Jamia tul Mastwaar

Policy Owner: Jamia tul Mastwaar
Policy Type: Child Protection & Safeguarding
Effective Date: 10 September, 2025
Review Date: 20 September, 2026
Approved By: Managing Director
Version: 1.0

1. Introduction

Jamia tul Mastwaar is committed to creating a safe, respectful, caring and child-friendly environment in which every child can learn, develop and participate without fear of abuse, violence, exploitation, neglect or discrimination.

The safety and well-being of children is a shared responsibility. All teachers, staff members, volunteers, administrators, visitors, contractors and other representatives of Jamia tul Mastwaar are expected to protect children and to act in accordance with this policy.

Jamia tul Mastwaar recognizes that children may be vulnerable to different forms of harm in educational, religious, residential, community and online environments. The institution therefore adopts a preventive and child-centred approach to safeguarding.

This policy is intended to establish clear standards for preventing harm, identifying concerns, reporting suspected abuse, responding appropriately to allegations and supporting affected children.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

Protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, violence and harmful practices.
Establish clear standards of behaviour for all adults working with or around children.
Ensure that concerns about a child's safety are taken seriously and acted upon promptly.
Provide safe and confidential mechanisms for reporting concerns.
Promote positive, respectful and non-violent discipline.
Ensure that children are treated with dignity and their views are respected.
Establish appropriate procedures for responding to allegations or disclosures.
Reduce safeguarding risks within classrooms, religious learning spaces, residential areas, activities, transportation and digital environments.
Ensure that Jamia tul Mastwaar complies with applicable child-protection laws and regulations in Pakistan.

3. Scope

This policy applies to:

All students and children associated with Jamia tul Mastwaar.
Teachers and religious instructors.
Administrative and support staff.
Management and governing bodies.
Volunteers and interns.
Drivers, security personnel, cleaners and other service providers.
Contractors and consultants.
Visitors and guests.
Any person representing or working on behalf of Jamia tul Mastwaar.

The policy applies to conduct occurring:

On Jamia premises.
During classes, religious education and educational activities.
During trips, events, competitions and community activities.
During transportation arranged by Jamia tul Mastwaar.
In residential or boarding facilities, where applicable.
During online classes or digital communication.
During communication through social media, messaging applications or other digital platforms.

4. Definition of a Child

For the purpose of this policy, a child means a person below the applicable legal age of adulthood, and Jamia tul Mastwaar will apply the relevant child-protection laws in force in the jurisdiction where it operates.

Pakistan's legal and institutional child-protection framework recognizes the importance of protecting children from violence, abuse and exploitation. The National Commission on the Rights of Child has a statutory mandate to promote and protect children's rights in Pakistan. (NCRC)

5. Our Child Protection Principles

Jamia tul Mastwaar will follow these fundamental principles:

5.1 Best Interests of the Child

The safety, dignity, welfare and best interests of the child will be considered in decisions affecting children.

5.2 Zero Tolerance for Abuse

Abuse, exploitation, harassment, sexual misconduct, inappropriate behaviour and deliberate neglect of children will not be tolerated.

5.3 Respect and Dignity

Every child must be treated with respect regardless of gender, disability, social background, financial circumstances, family situation, ethnicity or other personal circumstances.

5.4 Right to Be Heard

Children should be encouraged to express concerns about their safety and well-being. Their views should be listened to and taken seriously according to their age and maturity.

5.5 Confidentiality

Information relating to safeguarding concerns will be handled sensitively and shared only with people who need the information to protect the child or fulfil legal or safeguarding responsibilities.

5.6 Non-Discrimination

No child will be denied protection or treated unfairly because of personal or family circumstances.

5.7 Accountability

Any person working with children is responsible for following this policy and reporting concerns appropriately.

6. Forms of Child Abuse and Harm

Jamia tul Mastwaar recognizes the following forms of abuse and harm.

6.1 Physical Abuse

Physical abuse includes deliberately causing physical injury or pain to a child, including:

Hitting, beating or kicking.
Slapping or striking.
Burning or causing bodily injury.
Using objects to cause pain or injury.
Shaking or physically restraining a child unnecessarily.
Any other deliberate physical punishment or harmful treatment.

Physical punishment must not be used as a method of discipline.

6.2 Emotional or Psychological Abuse

This may include:

Humiliation or degradation.
Threatening or intimidating a child.
Persistent insulting or mocking.
Deliberately isolating a child.
Name-calling or abusive language.
Threatening abandonment.
Repeatedly making a child feel worthless or unsafe.

