About ALIT Indonesia

The Arek Lintang Foundation (ALIT) Indonesia is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Surabaya since 1999 and has provided services in various regions throughout Indonesia since 2004. ALIT Indonesia focuses on advancing the situation of children so that they can enjoy equal access to their fundamental rights and receive the necessary support to ensure their healthy growth and development, in accordance with international standards as set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Indonesia’s national child protection legislation.

ALIT Indonesia’s vision is “Equality for All Children.” Its mission is to promote community development efforts for the protection of children and their environment, to support children’s healthy growth and development, and to encourage state institutions to fulfill children’s rights.

As a concrete effort to implement this mission, ALIT Indonesia conducts a wide range of actions at the community, village, district, and national levels through planned long-term and short-term programs, as well as incidental activities carried out independently or in cooperation with other parties.

Therefore, it is important for ALIT Indonesia to establish a number of fundamental principles as a basis for all parties working within the organization’s scope, so that they can concretely contribute to the implementation of the organization’s mission. These principles are set out in the Child Protection Policy, which forms an integral part of all institutional cooperation agreements and individual contractual arrangements.

Our Values and Principles

ALIT Indonesia does not permit its partners, suppliers, subcontractors, agents, or individuals working with ALIT Indonesia to engage in violence, abuse, or poor safeguarding practices involving children.

A child is defined as any person under the age of 18. All children have an equal right to protection regardless of any personal characteristics, including age, gender, ability, culture, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, and sexual identity.

A child with special needs is a child who experiences long-term physical, intellectual, mental, and/or sensory limitations which, when interacting with their environment, may result in barriers and difficulties in participating fully and effectively in society on an equal basis with others.

This policy applies to everyone who works for or on behalf of ALIT Indonesia in any capacity, including employees at all levels, directors, managers, field officers, organizational workers, seconded workers, volunteers, interns, agents, contractors, external consultants, third-party representatives, suppliers, and business partners.

This policy applies both during and outside working hours, throughout the year.

What Is Violence Against Children?

Violence against children includes anything that is done or omitted by an individual, institution, or process that directly or indirectly harms a child or undermines their opportunity to achieve safe and healthy development toward adulthood.

This policy covers all forms of violence against children. ALIT Indonesia recognizes five categories of violence against children: sexual violence, physical violence, emotional or psychological violence, neglect, and exploitation. Additional subcategories may be incorporated into this policy in the future.

This policy also covers poor safeguarding practices that result in or expose children to the risk of violence, abuse, exploitation, or harm.

Definitions of Violence Against Children

Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is the involvement of a child in sexual activities, regardless of whether or not the child understands what is happening.

Such activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative acts such as rape or oral sex, or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing, or touching over clothing.

Sexual violence may also involve children with disabilities or special needs, including exposing children to or involving them in the production of sexual images, making them watch sexual activities, encouraging sexually inappropriate behavior, or grooming—including through the internet—as a means of establishing a relationship with a child in preparation for sexual abuse.

Perpetrators of sexual violence are not necessarily adult men. Women can also perpetrate sexual violence.

Physical Violence

Physical violence is the intentional or non-accidental use of physical force that causes, or creates a risk of, injury to a child, whether intentional or resulting from reckless behavior.

This may include hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, choking, or other acts that result in non-accidental physical injury to a child.

Physical harm may also occur when a parent or caregiver creates, or deliberately causes or influences, symptoms of illness, injury, or temporary or permanent disability in a child.

Emotional or Psychological Violence

Emotional violence means behavior that harms a child’s emotional, intellectual, mental, or psychological development. It may occur as a single incident or repeatedly over time.

Emotional violence includes, among other things:

• humiliating or degrading treatment, such as mocking, threatening, shouting, insulting, teasing, persistent criticism, belittling, or repeatedly shaming a child;
• failing to meet a child’s emotional needs;
• rejecting, ignoring, terrorizing, isolating, or confining a child.

Neglect

Neglect includes, among other things, failing to provide adequate food, clothing, and/or appropriate and adequate shelter according to the circumstances and season.

Neglect may also include failing to prevent foreseeable harm, failing to provide adequate supervision, failing to ensure access to appropriate medical services or treatment, or providing inappropriate treatment, such as administering medication beyond one’s authority.

