We are pleased to present the 3 January 2025 GBC Meeting Highlights Report. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the online GBC meeting highlighting the key topics discussed.
The meeting commenced with a welcome to all members by Guru Prasad Swami, followed by Madhusevita Das reading from a lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam by Srila Prabhupada on 24 May 1973 in London, England.
The following key topics were discussed:
1. GBC EMERITUS STATUS FOR MALATI DEVI:
Guru Prasad Swami offered appreciation for Malati Devi’s years of service to ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada, and the GBC. The GBC body proposed offering GBC Emeritus status to Malati Devi, who resigned from GBC services on 31 December 2024.
The GBC body voted unanimously to confer GBC Emeritus status on Malati Devi in appreciation for her decades of service to the GBC body.
The title of GBC Emeritus is awarded by the GBC body to honour retired members who have rendered distinguished service to ISKCON and the GBC Body.
2. ENHANCED APPROACH FOR CHILD PROTECTION IN ISKCON:
Improving child protection efforts and outcomes is a key priority for both the GBC and ISKCON leaders. This is a priority topic for the GBC with several meetings dedicated to this topic in the past year.
ISKCON has made significant strides in strengthening child protection policies, informed by expert-led reviews and investigations. This specifically relates to ISKCONs ecclesiastical responsibilities for child safeguarding. All ISKCON entities are required to comply with relevant civil and criminal processes.
The GBC discussed advancing the implementation of the policy (the policy remains unchanged) by introducing an enhanced approach to child protection ensuring the effective implementation of safeguards across ISKCON in a more sustainable manner. The GBC recognizes that:
– Child protection is a priority for ISKCON, thus aligning with its core values of spiritual and organizational integrity.
– ISKCON’s global activities and presence (1200+ entities) requires a more comprehensive approach to implementing ISKCONs child protection policy.
– Leadership teams at all levels must be empowered with resources, training, and clear accountability to ensure proper implementation of ISKCONs child protection policy.
– There should be a clear separation of concerns between activities for the prevention of abuse from case-related matters. Further, investigations need to be distinct from adjudications, which are distinct from appeals.
– Localized ownership, inclusive of funding is necessary to ensure sustainable resource allocation while maintaining alignment with local and regional needs and responsibilities.
– A blended approach (top-down and bottom-up) is essential to build awareness, reduce risks, and foster a culture of safety.
In support of this enhanced approach, the GBC has approved the establishment of the Child Protection Oversight Committee (CPOC). The CPOC is a GBC-nominated committee mandated to ensure that appropriate policies, structures and processes are in place for effective child protection — and that these are sufficiently implemented and adhered to. Importantly the CPOC maintains no direct involvement in cases, adjudications and appeals, maintaining its objectivity as a supervisory authority.
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