Hi {{ first_name | there }},
When safeguarding incidents occur, how we respond determines whether we compound harm or facilitate healing.
A survivor-centered approach isn't just compassionate;it's the professional standard. It means recognizing that the person who experienced harm is the expert on what they need, and our role is to support their choices while ensuring their safety and dignity.
Human-Centered Design in Safeguarding
The humanitarian sector has embraced human-centered design for program delivery. We need the same rigor when designing safeguarding systems.
This means asking:
What barriers prevent survivors from coming forward?
What would make reporting feel safe?
What support do survivors actually want;not what we assume they need?
How can we design response systems that don't re-traumatize?
One organization we worked with in Jordan conducted focus groups with women and girls to redesign their reporting system. The result? They moved their reporting desk from the main office (where everyone could see who was reporting) to a private location with female staff available. Reporting increased significantly.
Trauma-Informed Response: The Foundation
Trauma-informed care recognizes that people who've experienced abuse or exploitation need approaches that:
Prioritize Safety
Physical safety, emotional safety, and confidentiality are non-negotiable.
Offer Choice and Control
Survivors must lead decisions about their case. We provide options, information, and support;but they decide what happens next.
Build Trust
Consistency, transparency, and follow-through matter. Broken promises compound trauma.
Acknowledge Resilience
People who've experienced harm are not defined by that experience. Recognize their strength.
Respect Cultural Context
What healing looks like varies across cultures. Our response systems must be flexible enough to honor that diversity.
3 Steps to a Survivor-Centered Process
Step 1: Create Safe Entry Points
Survivors need multiple ways to access help:
Anonymous hotlines
Trusted community members trained as focal points
Online reporting forms
In-person options with both male and female staff
Make these options visible, accessible, and available in local languages.
Step 2: Empower Survivor Choice
At every decision point, ask: "What would you like to happen?"
This includes:
Whether to pursue formal investigation
Who they feel safe talking to
What support services they want
How much information to share with leadership
Document consent at each stage.
Step 3: Provide Comprehensive Support
Response isn't just investigation. Survivors may need:
Medical care
Psychosocial support
Legal assistance
Safe accommodation
Livelihood support
Long-term follow-up
Build referral pathways before incidents occur. Know who you'll call, what services exist, and how to access them urgently.
An Anonymized Case Example
Context: Large international NGO, conflict-affected setting
A female staff member reported sexual harassment by her supervisor. The initial organizational response was to immediately suspend the supervisor and launch an investigation;without asking the survivor what she wanted.
Result? The survivor faced retaliation from the supervisor's supporters, her identity became known, and she had to leave the country for safety.
What should have happened:
Immediate response: Ensure the survivor's immediate safety and offer support options
Survivor consultation: Ask what outcome she wants and what would make her feel safe
Risk assessment: Evaluate risks to the survivor from different response scenarios
Flexible response: Design investigation and interim measures based on survivor's needs
Ongoing support: Provide psychosocial support regardless of investigation outcome
The "Do No Harm" Principle in Practice
Every safeguarding response must ask: Could this action make things worse?
Common pitfalls:
Launching visible investigations without survivor consent
Breaking confidentiality to "protect" the survivor
Moving survivors without their agreement
Assuming Western mental health approaches are universal
Focusing solely on perpetrator accountability while neglecting survivor support
Resources You Can Use Today
The Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), IASC Guidelines, and CPMS Framework all include survivor-centered principles. Here's what they emphasize:
CHS Commitment 5: Communities and people affected by crisis have access to safe and responsive mechanisms to handle complaints.
IASC Guideline: Include survivors in designing response mechanisms.
CPMS Principle: The best interests of the child (or vulnerable adult) must guide all decisions.
Want to go deeper? We're developing a free "Safeguarding 101" email course that covers survivor-centered response fundamentals. Sign up at our website to be notified when it launches.
Quote of the Week
"Trauma-informed response isn't about us being the hero. It's about creating conditions where survivors can reclaim their own power."
What This Looks Like at SPI
We help organizations build survivor-centered systems through:
Response protocol development: Clear, step-by-step guidance that centers survivor choice
Staff training: Trauma-informed communication, active listening, and crisis response
Referral mapping: Identifying and vetting support services before they're needed
System audits: Reviewing current response mechanisms for gaps and risks
Technology solutions: Secure reporting platforms that protect anonymity while enabling case management
Your Reflection This Week
Ask yourself:
If someone on my team experienced harm tomorrow, would they feel safe reporting to us?
Do we have referral pathways ready for medical, legal, and psychosocial support?
Have we trained our response team in trauma-informed approaches?
Ready to Strengthen Your Response Systems?
Contact SPI for:
Survivor-centered protocol development
Response team training
Referral pathway mapping
Investigation support
Reporting platform implementation
Get in touch: [email protected]
Do you have questions, ideas, or resources on this topic? Reply to this email or share your thoughts; we'd love to hear from you.
Next Post:
Inclusive Safeguarding: Reaching the Most At-Risk
We'll explore how to design protection systems that leave no one behind.
Stay survivor-focused,
The Safe Path International Team
Safe Path International | Professional Safeguarding Consultancy
Serving the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe
Website | LinkedIn | Contact Us: [email protected]