Child Protection

AISZ promotes the values of respect, integrity, compassion and responsibility. The AISZ Child Safeguarding Policy seeks to protect the student, the family and the AISZ community. It ensures that the right of the child protection and access to confidential support systems is available to all students.

All faculty and staff at The American International School of Zagreb are mandated to report their concerns about the well-being of any student. Reporting and follow up of all suspected incidences of child abuse or neglect will proceed in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures linked to this policy. Furthermore, cases of suspected child abuse or neglect may be reported to the appropriate employer, to the respective consulate in Zagreb, to the appropriate child protection agency in the home country, and/or to local authorities.

The American International School of Zagreb endorses the Convention on the Rights of the Child, of which our host country, Croatia, is a signatory. AISZ seeks to be a safe haven for students who may be experiencing abuse or neglect in any aspect of their lives.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child includes 54 articles to which governments are expected to be signatories. The principal articles, relevant to AISZ, include:

Article 3: The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all decisions and actions that affect children.

Article 12: Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.

Article 19: [Governments] must do all they can to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment by their parents or anyone else who looks after them.

Article 39: Children who have experienced neglect, abuse, exploitation, torture or who are victims of war must receive special support to help them recover their health, dignity, self-respect and social life.

As part of AISZ's Safe Guarding Policy it is important for all adults to know the facts about child abuse and harm. There is a variety of excellent information available on the internet on this issue.

As part of our multi faceted training approach with faculty we use the online training located on the TES Develop - Educare website. There is valuable information for all adults regardless of background or location who believe children should be protected and their rights preserved. We recommend that all parents take some time to get familiar with the facts and how we can all join together to form a united front supporting the rights of the child.

As you familiarize yourself with facts and the issues involved, we're sure you will understand that the statistics are staggering and that we as a school are striving to be the vanguard of Safeguarding and Child Protection in the Central and East European Schools Association and a world leader in advanced training for international school staff.