Neglect may also involve failing to provide a safe physical environment, for example:

• exposing children to violence;
• using an unsafe program location;
• unsafe sleeping arrangements;
• releasing a child into the care of an unauthorized adult;
• allowing a child access to weapons or dangerous objects; or
• failing to ensure that spaces occupied by children are appropriately secured against hazards.

Exploitation

Child exploitation is a general term used to describe violence or abuse involving children who are coerced, deceived, threatened, or trafficked into exploitative activities.

According to ALIT Indonesia, child exploitation includes modern slavery, child trafficking, and the forced recruitment or use of children in armed conflict.

Child sexual exploitation is a form of sexual violence against children.

Child sexual exploitation occurs when an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate, or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activities in exchange for something they need or want, and/or for the financial benefit or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator.

A child may be considered sexually exploited even when the sexual activity appears to be consensual.

Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact and may also occur through the use of technology.

According to ALIT Indonesia, sexual violence and exploitation of children also include child marriage.

Child Labour

Child labour refers to work that deprives children of their childhood, potential, and dignity, and that is harmful to their physical and mental development.

This includes work that:

• is hazardous and harmful to children’s physical, mental, social, or moral well-being; and
• interferes with their education by:
  • depriving them of the opportunity to attend school;
  • forcing them to leave school; or
  • requiring them to combine school attendance with excessively long or burdensome working hours.

When adolescents under the age of 18 participate in internship or apprenticeship schemes permitted under national legislation, they must still be monitored in accordance with the Child Protection Law to ensure that the provisions governing such internships or apprenticeships do not result in exploitation.

ALIT Indonesia does not permit its staff or representatives to employ anyone under the age of 18 as a domestic worker, either in the workplace or in their homes.

Child labour may also take the form of child slavery. Child slavery refers to the transfer or control of a child under the age of 18 by another person for the purpose of exploitation.

ALIT Indonesia’s Position on Children with Special Needs

ALIT Indonesia’s approach to children with special needs is guided by Article 23 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) concerning children with disabilities, who are referred to by ALIT Indonesia as children with special needs (ABK).

For ALIT Indonesia, children with disabilities are recognized as children with special needs in accordance with the principles of the CRC.

Therefore, all activities organized by the ALIT Indonesia Foundation must take into consideration the physical, mental, and social well-being of children with special needs.

This includes ensuring appropriate nutrition by selecting food ingredients that are safe and do not pose risks to their specific conditions; providing facilities that support their daily activities without using equipment that may endanger children with special needs or children generally; and avoiding language or forms of address that may offend or undermine the dignity of children with special needs.

ALIT Indonesia does not tolerate discrimination, exclusion, or restrictions against children with special needs that result in the reduction or denial of their recognition, enjoyment, or exercise of rights on an equal basis with other children.

ALIT Indonesia recognizes that children with special needs are particularly vulnerable to discrimination and is committed to ensuring that they are recognized as full individuals with the right to recognition before the law.

Children with special needs have the right to family care and alternative care, education without discrimination, appropriate specialized care, training and support that enables them to live with dignity, participation in various activities, the ability to make choices about what they do, and the opportunity to have their voices heard in decisions concerning their lives.

ALIT Indonesia is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and comfort of children with special needs in accessing ALIT activities.

Zero Tolerance

ALIT Indonesia maintains a zero-tolerance approach toward all forms of violence and abuse, including Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), harassment, intimidation, bullying, and failure to act, particularly within areas where ALIT Indonesia operates.

This means that every concern will be taken seriously and responded to appropriately. Where necessary, immediate action will be taken, including investigation and disciplinary measures where appropriate.

ALIT Indonesia applies the same standards of accountability to all of its activists, organizational leaders, staff, and volunteers. Everyone is subject to the same processes regardless of their position, authority, or reputation within the organization.

Violence and exploitation of children constitute violations of human and children’s rights and may also constitute criminal offenses.

ALIT Indonesia does not tolerate inaction when it comes to protecting children from any form of exploitation or violence. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all of our activities and business relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to prevent child exploitation and violence across our operations, supply chains, and partnerships.

ALIT Indonesia is also committed to maintaining transparency in its business operations and taking preventive and responsive measures against child safeguarding violations throughout its supply chains and third-party relationships, consistent with its national and international disclosure obligations.