6.3 Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Sexual abuse includes any sexual activity, behaviour, communication or exploitation involving a child.

Examples may include:

Sexual touching or inappropriate physical contact.
Sexual assault.
Exposing a child to sexual content.
Requesting or sharing sexual images of a child.
Sexual conversations with a child.
Grooming or manipulation for sexual purposes.
Using a position of trust or authority for sexual purposes.

Any sexual conduct involving a child is prohibited and must be reported immediately.

6.4 Neglect

Neglect may include failure to provide reasonable care and protection, such as:

Ignoring serious safety concerns.
Failing to respond to a child's medical needs.
Leaving children in unsafe circumstances.
Failure to take reasonable measures to protect a child from known risks.

6.5 Exploitation

Children must not be exploited for:

Labour or personal benefit.
Financial gain.
Fundraising activities in inappropriate or unsafe circumstances.
Sexual purposes.
Political, commercial or promotional purposes without appropriate safeguards and consent.

6.6 Bullying and Harassment

Bullying includes repeated physical, verbal, social or online behaviour intended to intimidate, humiliate, threaten or harm another child.

Cyberbullying and online harassment are also prohibited.

7. Prohibited Practices

The following practices are prohibited within Jamia tul Mastwaar:

Corporal punishment or physical punishment.
Humiliating or degrading children.
Threatening children with physical harm.
Sexual or romantic relationships between adults working for Jamia and children.
Sexualized communication with children.
Private meetings with children in circumstances that create unnecessary safeguarding risks.
Unnecessary physical contact.
Taking children to private residences or isolated locations without authorization.
Sharing inappropriate photographs or videos of children.
Contacting children through personal social-media accounts for inappropriate purposes.
Asking children to keep inappropriate secrets.
Favouritism or special treatment that creates safeguarding risks.
Any behaviour that could reasonably place a child at risk of abuse or exploitation.

8. Positive Discipline

Jamia tul Mastwaar believes that discipline should teach, guide and correct rather than frighten, humiliate or physically harm a child.

Teachers and instructors should use positive discipline methods such as:

Clear classroom rules.
Calm verbal correction.
Explanation of consequences.
Encouragement of appropriate behaviour.
Restorative discussions.
Age-appropriate responsibilities.
Communication with parents or guardians when necessary.

Physical punishment must not be used as a disciplinary method.

The National Commission on the Rights of Child has specifically highlighted the importance of positive discipline and training for educators and madrassa instructors as part of strengthening child protection. (NCRC)

9. Safer Recruitment

Jamia tul Mastwaar will take reasonable steps to ensure that people appointed to work with children are suitable for their roles.

Depending on the position, recruitment may include:

Verification of identity and qualifications.
Checking employment or professional references.
Interview and suitability assessment.
Review of previous experience working with children.
Appropriate background or police verification where legally available and appropriate.
Signing of the Child Protection Code of Conduct.
Safeguarding orientation before or at the beginning of employment.

Any safeguarding concerns identified during recruitment must be considered carefully before an appointment is made.

10. Staff and Volunteer Responsibilities

Every staff member, teacher, volunteer and representative of Jamia tul Mastwaar has a responsibility to:

Follow this policy.
Treat children respectfully.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Report safeguarding concerns promptly.
Never ignore a disclosure or suspected abuse.
Avoid behaviour that creates unnecessary risk.
Cooperate with safeguarding investigations.
Maintain appropriate confidentiality.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action and, where appropriate, referral to relevant authorities.

11. Safeguarding Focal Person

Jamia tul Mastwaar should appoint a Child Protection/Safeguarding Focal Person.

The Safeguarding Focal Person should:

Receive and document safeguarding concerns.
Ensure that concerns are assessed promptly.
Maintain confidential safeguarding records.
Coordinate appropriate internal responses.
Refer serious cases to relevant authorities or specialized services where required.
Support staff and children involved in safeguarding processes.
Coordinate safeguarding training.
Monitor implementation of this policy.
Report significant safeguarding issues to Jamia management.

Designated Safeguarding Focal Person:
Name: ______________________________
Designation: _________________________
Phone: ______________________________
Email: _______________________________

12. Reporting a Safeguarding Concern

Anyone who believes that a child may be at risk should report the concern.

