The 2023 Guidelines authorize ‘Procedural Rreviews’ of CPO cases that have been adjudicated for the purpose of examining whether they were handled in accordance with the established Child Protection Office (CPO) Guidelines. A ‘Procedural Review’ is, by definition, limited in scope: it does not revisit the substantive merits of an adjudicated case but instead evaluates compliance with established CPO procedures.

“There is no further process of appeal unless there is clear and convincing evidence of a substantial failure to follow these guidelines and/or a lack of fairness in the proceedings which would constitute a gross miscarriage of justice. Allegations of a failure to follow these guidelines and/or a gross miscarriage of justice shall be decided by the ICPO Oversight Committee. The ICPO Oversight Committee’s review shall be limited to procedural matters.” CPO Guidelines 2023

Accordingly, CPOC is authorized to review matters for procedural compliance and to make recommendations to the GBC Executive Committee. The Interim ICPO Director—during this transitional period—or, in the future, the respective Regional Director, issues a decision taking into account CPOC’s recommendation.

Recently, CPOC conducted its first ‘Procedural Review’ and submitted a recommendation to the GBC Executive Committee. After careful examination, it was determined that the matter had been handled outside the scope of the CPO Guidelines. It was concluded that this was never a CPO case to begin with and should not have been processed as one. Following this finding, the GBC EC, with the consent of the General Counsel, authorized the Interim CPO Director to issue a decision consistent with CPOC’s recommendation.

This development highlights the importance of maintaining procedural fairness, objectivity, and confidentiality in all child protection matters. A failure to adhere to these principles not only jeopardizes the safety of children but also places ISKCON as an institution at legal and reputational risk. Devotees whose rights are violated within ISKCON have the option to pursue remedies in secular courts and, in some instances, have already done so.

CPOC encourages all leaders to be mindful of these concerns and to reach out whenever questions arise regarding cases reviewed by CPOC. While confidential case details cannot be shared with members of the congregation, ISKCON leaders may contact CPOC directly and confidentially for clarification or guidance.

Upholding the established principles of child protection is essential to ensure that children are genuinely safeguarded through a coherent system built on predictability, documentation, and enforceable standards – principles that preserve both their safety and our integrity as a community.

We’re excited to share Issue #2 of our newsletter!

Inside you’ll discover:

• ⁠A message from the CPOC team on where we’ve been and where we’re heading.
• ⁠A summary of key activities from July to September 2025.
• The main challenges we’re tackling — and how we’re working through them.
• Spotlight on our regional offices, outreach efforts, and how you can get involved.

Thank you for being part of this journey to create safer, healthier communities for children. Let’s keep building together!

Read the full newsletter HERE

The Latin America Regional Governing Body Executive Committee (LA RGB EC), chaired by Baladeva d, met on September 16, 2025, with the Child Protection Oversight Committee (CPOC) to review the progress and challenges of child protection service in the region. While Latin America is divided into four GBC areas, only a few countries have established Child Protection Teams thus far.

What shines through most is the dedication of the devotees serving in this area. Despite limited resources, child protection work is being carried out entirely by devotee volunteers who give their time and energy out of care for the safety of children. This speaks not only to their commitment but also to the potential for growth once stronger structures and support systems are in place.

Encouraging developments are already underway. Training is being consistently conducted in Spanish, and it has been agreed that CPOC will support the region with practical tools, including translations of key documents, connections with regional legal professionals, and the launch of a new online learning platform through CPOC’s Safeguards Office. Next steps will also involve a closer collaboration with national child protection directors and the Regional Director to ensure alignment and shared momentum.

The meeting affirmed that while there are challenges, the foundation is strong: a network of sincere, service-minded devotees ready to protect and care for the most vulnerable. With steady support and growing collaboration, we trust that child protection in Latin America will continue to blossom into a sustainable, well-rooted service for generations to come.

As Baladeva prabhu humbly expressed, “I would like to mention the noble service given by Citra Gopi dd from Argentina, as well as Visala das, Murtimati dd, and Omkara prabhu from Peru.” Of course, he did not mention his own tireless service but it is one without which CPO in Latin America could not stand.

