ISKCON’s founder Srila Prabhupada is shown in archival images lovingly offering prasadam to children — an embodiment of his enduring compassion and care for the innocent. Today, that legacy is being powerfully realized in a bold new initiative: the launch of ISKCON’s Child Protection Office Committee (CPOC) website. The official mission underscores that by safeguarding children’s well-being, “we not only nurture the future of ISKCON but also set an example for the world.” The new site (https://www.iskconcp.org/) delivers on that promise by providing a robust global hub of training, resources, and reporting tools — a move hailed by leaders as a historic achievement in the movement’s efforts to create truly safe communities.
Building on Srila Prabhupada’s legacy, ISKCON’s senior leaders have steadily elevated child protection as a core value. In 1996–97, youth testimonies of abuse prompted the GBC to form a Task Force on Child Abuse, leading to the establishment of the Central Office of Child Protection (COCP) in 1998. Over the past decades, ISKCON has repeatedly reinforced its safeguards — passing a formal Child Protection Policy in 2005 and updating it in 2018 to create the most comprehensive and up-to-date framework for child protection within the organization. The Society now treats child safety as a fundamental value, empowering leaders to act with accountability at every temple. These reforms reflect a maturation of ISKCON’s culture — from painful lessons of the past to proactive prevention — and paved the way for today’s global oversight structure.
A History of Commitment and Reform
From its inception, ISKCON has recognized that protecting children requires continuous effort. The new CPOC website recounts how inspired GBC leaders responded decisively when former students spoke out in the 1990s. It notes that after graphic 1996 testimonies, the GBC formed the Task Force (1997) and then founded the Child Protection Office in 1998. The site highlights that “placing the interests of the children first” is both a spiritual duty and a strategic priority. This ethos guided every milestone: in 2005 ISKCON adopted its first uniform Child Protection guidelines, and in 2018 those were revised and ratified by the GBC to meet or exceed secular best practices. Earlier this year, building on all this experience, the GBC approved an “Enhanced” child-protection approach and established the new Child Protection Oversight Committee (CPOC) to oversee implementation worldwide. The Justice Minister now serves as interim Director, underscoring that child safety is a board-level priority.
In short, ISKCON’s trajectory has been one of reform and growth: each generation of leaders has worked with humility and resolve to improve protection, shining the light of Srila Prabhupada’s care into every corner of the Society.
The New CPOC Website: Education, Empowerment, Accountability
The new CPOC website brings that history to life with practical tools for every devotee. It offers comprehensive educational resources: clear definitions of child protection and abuse, lists of abuse indicators and consequences, and guidance on creating nurturing communities. Its education section stresses that “education is the key to prevention,” teaching children about their rights and responsibilities and sending a message of zero tolerance to would-be abusers. Families and youth can find age-appropriate campaigns and tips, while temple teams can download curricula and posters to raise awareness.
Key features include:
Comprehensive Awareness: The site outlines exactly what child protection means, and defines abuse in all its forms. It educates devotees on warning signs (physical, emotional, etc.) and the far-reaching consequences of abuse, so that communities send out a message that there is zero tolerance for harm.
Reporting and Support: A prominently featured “Report Concern” form allows anyone to report suspicions confidentially. The form’s introduction thanks people for taking the step to report concerns, reassuring them that their information will be handled seriously. The site also lays out clear, encouraging instructions: “Your concern does not need to be an accusation; rather, it is a step toward protecting a child and ensuring a safe environment for all.” Help lines, contact forms, and advice (e.g. “tell the child it was not their fault” when responding to a disclosure) empower caregivers to take action without hesitation.
Training and Accountability: The website details the organization’s training programs (for leaders, volunteers, and parents) and formal policies. A guide for ISKCON leaders emphasizes following local laws and conducting “a thorough and impartial investigation” whenever abuse is suspected. Leaders are told to remove children from harm’s way, to remove any accused person from access to kids, and to notify authorities and the CPOC. Throughout, the child’s dignity and healing are paramount — a sentiment echoed by every ISKCON statement on the topic.
Screening Services: To prevent abuse before it happens, the site explains ISKCON’s background-check (clearance) process. It stresses that “thorough screenings” keep anyone with a history of abusive behavior out of positions of authority or access to children. Volunteers and staff can find forms to request clearance; accountability is enforced at every level.
Resources and Collaboration: There are links to international laws, FAQs, and global CPOC contacts. The site also highlights community initiatives like “Care Together” (peer support programs) and encourages everyone to report even minor concerns. By making all this information easy to find, the website empowers families and congregations to be vigilant partners in protection.
Overall, the site transforms abstract policies into accessible tools. One is reminded of the official statement that “protecting children means providing them with a safe environment where they can thrive.” By delivering training, awareness campaigns, reporting channels, and clear guidelines directly to devotees’ fingertips, the website operationalizes that pledge in communities around the world.
United Leadership, United Purpose
The website’s success reflects tremendous collaboration at every level of ISKCON. Regional Governing Bodies, temple leaders, and child-protection teams contributed to its content, and the GBC leadership provided steadfast backing. In January 2025 the GBC declared child protection a fundamental value, and appointed oversight structures to ensure follow-through. In their official statement, the GBC Executive Committee reaffirmed “our belief in the need for change” and expressed confidence that the enhanced approach — including this new website — “will better serve ISKCON’s children.” They concluded, movingly, “May our children have a better and safer tomorrow.”
Veteran child-protection leaders are also full of praise. Kamalesh Krishna Das, who led ISKCON’s central protection office for many years, emphasized that ISKCON has always been ahead of its time: “We were one of the first religious organizations to put into place an independent child protection department,” he shared, calling the effort “a defining moment” in ISKCON’s history. He notes with pride that today “we have robust policies and guidelines” ensuring uniform protection at every temple. Many second-generation devotees and parents involved in the project have similarly expressed joy at how the site equips them to safeguard their youth. One CPOC team member (a mother of gurukula kids) commented, “This website gives me confidence — my children now know there are caring adults and clear steps to keep them safe.” This voice from the congregation echoes the sentiment of countless devotees: the initiative is a true labor of love and shared responsibility.
A Brighter Future for Devotees Worldwide
The launch of iskconcp.org is already yielding promising results. Temples report higher participation in protection training and more timely reporting of concerns. Leaders say the site’s clarity has fostered trust: devotees see that ISKCON is serious about listening and acting. All around the world, from suburban harinams to rural gurukulas, the conversation on child safety has become open and hopeful instead of fearful.
ISKCON’s commitment to child protection now serves as a model for other spiritual communities. As one ISKCON news feature noted, CPO’s pioneering approach “has set a precedent for other religious organizations worldwide, placing child protection at the forefront of their mission.” By holding the welfare of Krishna’s youngest adherents as the highest priority, ISKCON demonstrates how love and vigilance go hand in hand. In the words of ISKCON’s own mission, protecting children reveals “a spiritual society rooted in compassion, care, and protection.” Now, with these tools in hand, ISKCON’s leaders and devotees can look forward to fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s vision: a global movement where every child grows up fearlessly under Krishna’s loving guidance.
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=115770
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