Code of Conduct

FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS AND VULNERABLE ADULTS

 

INTRODUCTION

The Missionary Family "Servants of the Gospel of God´s Mercy", with headquarters in San Miguel (Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an international entity with juridical personality in the canonical and civil ordinances of most of the countries in which it is present. The Missionary Family carries out the pastoral work of proclaiming the Gospel and the formation of missionaries with a preferential option for young people.

Given our dealings with minors, due to the activities we carry out with young people and families, the need arises to develop this code of conduct, in a spirit of prevention and active vigilance, to ensure that all members of the Missionary Family and all people in contact with minors and vulnerable adults in our activities are committed to guaranteeing them a safe environment, dignified treatment and a positive space for personal growth in faith.

This code of conduct is an instrument for evangelization and a guide to appropriate practices in personal dealings with minors and vulnerable adults.

"Looking to the future, everything that is done to generate a culture capable of preventing these (abusive) situations not only from being repeated, but also from finding spaces to be covered up and perpetuated, will never be too little. The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, that is why it is urgent to reaffirm once again our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and adults in vulnerable situations. "

 

SS. Pope Francis, Letter to the People of God, Vatican City, August 20, 2018.

 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

For the purposes of this code of conduct, the following shall be understood as:

  • Minor: any human being under eighteen years of age, unless, by virtue of the law applicable to him/her in the country where he/she lives, he/she has reached the age of majority earlier.
  • Vulnerable adult: a person who has reached eighteen years of age, but who, due to disability, illness or age, is unable to care for him/herself.
  • Abuse: according to the RAE dictionary, to abuse is "to make a person of lesser experience, strength or power the object of dishonest treatment". Abuse is, therefore, any action or inaction that causes harm to another person.

    There are different types of abuse that can be classified into four main categories, although they are not exhaustive:

    • Physical abuse: occurs when a person, in a position of trust or authority, intentionally threatens or harms the physical integrity of a child or vulnerable person.
    • Psychological or emotional abuse: occurs when an adult repeatedly criticizes, threatens, rejects and/or manipulates a minor to the point of undermining his or her self-esteem and self-worth.
    • Sexual abuse: that action involving a minor, practiced by one or more persons over eighteen years of age, to obtain sexual pleasure. It includes all acts directed at the victim's bodily intimacy that infringe on his/her sensory sphere and/or use his/her body. *
    • Neglect: carelessness or lack of care; the other types of abuse are accompanied by negligent behavior on the part of one or more adults in whose care the child is placed.
  • Safe environment: the set of practices and procedures that prevent the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults.

 

*Actsthat violate the sensory sphere of the victim, e.g., obscene conversations or phone calls, sexual chat; presentation of pornographic images (photos, videos); exposure of sexual organs. Acts using the body such as, for example, sexual touching or masturbation; forced personal bathing; sexual act (fellatio, sodomy, vaginal intercourse); participation in pornographic scenes; incitement to prostitution.

 

PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS

  1. The present code of conduct applies to all the consecrated men and women, servers, JuSeM of legal age and other lay people of legal age who participate in our activities with minors. It is obligatory and binding for all of them, being enforceable and punishable by disciplinary sanctions that the Base Team deems appropriate.
  2. The Missionary Family, in all its houses and activities, wants to be a safe environment for minors and vulnerable adults, where their dignity, integrity and rights are respected. The Missionary Family assumes the commitment of "zero tolerance" towards any possible mistreatment or sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults, pursuing them when they have occurred and reporting them to the competent authorities.
  3. The principles we apply in our dealings with minors and vulnerable adults are those of prevention, vigilance and protection.
    • Prevention: aims to take precautions or measures, as soon as possible, to avoid the risks that put the child or vulnerable adult at risk of abuse.
    • Vigilance: care and attention to prevent inappropriate behavior in activities or in the relationship with them;
    • Protection: Adequately assisting the child in this area entails promoting our education and training to recognize the signs of abuse in him/her. It also implies evaluating the structures of protection in order to, above all, assume personal responsibility in denouncing any reprehensible act. The ongoing formation plan of the Missionary Family includes such formation, both for consecrated women and men as well as for the laity, which is updated periodically.
  4. Regarding specific behaviors with minors, we must promote both those that lead to respectful and dignified treatment, avoiding any type of discrimination, as well as vigilance to prevent mistreatment, abuse or harassment by any person.
  5. As preventive measures for possible sexual abuse, the following specific behaviors should be avoided in the relationship with minors and vulnerable adults:
    • Be alone in closed spaces, without visibility from the outside or away from the group; do not sleep in the same room as the minor and do not use private vehicles to transport minors (unless two adults are present).
      Unnecessary presence in areas where minors require privacy (toilets, showers, bedrooms);
    • Any type of verbal aggression or words, attitudes and behaviors that may be harmful;
    • The exchange of private messages outside the scope of missionary activities without informing the parents;
    • Infringement of the data protection laws of the country concerned with regard to the privacy of the child's identity and personal data.
  6. The following specific behaviors with minors and vulnerable adults that may be categorized as sexual abuse are prohibited
    • Exclusive and exclusive personal relationships, or threats or some type of favor (gifts, money, etc.) to maintain that type of relationship.
    • Inappropriate physical contact, invading their privacy or disrespecting their body.
    • Maintain in his presence an erotic, exhibitionist or sexually provocative conduct contrary to modesty;
    • Sexual relations of any kind with them;
    • The use or exposure of images of a sexual or pornographic nature, even on one's own instruments (cell phone, tablet, computer).

 

MEASURES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THIS CODE

1. The dissemination of the same so that all the members of the Missionary Family are aware of it.

2. The signing of a letter of commitment (appendix I) of adherence and compliance with the code of conduct by all those who carry out or participate in Missionary Family activities with minors or vulnerable adults. This letter of commitment is renewed every two years with updated training.

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The action protocol (Annex II), which indicates the procedure to be followed to report any conduct contrary to this Code of Conduct of which we become aware.

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