The Social Welfare Department recently introduced new guidelines on “Protecting Children from Maltreatment – Procedural Guide for multidisciplinary Cooperation (Revised 2020).” We at Viva Hong Kong are glad to see these changes which aim to boost cooperation among different professional organisations and enhance awareness of safeguarding children. Originally, the guide was called “Procedural Guide for Handling Child Abuse Cases.” This could give rise to a misconception that only severe abuse cases should be handled. Traditionally, we as a culture place a high value on saving face. Therefore, suspected or even confirmed child abuse cases often go unreported and are kept secret. Revising the guide, to increase cooperation among different professions and ensure social workers consider the many facets of abuse and maltreatment, encourages better processing and handling of cases. In the last few years, Viva Hong Kong has advocated for the importance of implementing child safeguarding policies for organisations that have a duty of care toward the young. We believe child safeguarding is the responsibility of every adult and is not limited to just qualified child care workers or parents. Everyone can play a role in creating a safe environment for children and taking action against abuse when we see it. While the main focus of child protection is to keep them from being abused, harmed or exploited, child safeguarding envelops the holistic protection of their well-being in all aspects of life. For example, a sports club can implement good practices or codes of conduct to regulate interactions between carers and children or, just by setting a background check in place for incoming staff, can prevent potential abusers from applying. Not only does a proactive child safeguarding policy serve as a protective measure for children, it also helps to enhance the reputation of organisations serving children in our city. Last year, the Law Reform Commission carried out a consultation in proposing a new offence criminalising the “failure to protect a child or vulnerable person where the child’s or vulnerable person’s death or serious harm results from an unlawful act or neglect.” Failure to protect children or vulnerable adults from serious harm may result in a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 20 years in cases where the victim dies. At Viva Hong Kong, we care about children and want to see them thrive. We also equip carers to become more sensitive to children’s behavioural changes and emotional needs to provide timely and appropriate support. Join us in safeguarding and protecting children and ensuring organisations are well-equipped to protect the most vulnerable. Matt Coulson, executive director, Viva Hong Kong