Safeguarding in the international context

This comprehensive training course is designed for those based in UK organisations who are working in international contexts, including charities, NGOs, and faith-based organisations sending teams or delivering programmes overseas. Grounded in the Five R’s of safeguarding - Recognise, Respond, Report, Record, and Review, the course supports participants to understand and navigate the dual nature of safeguarding responsibilities across both UK and international settings.

Participants will explore core principles of international safeguarding, including shared safeguarding standards, recognising abuse and harm in diverse contexts, and identifying groups who may be at increased risk. The course examines UK safeguarding expectations and minimum standards, supporting participants to understand what should be in place within UK-based policies and how these align with, and adapt to, international safeguarding frameworks and realities.

A key focus of the training is contextual safeguarding within international environments. Participants will consider how local safeguarding systems, cultural norms, and community practices shape both risk and response, and how to engage with these respectfully and effectively. The course also explores intercultural safeguarding, supporting participants to reflect on their own cultural lens, work in partnership with local organisations, and navigate issues of power, inequality, and accountability in international work.

Alongside this, the course maintains a strong emphasis on survivor and person-centred practice, ensuring that safeguarding responses uphold dignity, voice, and respect across all contexts. Participants will also consider the role of supervision, debriefing, and organisational support in sustaining staff and volunteers engaged in international work, alongside practical approaches to reviewing and strengthening safeguarding practice through reflection and audit.

With a focus on real-world application, partnership working, and reflective learning, this course equips organisations and practitioners to approach international safeguarding with clarity, cultural awareness, and confidence.