Photo courtesy of Arjun Bhattacharyya Photography

The GBC announces the release of the revised 2023 Child Protection Guidelines, now available to the ISKCON community. These updated Guidelines incorporate the recommendations of the Child Protection Review Committee and the Child Protection Working Group – both formed by the GBC in 2022–2023 to further strengthen ISKCON’s policies and procedures for safeguarding children.

Unanimously adopted by the GBC and ratified by the SABHA in January 2024, the Guidelines were the subject of extensive discussion during the 2024 Annual General Meeting. Unfortunately, due to an administrative oversight, they were not published at that time. This delay is acknowledged, and the commitment to transparency and accessibility is reaffirmed moving forward.

The GBC remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children in ISKCON. The revised Guidelines are available HERE

Issued by GBC Communications

GBC Communications’ announcement

We’re pleased to announce the release of CPOC’s first newsletter! This issue highlights key developments since the Child Protection Oversight Committee was established in early 2025 by the GBC.

In this issue, you’ll find:

• Overview of CPOC’s mission and structure
• Timeline of formation and key accomplishments
• Challenges faced and plans for the upcoming period
• Ongoing initiatives to improve transparency and accountability
• Updates on case metrics and inter-regional collaboration

Child protection is a shared responsibility – and we invite you to read, reflect, and support this vital work.

Read the full newsletter HERE

July 2025 — The Child Protection Office Committee (CPOC) was honored to participate in the ISKCON Law Department’s inaugural Asia-Pacific Conference, held in Sydney, Australia. This historic event brought together legal professionals, GBC members, and temple leaders to address pressing issues of governance and safeguarding across the region.

As part of the program, CPOC delivered a session titled “Protecting Children in ISKCON.” The presentation emphasized ISKCON’s evolving global child protection framework and shared updates on its newly implemented Enhanced Approach to Child Protection, as adopted by the GBC on January 3, 2025.

The newly established Child Protection Office Committee (CPOC) is dedicated to safeguarding the well-being, dignity, and safety of children across ISKCON’s global communities. Our mission is to create an environment where children can grow, learn, and serve joyfully, with the full support of a robust protection system.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website: www.iskconcp.org

Here, you’ll find valuable resources on child protection, including how to recognize potential risks, how to respond appropriately, and how to report any concerns you may have.

Date: February 21, 2025

In January, the GBC approved the implementation of an enhanced child protection approach. However, it was noted that further consultation and a phased transition are needed. To address this, the Child Protection Oversight Committee (CPOC) will engage with regional CPO directors, Regional Governing Bodies (RGBs), and other stakeholders to address key issues such as external investigators, cross-jurisdictional cases, consistent standards, cultural differences, and regional case review bias.

The new approach will be implemented alongside the existing ICPO model for cases reported after March 1, 2025, with at least one case tested under the CPOC framework. The results will be reviewed during the GBC mid-term meetings before full implementation.

To facilitate a smoother transition, the GBC has extended the original transitional period to 3 to 9 months and has endorsed the appointment of the Justice Minister as the Transitional ICPO Director to oversee the process.

Please download the full text of the GBC meeting report here .

Date: March 9, 2024

The GBC and ICPO Director Kamalesh Krishna dasa held discussions from March 1st to 3rd, 2024, on improving child protection efforts. It was recognized that there is room for improvement at various levels of administration and the application of established procedures. Everyone present in the discussion committed to making increased efforts to support the ICPO.

ISKCON Child Protection Oversight Committee (CPOC) Fact Sheet outlines the key points of ISKCON’s newly adopted Enhanced Approach to Child Protection. As the first official document issued by the CPOC, it aims to address and clarify concerns. It attempts to provide accurate information while promoting transparency. Child protection and care is the responsibility of every member of ISKCON. A preventative approach based on good governance, independence, accountability, and fairness informs this Enhanced Approach to Child Protection.

Please download the Fact Sheet here .