ACEF
Safeguarding Guidelines for Children and Youth
4/22/2022
1. Purpose: ACEF’s vision and mission are:
VisionTo create a society in which people can share in the bonds of mutual support and solidarity knowingthat the dignity of each person will be respected.
MissionTo fulfil a calling to live in solidarity with others, and to work in partnership with the people inother parts of Asia.
To provide educational opportunities for younger generations to experience personal growth so thatthey will be equipped to build a world where people of different cultures and ethnicities can respect
one another. In this regard, ACEF is committed to connecting the peoples of Japan and Bangladesh
by creating spaces where each can learn from each other and experience mutual growth.
ACEF has been involved in supporting the education of children in Bangladesh since 1990. ACEF
also encourages Japanese children and youth (from junior and senior school to university students) byfacilitating study tours abroad as well as various activities in Japan.
These guidelines were established to provide for an environment where all Japanese and Bangladeshi
children and youth involved in ACEF activities can feel safe by knowing that their dignity is cherishedand that they will not be exposed to harm of violence such as abuse, exploitation, physical punishment,and sexual violence. These guidelines also establish the roles and responsibilities of the organization as
well as point out the standards to which individuals involved with ACEF should comply.
“The Code of Conduct for Children and Youth” is an accompanying document that explicitly
describes what individuals involved with ACEF must comply with. The guidelines together with theCode of Conduct will be reviewed periodically and revised as needed.
2. Scope of Application
The people mentioned below are subject to these guidelines.
・ACEF Staff ( executive director, full-time/part-time staff)
・ACEF board members including directors, auditors, and councilors.
・Organizations as well as people involved with ACEF such as interns, volunteers, and students fromthe Service-Leaning courses offered at various universities.
・ACEF study tour participants (including children and youth)・Partner organizations that collaborate with ACEF such as BDP（Basic Development Partners）
3. Principles
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By implementing the guidelines, the following principles will be upheld.
1） Responsibility of the Organization
ACEF will pursue the following courses of action to take responsibility as an organization.
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Enlightenment

・ All individuals involved with ACEF will receive an explanation of these guidelines so that
individuals understand their duties and responsibilities as stipulated in the guidelines.
・ The ACEF office and board of directors will update their system of operation with applicable
documentation to establish the procedures and methods needed for the implementation of theguidelines.
・ The ACEF office and board of directors will incorporate the safeguarding guidelines in thedevelopment of programs and budgets, the recruitment of staff, and the issuance of annual reports.
2Consultation / Reporting・ A system will be developed in which all those concerned can consult and report whenever thedignity of children and youth is violated through ACEF activities.
・ Members of the Human Rights Committee will receive training to create a system where the voicesof children and youth will be heard. 1
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Measures to be Taken・ The ACEF office and Human Rights Committee will investigate as soon as they receive
complaints/reports or consultation from children and youth, and will take necessary measures in allearnestness.
4Monitoring and Accountability

・ The ACEF office will report the progress of the implementation of these guidelines to the Board ofDirectors. The Board will review the progress at the scheduled board meetings to determine whether
these guidelines are appropriately operated or not. The accountability of ACEF as an organization
will be accomplished by this intentional procedure.
2） The Responsibility of Individuals
All those involved with ACEF (as mentioned in “Scope of Application” above) must understand theguidelines as well as the Code of Conduct for Children and Youth so that they respect the dignity ofchildren and youth and do not violate their rights. In the case that someone sees or hears about issues
that go against the guidelines and the Code of Conduct, it is mandatory that all people involved withACEF will report to the ACEF office and Human Rights Committee so that they can fulfil their
responsibilities.
3） Protection of Personal Information and Confidentiality
In the case where information from reports, consultations, and or investigations based on theseguidelines are dealt with, it is mandatory for all people including ACEF office staff and committee
1 ACEF has a committee that provides consultation on the issues related to human rights. Privacy of theperson making the complaint / report is protected.

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members who are involved with the implementation of countermeasures to observe confidentiality. All
collected information must be recorded and archived in a way that protects privacy.
４）Value the Participation and Opinion of Children and Youth
For people who are involved in the operation of these guidelines including ACEF staff and board
members, it is essential to give children and youth all the information they need so that they can fully
understand the contents of the guidelines. It is also mandatory for ACEF staff and board members toprovide an environment where children and youth can participate in the process of the operation andrevision of these guidelines, and where they feel they are respected such that they can express theiropinions freely.
５）Collaboration with Partner Institution
In the case when ACEF collaborates with other institutions and implements projects and events inwhich children and youth are involved, both institutions will cooperate with each other to execute theseguidelines, with a full understanding of the responsibility to ensure the protection of the rights ofchildren and youth. As for activities conducted in Bangladesh, ACEF asks partner organizations suchas BDP to fully comply with the guidelines and join in creating an environment where children andyouth involved in local projects feel safe and secure without the fear of being exposed to any kind ofviolence.
4. Definitions of Words
・ Safeguarding Guidelines for Children and Youth
It is necessary for officers, employees, and all ACEF-related parties or organizations, as well as affiliatedbusiness organizations, not to harm children and youth in any way, in other words, to avoid exposing
them to the risk of abuse, exploitation, or danger. The guidelines imply that, and information brought
forward will be treated as a matter of responsibility for the organization.2・Children
Based on the definition of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), thisapplies to everyone who is under the age of 18.
・YouthBased on the definition of the United Nations, this applies to everyone who is between the age of 15 to
24 years of age.
・Abuse towards Children and Youth
Various forms of physical, sexual, or psychological violence against children or youth include violencesuch as the following:

2 Keeping Children Safe（2014） Child safeguarding standards and how to implement them3Abuse： Under Japanese law, abuse applies to situations of abuse by guardians toward their children
by physically, psychologically, and sexually abusing them. This also includes neglect. The ACEF
Safeguarding Guidelines for Children and Youth, however, also point to inappropriate acts by adults(not limited to guardians) toward children in general including harassment and or abusive language.
Exploitation： The use of a situation of unequal power to exchange of money, gifts and food, etc, inorder to influence another person to engage in works or activities that violate their mental health, as wellas their social and emotional development.
Sexual Violence： This includes all sexual violence such as asking for acts or postures that are sexuallysuggestive, engaging in sexual-related activities, and or having sexual relations.
Corporal Punishment： The use of physical punishment by authority figures such as parents, teachers,and adults toward children and youth that causes physical and psychological agony.

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