4.5 Sensitive Activities
Girls and young women’s education, empowerment and advocating for change are integral to our Movement. As girls and young women engage with issues that are important to them, they may encounter risks in many if not all societies. It is important that WAGGGS delivers our activities in a safe and protected way, especially when learning about or advocating for change on sensitive topics such as gender-based violence or gender equality.
When facilitating or leading activities on sensitive topics Global Team Members should:
- • Set a brave space in the beginning of the activity and explain the processes in place (i.e. which member of the Global Team present can be available if someone needs support).
- Identify and prepare for any content which may cause distress or trigger disclosures on abuse, harm, or violence
- Consider the mental safety and emotional well-being of participants and facilitate in a way which is non-judgmental
- Make themselves available for any follow-up conversations on sensitive topics with appropriate safeguarding staff or volunteers
- Be able to recognise a safeguarding disclosure and know who to report this to
- Take care to frame topics in a balanced and impartial way
When delivering advocacy activities with sensitive content the following processes must be in place:
- Specific safeguarding training which covers how to identify and manage advocacy risks for Global Team members
- Guidance on digital safety and ‘safe storytelling’ online and offline, including
- dedicated and monitored accounts for online activities
- A named adult responsible for children and young people’s participation and safeguarding during advocacy activities. This is likely to be a volunteer or staff with a clear reporting line to the MO and/or WAGGGS Safeguarding Focal Point
- A safeguarding statement in any content or resources produced