The Demography Project has adopted this term to describe our own similar policies. For us, safeguarding means promoting and protecting people’s health, well-being and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, exploitation and abuse. It is an approach that identifies and minimizes the risk of harm to children and (vulnerable) adults – such as disabled or LGTBIQ+ people – from Hivos’ staff, representatives and partners. Safeguarding can also help us outline best practices for safeguarding those within our organization, including protecting staff from inappropriate behavior such as bullying and harassment. With safeguarding as a starting point, we can develop standards and measures to target and reduce both residual and potential risks. It therefore encompasses a wide range of policies, procedures and activities that ensure the welfare of staff, partner organizations and those we come into contact with.