Safe spaces
PROMOTING SAFE ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL
As a Movement founded on evangelical love, we aim to offer and ensure safe environments for all people in which to carry out their activities. We are committed to upholding the dignity of each person and to cultivating a culture of respect and esteem for others in order to prevent and avoid all forms of abuse.
In particular, all the members of the Movement are responsible for safeguarding children and adolescents by promoting their well-being. Safe practices are being adopted and risks are being assessed to minimise the possibility of harm or accidents to minors involved in our activities, whether within Focolare venues or when we meet in other settings.
The final document of the 2021 General Assembly of the Movement recognized, with profound sorrow, all the situations in which we fell short of protecting and helping those who have suffered abuse. We commit to listening, to accompanying, to seeking justice and to offering support to victims/survivors, to ensure that every person is heard and has access to a fair and just process and support.
The President of the Movement, Margaret Karram said: “First and foremost we are placing the Gospel at the basis of this process of renewal. We want to put the Gospel back at the centre of all we do. Moreover, the serious challenges that the world is experiencing today call for a deepening application of the spirituality of unity so that it can be an instrument of fraternity and peace.”¹.
We present below the documents and guidelines that collectively constitute the Movement’s “Guidelines” regarding protection against all types of abuse.
In preparation: Accompaniment Protocol
1. Press release of 19th May 2022
CONTACTS
To report abuse: abusereport.foc@gmail.com
For information on the content of this page: segreteria.tutela@focolare.org
To contact the Supervisory Board:supervisoryboard.cobetu@gmail.com
Summary concerning Safeguarding 2024: an integral conversion
“Your work cannot be reduced to protocols to be applied, since it advocates for safeguarding through a formation that educates, measures that prevent, and listening that restores dignity. When you establish prevention policies, even in the remotest communities, you are making a promise: that every child, every vulnerable person, will find a safe environment in the ecclesial community. This is the driving force of what should be for us an integral conversion.”[1]
Abuse Report 2023: awareness, reparation, prevention
The Focolare Movement is publishing the report on its activities, on safeguarding and on its data concerning abuse cases in 2023. An interview with Catherine Belzung, professor of Neuroscience and coordinator of the UNESCO Chair on Childhood Maltreatment.
Case of Jean-Michel Merlin
La Prefettura di Nanterre (Francia) ha emesso un appello per la ricerca di testimoni
All responsible for all: a networked training
Effective today, November 20, 2023, the new Guidelines for Training in the Protection of Minors and Persons in Vulnerable Situations developed by the Focolare Movement are available. Margarita Gómez and Étienne Kenfack, Counselors of the Movement’s International Center on the aspect of Physical Life and Nature, offer us some clarifications.
Focolare Movement and abuse, a firm commitment to the safeguarding of the person
Joachim Schwind, a focolare and member of the General Council at the Focolare International Centre was interviewed by Adriana Masotti of Vatican News
Towards a safeguarding culture encompassing the whole person
The Focolare Movement has now published the first report on cases of abuse of children and vulnerable adults; and on spiritual abuse and abuse of authority that has occurred in the Focolare Movement, with reference to reparation measures, new investigative procedures, and training in safeguarding.
The Focolare Movement makes public the measures to be taken regarding the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in response to the Independent Inquiry by GCPS Consulting
Significant steps forward are being taken to expand and strengthen measures concerning prevention, training, compensation, and the assessment of responsibility. These will guarantee justice to all victims and implement a culture in which absolute priority is given to charity, to the dignity of the person, and to safety and transparency in all areas of the Movement.
The Focolare Movement publishes the results of an Independent Inquiry into cases of abuse by a former consecrated member in France
Margaret Karram: “I commit myself on behalf of the Focolare Movement to respond with action, listening, openness and preventive measures, to the final recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry.”
Offer of support programme for victims of abuse perpetrated by former French focolarino J.M.M
Offer of support programme for victims of abuse perpetrated by former French focolarino J.M.M
Alain Christnacht appointed independent supervisor in abuse case of a former French focolarino
Alain Christnacht appointed independent supervisor in abuse case of a former French focolarino