Activities
(July to September 2025)
- Set up a Telegram username for secure calls available at: https://www.iskconcp.org/contact/
- Purchased case management software for secure and confidential logging of all cases that are reported to CPOC. Final adjustments are being made by programmers to ensure alignment with the processes and policies outlined in the CPO Guidelines. Our hope is that Regional Directors will be able to access the software shortly, fostering a sense of collaboration and uniformity across case management in the various regions.
- Created and continue to work on internal and external policies to further define the Enhanced Approach.
- Established a formal relationship with ISKCON’s Law Department and appointed Acyuta Kesava dasa (Australia) as a liaison.
- Appointed Dahani devi dasi (Serbia) as the lead of CPOC’s Safeguards Office.
Activities
(July to September 2025)
- Set up a Telegram username for secure calls available at: https://www.iskconcp.org/contact/
- Purchased case management software for secure and confidential logging of all cases that are reported to CPOC. Final adjustments are being made by programmers to ensure alignment with the processes and policies outlined in the CPO Guidelines. Our hope is that Regional Directors will be able to access the software shortly, fostering a sense of collaboration and uniformity across case management in the various regions.
- Created and continue to work on internal and external policies to further define the Enhanced Approach.
- Established a formal relationship with ISKCON’s Law Department and appointed Acyuta Kesava dasa (Australia) as a liaison.
- Appointed Dahani devi dasi (Serbia) as the lead of CPOC’s Safeguards Office.
Activities
(July to September 2025)
- Set up a Telegram username for secure calls available at: https://www.iskconcp.org/contact/
- Purchased case management software for secure and confidential logging of all cases that are reported to CPOC. Final adjustments are being made by programmers to ensure alignment with the processes and policies outlined in the CPO Guidelines. Our hope is that Regional Directors will be able to access the software shortly, fostering a sense of collaboration and uniformity across case management in the various regions.
- Created and continue to work on internal and external policies to further define the Enhanced Approach.
- Established a formal relationship with ISKCON’s Law Department and appointed Acyuta Kesava dasa (Australia) as a liaison.
- Appointed Dahani devi dasi (Serbia) as the lead of CPOC’s Safeguards Office.
CPOC OFFICES
(From July to September 2025)
Governance Office
- Weekly internal CPOC meetings, and since September, weekly meetings of the Safeguards Office.
- 20+ meetings with RGBs, CPOC Directors, CPT members, and external parties, i.e., prospective investigators, social workers, and legal professionals.
- Initiated a comprehensive survey among current Regional Directors to gain insights into the state of child protection affairs, focusing on systems, case management, education, compliance, and the accessibility of documentation through translation.
- The network of attorney translators has been activated to help with legally sensitive translations, while a parallel network is being built for other translations that are not so specialized. Translations of Child Protection Guidelines into Portuguese and Hindi have started, with several other languages lined up.
Safeguards Office
- Preparing training for Child Protection Teams and Regional Directors
- Producing key reference materials to facilitate understanding of the Guidelines
- Sourcing exemplary materials and practices from ISKCON and beyond to support better implementation of the Guidelines.
Safeguards Office
- Preparing training for Child Protection Teams and Regional Directors
- Producing key reference materials to facilitate understanding of the Guidelines
- Sourcing exemplary materials and practices from ISKCON and beyond to support better implementation of the Guidelines.
Cases Office
Reported to CPOC directly from July to September 2025:
- Clearance requests/inquiries: 12
- Consultations: 1
- Compliance requests: 1
- Leadership Complaint: 2
- New cases: 5
- Out of which whistleblower cases: 2
- Historical case/follow-up: 1
- Cases closed: 2
Relationship Building and Outreach:
- Presented at the ISKCON Asia-Pacific Law Conference (Sydney, Australia, on July 13, 2025), where the independent investigators were discussed (Govinda Lilamrta dd)
- In September 2025, Bharat CPO facilitated a meeting with CPT members across India, where CPOC presented the Enhanced Approach. Over 90 devotees attended, and the feedback received was very positive.
- Our website has been getting traction! In recent months, we were contacted by a few secular organizations in the United States that focus on child safety and family unity, who complimented us on our work and asked us to feature their services on our website.
SPECIAL THANKS TO CPO BHARAT!
CPOC extends our heartfelt appreciation to the Bharat Child Protection Office for being one of our strongest partners in advancing the Enhanced Approach to child protection. From the very beginning, CPO Bharat has engaged with openness, professionalism, and a spirit of collaboration. Their consistent communication with CPOC and willingness to apply the Enhanced Approach in complex and cross-jurisdictional cases have set an inspiring example for other regions. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and look forward to continuing this flourishing partnership in the service of safeguarding children within ISKCON.
Acyuta Kesava dasa joined the CPOC team as a collaborator in September 2025. Raised in a devotee family in Sydney and initiated at 15, he is a law and business student at Macquarie University, a Policy and Compliance Officer advocating for vulnerable individuals, and an active member of ISKCON’s Law Department and GBC Wills Committee.
Although aware of his past successes, the CPOC team was particularly impressed by the dedication, meticulousness, and humility he brought to supporting child protection work. He joined to strengthen the team’s professional expertise by connecting CPOC with qualified devotee lawyers, while actively contributing to CPOC’s work by undertaking key tasks and responsibilities.
His contributions include:
- Engaging devotee lawyers to translate the CPO Guidelines into major world languages with legal precision, ensuring the highest level of protection for local communities.
- Identifying devotee professionals who can serve on CPOC committees.
- Researching and compiling information to help ISKCON communities worldwide comply with local laws regarding key functions, including but not limited to whistleblowing, data privacy, and mandatory reporting.
CPOC is very grateful to have Acyuta Kesava d on board, as he brings a dynamic energy and proactive spirit that continuously inspires the entire team!