ALIT Indonesia will comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and codes of conduct, including but not limited to:

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC);
• United Nations Secretary-General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse;
• Yokohama Commitment, Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, 2001;
• Stockholm Agenda, World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, 1996;
• ILO Convention No. 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 2000;
• Beijing Rules, United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice, 29 November 1985;
• Palermo Protocol, United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, 2000;
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), 2006;
• Law No. 19 of 2011 concerning the Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, dated 10 November 2011, Supplement to the State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia No. 5251;
• Law concerning the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 2000;
• Law No. 20 of 1999 concerning the Ratification of ILO Convention No. 138 concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment;
• Law No. 35 of 2014 concerning Amendments to Law No. 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection;
• Law No. 23 of 2004 concerning the Elimination of Domestic Violence;
• Law No. 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of the Criminal Act of Trafficking in Persons;
• Law No. 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities; and
• Law No. 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes.

Where the provisions of this policy conflict with applicable laws or regulations, the higher-ranking or applicable legal provisions shall always prevail.

Our Approach to Preventing Violence and Exploitation Against Children

Our approach to preventing violence and exploitation against children includes the following:

Awareness

We ensure that all organizational leaders, project staff, volunteers, partner organizations, and third parties connected with ALIT Indonesia understand the high standards of conduct and behavior expected of them to protect children, including children with disabilities, from all forms of violence and exploitation in both their personal and professional lives.

They are also expected not to ignore signs or indications of potentially harmful or abusive behavior.

As a concrete effort to build awareness, ALIT Indonesia regularly publishes and disseminates its Child Protection Policy throughout the areas where the Foundation implements its programs, including within partner organizations and institutions such as village offices and other relevant institutions.

Awareness materials include child-friendly posters that are easy for children to understand and that can also help children and their parents recognize and prevent harmful situations resulting from violence.

Information regarding available reporting and assistance mechanisms is also provided, including access to support services established by ALIT Indonesia in cooperation with relevant authorities and networks, such as the police and relevant government agencies responsible for women’s empowerment and child protection.

Prevention

Through awareness and good safeguarding practices, ALIT Indonesia ensures that staff and individuals working for the organization minimize the risk of all forms of violence and exploitation against children, including children with disabilities.

This includes, but is not limited to, conducting appropriate screening and background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Prevention efforts are not limited to employee recruitment. ALIT Indonesia also ensures that its working environments are led and managed by competent staff who have the knowledge and skills required to identify and manage cases of violence against children.

Staff are expected to have appropriate knowledge and experience in case management so that any indication of violence or abuse can be identified and addressed before the situation escalates.

As a concrete preventive measure, organizational management provides capacity-building and training to management and program staff so that they understand appropriate child protection and prevention measures, including:

1. Understanding the Convention on the Rights of the Child and national Child Protection Law.
2. Basic skills in identifying violence, perpetrators, and victims.
3. Basic skills in managing case reports.
4. Victim support, including basic counselling and fact-finding.
5. Paralegal training and/or legal assistance.

Information on the reporting process for cases of violence and the steps that victims and their families can take together with ALIT Indonesia is made available through posters regularly published by the ALIT Indonesia Foundation.

Reporting

ALIT Indonesia ensures that all staff and individuals working with the organization understand the steps they must take when they have a suspicion or concern regarding alleged violence or exploitation against a child, including a child with a disability.

From a management perspective, ALIT Indonesia designates program-area personnel to provide case support and work in coordination with relevant authorities, including the police, prosecutors, courts, and relevant service providers such as safe houses and interpreters for children with special needs.

ALIT Indonesia’s cooperation with state institutions and relevant service providers is part of its effort to support the State’s obligation to protect children in accordance with national Child Protection Law.

The roles of ALIT Indonesia staff designated by the Foundation are as follows:

1. Central Office Manager

The Central Office Manager of ALIT Indonesia is based in Surabaya and is responsible for cases that require handling at the provincial or national level, including serious violations such as child trafficking, rape, and murder.

The Office Manager has appropriate legal and non-litigation assistance qualifications and experience.

2. Regional Manager / Regional Coordinator

The Regional Manager or Regional Coordinator is based at the regional office at the district/city level and is responsible for assisting with the reporting of cases to relevant state institutions, including the police and government agencies.

