Defining Safeguarding

Safeguarding is the protection from harm, exploitation, and abuse. In forced displacement contexts, national authorities work with international agencies such as UNHCR to promote legal and physical protection and minimise the threat of violence and exploitation.

Refugees and other forcibly displaced people face unique and specific challenges not yet addressed in many national and institutional policies. These include:

• Lack of, or differences in, identity documentation limiting educational access, financial inclusion, and business activities
• Differences in language or academic credentials
• Stigma and discrimination in administrative and reporting processes

AHEEN’s safeguarding approach proactively ensures that systems, policies, and practices prevent all those engaged in AHEEN’s programs from harm, exploitation, and neglect. When incidents do occur, responses are timely, transparent, accountable, and actionable in the contexts in which they need to be addressed.