A concern may be based on:

Something the child has disclosed.
Something a staff member has observed.
A physical or behavioural indication.
Information received from a parent, guardian or another person.
Suspicion that an adult or another child may be harming a child.
Online or digital safeguarding concerns.

A person does not need to prove that abuse has occurred before reporting a genuine concern.

13. Responding to a Child's Disclosure

When a child tells an adult about abuse or harm, the adult should:

Stay calm.
Listen carefully.
Take the child seriously.
Allow the child to speak in their own words.
Reassure the child that they did the right thing by speaking up.
Explain that the information may need to be shared with people who can help protect them.
Record the information as soon as possible using the child's own words where practicable.
Report the concern to the Safeguarding Focal Person without unnecessary delay.

The adult should not:

Promise absolute secrecy.
Blame or criticize the child.
Ask leading or unnecessary questions.
Investigate the allegation personally.
Confront the alleged perpetrator.
Force the child to repeat the disclosure unnecessarily.

14. Immediate Danger

If a child is in immediate danger, the priority is to secure the child's immediate safety.

Where necessary, Jamia tul Mastwaar will contact appropriate emergency, law-enforcement, child-protection, medical or other competent authorities.

Internal procedures must never be used to delay urgent action required to protect a child.

Pakistan's National Commission on the Rights of Child provides a mechanism for reporting child-rights violations, including a complaint facility. (NCRC)

15. Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers

Any allegation against a teacher, employee, volunteer, administrator or other representative will be taken seriously.

Where an allegation is made:

The concern must be reported to the designated safeguarding authority.
The child must be protected from further potential harm.
The alleged individual should not investigate the allegation themselves.
Appropriate interim measures may be taken to protect children while the matter is assessed.
Relevant authorities will be contacted where required by law or where necessary to protect the child.
Confidentiality will be maintained as far as reasonably possible.
No person should retaliate against a child or person who raises a genuine safeguarding concern.

An allegation should be handled fairly and objectively. A report or allegation does not by itself establish guilt; appropriate authorities should determine the facts.

16. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Safeguarding information must be treated as confidential.

Information should only be shared with:

People responsible for safeguarding.
Management where necessary.
Parents or guardians where appropriate and safe.
Medical or psychosocial professionals where appropriate.
Child-protection or law-enforcement authorities where required.
Other competent authorities where necessary to protect the child.

Confidentiality must never be used as a reason to conceal abuse or prevent appropriate reporting.

17. Photography, Video and Media

Jamia tul Mastwaar will take reasonable measures to protect children when photographs or videos are taken for educational, religious, fundraising or communication purposes.

The organization should:

Obtain appropriate parental/guardian consent where required.
Avoid identifying vulnerable children unnecessarily.
Never publish inappropriate images.
Never publish images that expose a child to humiliation, exploitation or safety risks.
Store photographs and videos securely.
Ensure that staff do not use images of children for personal purposes.

Children should not be photographed in situations that could compromise their dignity or privacy.

18. Digital and Online Safeguarding

Teachers, staff and volunteers must maintain professional boundaries when communicating with children online.

They must not:

Send inappropriate messages.
Request inappropriate photographs or videos.
Engage in sexualized conversations.
Use disappearing messages to conceal inappropriate communication.
Add children to inappropriate private groups.
Share a child's personal information unnecessarily.
Use children's photographs for personal social-media accounts without authorization.

Official communication channels should be used wherever reasonably possible.

19. Supervision and Physical Environment

Jamia tul Mastwaar will take reasonable steps to make its premises safer for children.

This may include:

Appropriate supervision of children.
Safe classroom arrangements.
Adequate lighting.
Safe entry and exit procedures.
Appropriate arrangements for toilets and changing areas.
Safe transportation arrangements.
Visitor controls.
Appropriate supervision during activities and events.
Measures to reduce isolated or unsupervised interactions between adults and children.

Where residential facilities exist, additional safeguarding procedures should be established for sleeping arrangements, supervision, visitors and access to restricted areas.

20. Children with Additional Vulnerabilities

Additional safeguarding consideration should be given to children who may face increased risks because of:

Disability.
Age.
Separation from parents or guardians.
Poverty or social vulnerability.
Displacement or migration.
Previous exposure to abuse or violence.
Communication difficulties.
Special educational needs.
Other circumstances that may increase vulnerability.

Jamia tul Mastwaar will seek to provide appropriate support and reasonable safeguards for such children.

