Bangkok-Chicago Christian International School upholds the value of providing a caring, nurturing and safe learning environment. It is the responsibility of the school to ensure that students learn in an atmosphere that is caring and protective. We are committed to preventing child abuse, safeguarding, and protecting children.

All BCCI staff or visitors to the school are to be respected by students, and conversely, students are to be treated with the same respect and courtesy by staff and visitors. Communication, oral, written, or electronic, must reflect biblical standards. Students must be considerate of others at all times. Profanities, put downs, lying or other improper speech, gestures, or inappropriate written remarks will not be tolerated and shall be handled with punitive measures.

BCCI has developed a child protection policy in support of the Child Protection Act of Thailand, B.E. 2546 (CPA) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Child Protection – is the steps taken when a child is in, or suspected to be in, in danger of suffering significant harm or abuse.

Safeguarding – is an extension to Child Protection which includes preventative steps taken to keep children safe from abuse or harm.

Definitions of abuse are complex in various cultures regarding child-rearing behaviors, but it includes any action or lack of action resulting in harm or serious potential for harm. Harm has any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the student’s physical or emotional well-being. For the purposes of this policy, “child” or “student” refers to any current or former BCCI student, regardless of age. Abuse/harm may be student to student or adult to student.

CHILD ABUSE

Child Abuse ​is a serious and complex problem that may occur in the lives of children and young people. Often it occurs in environments that are isolated or stressful and it impacts those who are most vulnerable. Child Abuse is the term used to describe different types of maltreatment inflicted on a child or young person. It includes non-accidental physical injury, neglect, sexual abuse and emotional abuse, including psychological harm of children and young people.

TYPES OF CHILD ABUSE

There are four main areas of Child Abuse. A drastic change in behavior can be a symptom of any area of Child Abuse. It should also be recognized that all of these signs may also be a symptom of another problem.

NEGLECT: Neglect occurs when a child’s basic physical or emotional needs are not met. This may result in the serious impairment of the child’s health and/or development. Signs or symptoms which may possibly indicate neglect:

• Child is unwashed or hungry
• Parents are uninterested in child’s academic performance
• Parents do not respond to repeated communications from school
• Child does not want to go home
• Both parents or legal guardians are absent from the home

PHYSICAL ABUSE: Physical Abuse is ​physical injury to a child including reasonable suspicion that the injury was inflicted or knowingly not prevented. Signs or symptoms which may indicate Physical Abuse:

• Unexplained bruises and welts on any part of the body
• Bruises of different ages (various colors)
• Fear of medical help
• Inexplicable fear of adults or over-compliance
• Injuries reflecting shape of article used (electric core, belt, buckle etc.)
• Unexplained burns, especially to soles, palms, back and buttocks.
• Injuries that regularly appear after absence or vacation
• Burns with a pattern (electric burner, iron or cigarette)
• Rope burns on arms, legs, neck or torso
• Injuries inconsistent with information offered by the student
• Violence or aggression towards others including bullying

SEXUAL ABUSE: Sexual Abuse is the involvement of children and young persons in sexual activities that they do not fully comprehend and which violate the social taboos of family roles. It may involve:

• sexual grooming
• inappropriate exposure to sexual acts or materials
• passive use of children or young persons as sexual stimuli for adults
• the child or young person being subjected to exhibitionist activities,
• voyeurism or being coerced into posing for pornographic materials
• inappropriate sexual contact or acts between older individuals and the child
• intercourse, rape, assault and coercion.

Signs or symptoms which may indicate Sexual Abuse (although there are frequently no signs of this type of abuse):

• Unexplained laceration
• Sexual knowledge, behavior or use of inappropriate language to age level
• Unusual interpersonal relationship patterns
• Venereal disease in a child of any age
• Evidence of physical trauma or bleeding to the oral, genital, or anal areas
• Difficulty in walking or sitting
• Refusing to change into PE clothes, fear of bathrooms.
• Not wanting to be alone with an individual
• Pregnancy, especially at a young age
• Extremely protective parenting.
• Exposure to pornography

EMOTIONAL ABUSE: Psychological or Emotional Abuse ​is ​the severe emotional ill-treatment or rejection of a child or young person. This occurs where constant lack of love and affection, threats, verbal attacks, taunting, or shouting, can lead to a child’s loss of self-esteem. It can also include harassment or indifference on the basis of race, culture, sexuality, gender or disability. Aspects of Psychological and Emotional Abuse include:

• Hostile rejecting or degrading behavior (e.g. taunting or verbal abuse)
• Terrorizing behavior (e.g. threats or acts that induce fear*)
• Actively isolating a child (e.g. locking a child in a room for extended periods)
• Exploiting or corrupting children (e.g. teaching a child to steal)
• Denying emotional warmth (e.g. denying affection and displays of love)

*These acts may include an accumulation of small, but consistent, hurtful gestures.

Signs or symptoms which may indicate Emotional Abuse:

• Rocking, banging head or regression
• Self-mutilation, drug or solvent abuse
• Fear of parents being contacted
• Running away
• Compulsive stealing OR eating disorders
• Masturbation
• Soiling, smearing feces, enuresis
• Sudden speech disorders, or selective mutism
• Over-reaction to mistakes, or continual self-deprecation
• Delayed physical/mental/emotional development

A crisis can be the result of one incident or the progression and climax of years of torment and hiding.

ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING CONCERNS

Protection of children is the role of every staff member who comes into contact with children at BCCI. To support this, all staff is required to know how to respond to suspected cases of child abuse and neglect along with the process for reporting suspected cases to appropriate personnel and agencies. All staff have a professional responsibility to report any concerns regarding suspected child abuse.

When staff or volunteers suspect abuse or neglect, they report it immediately to the Child Protection Team and document their observations. In cases of suspected sexual abuse, different procedures apply based on whether it occurred within or outside the family context. If a child is in immediate danger, the school commits to reporting the matter to relevant authorities. The Child Protection Team takes action in other forms of abuse, potentially involving external agencies after investigation.

Students showing signs of harm receive immediate attention, either from the school nurse or Paolo Memorial Hospital if urgent. If abuse is suspected within the family network, the Principal communicates with the family, ensuring the child’s safety. In cases of suspected staff abuse, reporting is made to the Child Protection Team and the Principal, with potential suspension or termination of the employee. Support is provided to all involved parties, and a victim-centered approach guides next steps in the investigation.

Additionally, the procedures offer guidance on responding to a child’s disclosure of abuse, emphasizing listening, reassurance, appropriate reporting, and maintaining confidentiality.

ANONYMOUS REPORTING PLATFORM

BCCI prioritizes the safety and well-being of its community members, offering an anonymous reporting platform as part of its comprehensive approach to addressing concerns promptly and discreetly. This platform serves as a vital resource for individuals who may feel hesitant or uncomfortable disclosing information publicly. By accessing the online scan conveniently placed across different areas of the school premises, community members can submit reports or seek assistance while maintaining their confidentiality. This initiative reflects BCCI’s commitment to fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability, where individuals feel empowered to speak up about potential issues without fear of reprisal or judgment. Moreover, the availability of this platform underscores BCCI’s proactive stance in promoting a safe and supportive environment for all stakeholders, reinforcing the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding the welfare of its community members.