? No
interrogation!)
 Confirm alledged victim that it is right to report
 ASAP after the report take notes with the important facts
 Check safety of alledged victim – no contact
allowed with alledged offender(electronic lines!)
 Direct contact with DPO; discuss help for alledged victim
(and if peer-to-peer: perhaps also for alledeged offender)