21. Parents and Guardians

Jamia tul Mastwaar recognizes parents and guardians as important partners in protecting children.

Where appropriate, the organization will:

Communicate safeguarding expectations.
Encourage parents to raise concerns.
Provide information about reporting mechanisms.
Respect children's privacy and dignity.
Involve parents/guardians appropriately in safeguarding matters.

However, parents or guardians should not automatically be informed where doing so could place the child at greater risk or interfere with a necessary protection process.

22. Child Participation

Children should be encouraged to understand:

Their right to safety.
Appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.
How to seek help.
Who they can approach if they are worried.
How to report bullying or abuse.
The importance of respecting other children.

Age-appropriate safeguarding awareness should be incorporated into relevant educational and pastoral activities.

23. Training and Awareness

Jamia tul Mastwaar will provide appropriate safeguarding orientation and training to staff and volunteers.

Training should cover:

Child protection principles.
Recognizing signs of abuse.
Appropriate professional boundaries.
Positive discipline.
Responding to disclosures.
Reporting procedures.
Digital safeguarding.
Confidentiality.
Prevention of bullying and harassment.
Responsibilities under this policy.

Refresher training should be provided periodically.

24. Record Keeping

Safeguarding records must be:

Accurate.
Factual.
Dated.
Securely stored.
Accessed only by authorized persons.
Retained according to applicable legal and organizational requirements.

Records should distinguish between facts, observations, allegations and opinions.

25. Complaints and Whistleblowing

Jamia tul Mastwaar encourages children, parents, staff and community members to raise genuine safeguarding concerns.

No person should be punished, threatened or discriminated against for raising a concern in good faith.

Reports may be made to:

Child Protection/Safeguarding Focal Person
Name: ______________________________
Phone: ______________________________
Email: ______________________________

Jamia Management
Name: ______________________________
Phone: ______________________________
Email: ______________________________

Where appropriate, concerns may also be reported directly to relevant government, child-protection, law-enforcement or other competent authorities.

26. False or Malicious Allegations

Jamia tul Mastwaar will take allegations seriously and investigate or refer them appropriately.

A person who makes a genuine report will not be penalized merely because the concern cannot ultimately be substantiated.

However, knowingly making a malicious or deliberately false allegation may be addressed under applicable disciplinary procedures.

27. Support for Affected Children

Where a child has experienced or may have experienced abuse or other harm, Jamia tul Mastwaar will seek to provide or facilitate appropriate support, which may include:

Immediate safety measures.
Medical attention where required.
Psychosocial or counselling support through appropriate professionals.
Educational support.
Family support where appropriate.
Referral to specialized child-protection services.

The child's safety and best interests will remain the primary consideration.

28. Policy Implementation and Monitoring

The management of Jamia tul Mastwaar is responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented.

Implementation should include:

Appointment of a safeguarding focal person.
Staff and volunteer orientation.
Regular review of safeguarding risks.
Maintenance of reporting mechanisms.
Appropriate record keeping.
Periodic review of safeguarding procedures.
Corrective action where weaknesses are identified.

29. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Jamia tul Mastwaar will comply with applicable laws and regulations concerning children, education, safeguarding, criminal conduct, privacy and reporting requirements in the jurisdictions where it operates.

Pakistan's Ministry of Human Rights identifies several child-rights laws within the national framework, including the National Commission on the Rights of Child Act 2017, the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection Act 2018, the Criminal Law (2nd Amendment) Act 2016 and the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery framework. (MoHR Portal)

Because child-protection laws can vary between provinces and territories and may be amended, Jamia tul Mastwaar should obtain appropriate legal advice to ensure that its procedures comply with the laws applicable to its specific location.

30. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed at least once every two years, or earlier if:

Relevant legislation changes.
A serious safeguarding incident occurs.
Organizational activities change significantly.
A safeguarding risk assessment identifies new risks.
New national or international safeguarding standards become applicable.

The date of the next scheduled review is:

Next Review Date: ______________________

31. Staff and Volunteer Declaration

All employees, teachers, volunteers and relevant representatives of Jamia tul Mastwaar are expected to read, understand and comply with this Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy.

Name: __________________________________

Designation: _____________________________

Signature: _______________________________

Date: ___________________________________

32. Management Approval

This Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy has been reviewed and approved by the authorized management of Jamia tul Mastwaar.

Authorized Person: ________________________