“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”- Maria Montessori
At Colégio Rainha D. Leonor, we believe that safeguarding children is a fundamental responsibility shared by every member of our community. Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy exists to ensure that every child entrusted to our care is safe, respected, and able to thrive in an environment free from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
This policy is built upon international and national frameworks, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). As stated in Article 3, “In all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.” Equally, Article 12 highlights that “Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them, and adults should listen and take them seriously.”
These guiding principles, along with the right to life, survival and development (Article 6) and the right to non-discrimination (Article 2), form the foundation of our approach. CRDL is committed not only to preventing harm, but also to promoting children’s well-being and empowering them to participate actively in shaping a safe school environment.
