*Post updated 14th April 2016*

Ensuring the sexual, physical and psychological safety of young people and vulnerable adults is an expression of the first of the Five Precepts: avoiding causing harm; cultivating loving kindness.

Mindful of their responsibilities in this area, Triratna's European Chairs' Assembly recently issued a set of model child protection policies, sent to every Triratna Centre and enterprise in Europe, and also shared with Triratna Centres around the world.

Every Triratna Centre is legally independent, responsible for its own policies. Therefore, these model policies may be adapted or translated where necessary and adopted as each Centre sees fit.

Triratna activities for children include family retreats, children's classes and school visits. Many of the Centres running these already have their own child protection policies, but these new model policies are designed to ensure common standards and greater clarity. They include a model policy for the protection of vulnerable adults and one or two other more internally-facing elements. For the full set for your organisation please contact me.

This is the latest development in a process which began in 2013.

Munisha
Safeguarding officer, children and vulnerable adults
ECA Development Team
Triratna Buddhist Order and Community