PROMOTING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL
The Focolare Movement is committed to creating a culture of safeguarding where all are safe from harm and abuse. This underpins and is embedded in the Movement’s mission to share God’s love with everyone.
The Movement is thus committed to respecting and protecting each person’s dignity 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, adolescents and vulnerable adults by promoting their well-being. Safe practices have been adopted as well and risk assessments in order to minimise the possibility of harm or accidents to minors involved in our activities, whether in Focolare venues or when we meet in other settings.
The final document of the 2021 General Assembly of the Movement acknowledged, with profound suffering, all the situations in which we had fallen short in protecting and helping the people who have suffered abuse. We commit to listening, to accompanying, to seeking justice and to offering support to those who have been abused, so as to ensure that every person is heard, their suffering is recognised, and they have the possibility of being supported.
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.
On the official website of the Focolare Movement information can be found about the competent bodies and the documents that collectively constitute the Movement’s “Guidelines” regarding the prevention and the safeguarding from all types of abuse. There also are published the Movement’s reports and other information regarding this.
1. Press release of 19th May 2022
See information on the official website of the Focolare Movement: www.focolare.org/en/prevention-of-abuse/
- the Independent Central Commission and Supervisory Board that have been established
- official policy, procedures and guidelines
- annual reports
See also:
Listening points for adverse experiences or concerns
https://focolaremalta.org/en/news/listening-points-for-adverse-experiences-or-concerns/
Members of the Listening Points Team
https://focolaremalta.org/en/special/what-to-expect-from-the-listening-points/