Dear friends,

Over the current triennium, WOSM has made significant efforts in the area of Safe from Harm to emphasise the importance of providing a safe and inclusive environment for everyone involved in Scouting, and to improve safeguarding measures and policies at all levels.

During this past period WOSM has adopted a holistic and comprehensive approach to Safe from Harm that encompasses a wide range of effective measures, resources and support, both for the World and Regional structures as well as for National Scout Organizations (NSOs) that include the following:

• Setting standards and policies: Introducing a Safe from Harm policy available in all 5 working languages that can be adopted by NSOs through their national Youth Programmes, and in the different areas of Adults in Scouting.
• Ensuring compliance: Setting organisational mechanisms for Safe from Harm compliance including by establishing the Ethics Committee, updating the internal procedures for reporting, developing a WOSM Code of Conduct for staff and volunteers, updating the World Scout Bureau internal policies to strengthen Safe from Harm procedures, and providing review for NSOs on their compliance with the Safe from Harm quality standards set in the Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT).
• World and Regional events: Upgrading the mandatory Safe from Harm training for participants and organisers of WOSM events, and providing Safe from Harm guidance to the hosts of World and Regional events.
• WOSM Services and educational resources: Developing Safe from Harm resources, including a new “Safe Scouts” series on topics such as bullying, mental health and online safety, as well as providing 51 Service Requests to support NSOs in strengthening their National Safe from Harm policies.
• Communities of practice: Establishing a new Global Safe from Harm Network to exchange best practices and build a community of practice in this area across the Movement.
• Volunteer and staff training: Providing training for Adults in Scouting to improve their competencies around safeguarding, delivering mandatory Safe from Harm training for all WOSM volunteers and staff in the 5 working languages, as well as offering additional learning opportunities on ensuring online safety during WOSM events.
• Partnerships: Building new partnerships around Safe from Harm with international organisations such as the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children.

A detailed overview with links to resources can be found on the Safe from Harm page on the Members Portal.

Between 17 and 21 May 2021, World Scouting will be rolling out an online campaign to promote Safe from Harm across the Scout Movement, and engage all in a global conversation around safety and well-being. The week-long Safe from Harm campaign will feature on 19 May 2021 a webinar on implementing Safe from Harm in NSOs, where NSO representatives are invited to register.

To continue to make Safe from Harm a priority over the next triennium, the World Scout Committee has proposed important draft objectives in the World Triennial Plan 2021-2024, Draft Resolution 2021-D and a Constitutional Amendment ensuring Scouting remains a safe and inclusive space for all involved. NSOs are encouraged to review these proposals and share feedback through scoutconference.org.

If you have any questions regarding World Scouting’s Safe from Harm efforts and support to NSOs, please contact Pauline Grangette at the World Scout Bureau at pauline.grangette@scout.org.

Yours in Scouting,

Ahmad Alhendawi

Secretary General
World Organization of the Scout Movement