3. Field Officer / Child Support Officer (FO1)

The Field Officer, who provides direct support to children in the field, is also responsible for supporting children throughout legal proceedings, including accompanying children during legal processes and attending relevant examinations and court proceedings.

Field Officers must also actively report developments in the child’s situation following the report, including any potential pressure, intimidation, or threats experienced by the child or their family.

4. Case Monitoring

Case development records may be monitored by management through a data system that is regularly updated in real time by field support staff.

This enables continuous supervision by the Central Office Manager and provides ongoing monitoring of the progress of case management.

Response

ALIT Indonesia ensures that immediate action is taken to identify and address reports of violence and exploitation against children, including children with disabilities, and to ensure the safety, welfare, and health of the individuals concerned.

To help identify incidents of violence and exploitation against children, including children with disabilities, as well as poor safeguarding practices, the following are examples of prohibited conduct and practices that are not tolerated by ALIT Indonesia:

1. Harming or threatening to harm a child physically, sexually, or emotionally, including hitting or using any other form of physical or humiliating punishment.
2. Engaging in any form of sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18, regardless of the local legal age of adulthood or customary practices.
3. Providing money, employment, goods, or services in exchange for sexual acts or other humiliating, degrading, or exploitative behavior. This also includes abusing assistance or benefits to which beneficiaries and their families are entitled.
4. Sending private messages to children encountered through ALIT Indonesia, including private messages through social media or mobile phones.
5. Employing anyone under the age of 18 in exploitative or hazardous work.
6. Staff or volunteers becoming involved in the commercial sexual exploitation of children, for example, directly or indirectly facilitating sexual abuse by hotel guests.
7. Causing the death or serious injury of a child through reckless or negligent driving.
8. Failing to ensure the required health and safety standards at construction sites or locations where services or activities are being carried out on behalf of ALIT Indonesia.
9. Failing to comply with applicable laws, procedures, or regulations in a manner that results in the death or injury of a child.

Our Expectations and Commitments

ALIT Indonesia expects all partners, contractors, suppliers, and other third parties working with or for ALIT Indonesia to uphold the same high standards.

This includes taking measures to prevent their staff and representatives from engaging in sexual exploitation, sexual violence against children, or any other form of violence or exploitation in either their professional or personal lives where such conduct may affect children or their work with ALIT Indonesia.

• There must be zero tolerance for violence and exploitation against children. All available measures must be taken to prevent and respond to actual, attempted, or threatened violence and exploitation involving ALIT Indonesia staff or representatives, or staff or representatives of partner organizations, arising during the implementation of the terms of an agreement with ALIT Indonesia.
• Partners and third parties must ensure that their staff and anyone working with ALIT Indonesia are fully aware of this policy and are encouraged to report suspected or actual incidents of violence against children involving ALIT Indonesia staff or representatives, or employees or representatives of their organization, arising during the implementation of the terms of an agreement with ALIT Indonesia.
• Any suspicion of violence or exploitation against a child occurring within ALIT Indonesia or arising during the implementation of an agreement with ALIT Indonesia must be reported immediately. Failure to report such concerns will be treated as a serious matter and may result in termination of the agreement with ALIT Indonesia.
• If staff working for ALIT Indonesia under your supervision suspect or become aware of a child safeguarding concern related to their work with ALIT Indonesia, you must:
  • act promptly and immediately report the suspected or known concern or safeguarding incident to an appropriate person within ALIT Indonesia. This may include the Regional Coordinator in the relevant ALIT Indonesia branch, the Program Manager, or the Office Manager, who will determine the appropriate course of action;
  • reports may be submitted through the following email address: admin@alitindonesia.or.id;
  • maintain the confidentiality of all information and limit disclosure to the relevant reporting person and authorized personnel.
• You must cooperate with ALIT Indonesia in any investigation of an issue reported under the agreement and promptly inform ALIT Indonesia of any developments concerning the reported matter, including, but not limited to, actions taken in response.

ALIT Indonesia Safeguarding Hotline

If you experience, become aware of, or have concerns about violence, abuse, harassment, or other inappropriate conduct committed by ALIT staff or representatives, please contact the following Safeguarding Hotline:

ALIT Indonesia Hotline
031 359 38151 / +62 821 3042 3263
Email: admin@alitindonesia.or.id

We will maintain the confidentiality of your report and take appropriate follow-up action.