July 2025

CPOC Newsletter

Issue #1

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From the CPOC Team: Our First Newsletter

As a newly created GBC-appointed body, the Child Protection Oversight Committee (CPOC) is pleased to share the first edition of our regular newsletter series.

These newsletters will serve as a transparent window into our ongoing work—sharing updates, initiatives, and important developments related to child protection oversight within ISKCON.

In alignment with our core principles of transparency, accountability, and community collaboration, we aim to foster clear and consistent communication with the ISKCON community.

All current and future issues of this newsletter will be archived and publicly accessible at: www.iskconcp.org

We thank you for your continued support as we carry forward this essential service.

What is CPOC?

The Child Protection Oversight Committee (CPOC) is a GBC-nominated supervisory body established to ensure global accountability and adherence to ISKCON’s child protection policies.

While not directly involved in individual case management, adjudications, or appeals, CPOC provides essential governance, strategic guidance, and oversight to strengthen child protection across ISKCON communities worldwide.

TIMELINE: FROM TRANSITION TO IMPLEMENTATION

This brief timeline outlines the major milestones that led to the formation and official launch of the CPOC, reflecting the GBC’s ongoing commitment to strengthening ISKCON’s approach to child protection.

March 2024

GBC approves the appointment of an Interim Oversight Committee to ensure compliance with existing CPO policies (GBC Resolution 450.03; March 9, 2024).

August 2024 – January 2025

In-depth planning, discussions, staffing, and risk assessment for a new child protection implementation approach.

January 2025

CPOC is formally established as a GBC-mandated body with a mission to enhance and oversee ISKCON’s child protection system

February 2025

GBC passes an additional resolution (GBC resolution 450.03; February 21, 2025) requiring expanded stakeholder engagement by CPOC. This includes CPOC’s engagement in more in-depth consultations with regional CPO directors, RGBs, and other stakeholders.

March 2025

Official start of the Child Protection Oversight Committee’s mandate

ACTIVITIES: March-June 2025

Since the start of its mandate in March 2025, CPOC has focused on setting up essential infrastructure, tools, and outreach channels to support its mission. Below is a summary of our major accomplishments in this initial phase.

Launched new website: www.iskconcp.org

Building a global educational platform to host training and awareness courses for devotees. Once launched, the platform will be accessible directly through CPOC’s website.

Virtual office set up with email, communication, and task management systems

Began demo testing for suitable case management software to ensure integrity and security across regions

Documented internal processes, workflows, and responsibilities

Established archiving and data storage protocols

Initiated and maintained contact with Regional Governing Bodies (RGBs) and Regional Child Protection Offices

Established contact with Child Protection Teams and took part in in-person meetings and conversations with child protection teams.

Drafted work plan with KPIs and budgetary structure

Began reforming the clearance issuance system for accuracy and accountability

Investigator Network Development

Engaged in outreach to identify independent investigators

Held meetings with prospective investigators located in North America, Europe, and India

Created and shared job description via ISKCON’s legal devotee/attorney channels

LOOKING AHEAD

CPOC’s next phase involves deepening our service to the devotee community by rolling out educational content, enhancing coordination with local offices, ensuring restriction compliance, and continuing the development of practical systems for training and oversight.

Continue our efforts to compile and create foundational training materials
Strengthen collaborations with regional offices and stakeholders
Develop tools to support local CPO offices with compliance and case documentation
Continue building a transparent, accessible, and efficient infrastructure for child protection oversight

Statements

Guru Prasad Swami stated, “The safety and well-being of children is a sacred responsibility. With the establishment of the Child Protection Oversight Committee, staffed by experienced legal professionals with secular experience and expertise in dealing with child protection and prosecution, and a managed transition to this enhanced approach of implementing our child protection policy, we are ensuring that ISKCON creates a safe, nurturing environment for children.”

CPOC IN NUMBERS (From March 2025-June 2025)

As we build out our data and reporting systems, below are some early figures that reflect our engagement and workflow since the launch of the CPOC mandate.

50+ internal CPOC meetings
20+ meetings with RGBs, CPOC Directors, CPT members, and external parties, i.e., prospective investigators, social workers and legal professionals

Reported to CPOC directly:

Clearance requests/inquiries: 5
Appeals: 3
Consultations: 1
Compliance requests: 2
New cases: 3
Previously incomplete case follow-up: 2

CPOC has received inquiries and/or case submissions to date from the following sources:

Bharat CPO
Africa CPO
Mauritius CPT
UK CPT
Individual devotees

Among the recently reported cases, one noteworthy matter involved a cross-jurisdictional issue, which allowed us to foster meaningful cross-border collaboration. Two separate yatras and their respective oversight mechanisms participated in the process, offering mutual support and shared accountability. Witnessing devotees from different regions work together on a single case, while respecting the principles of the new approach, was encouraging and heartening.

We are also pleased to share that the enhanced approach to child protection has already been implemented and tested in India on two separate occasions. In both instances, external, independent investigators were engaged to carry out the investigative process. While the logistical aspects—such as onboarding, drafting legal agreements, and contract execution—proved challenging, these cases offered invaluable opportunities to refine our procedures and demonstrate that this new model can function in complex real-world scenarios.

These steps represent early signs of progress and the possibility of establishing a more consistent, accountable, and professional global framework for child protection within ISKCON.

Challenges

As part of our commitment to transparency, we note that historical case documentation remains an area requiring attention. We are actively working with regional leaders and external legal professionals to address gaps and ensure continuity, while keeping ISKCON’s children safe.

The main challenges we have faced include:

Incomplete archival of historical case files
Missing documentation on past decisions and clearance statuses
Community hesitation. As with any structural transition, it is natural that some devotees may express doubt or hesitation. We recognize that trust must be earned through consistency, transparency, and sincere engagement—and we are committed to building that trust over time through our actions.

These challenges have impacted CPOC’s mandate on two separate fronts: (1) ensuring that clearances that are being issued are accurate and done so reflecting the current status quo, and (2) seeing through the adjudication of pending appeals, which have been halted since before CPOC took office. These challenges have been communicated to the GBC EC and RGBs globally, and we have sought external legal assistance to better understand legal risks associated with these practices, as well as mitigation practices and a way to move forward with keeping ISKCON’s children safe while ensuring that pending case appeals are handled following the principles of due process and fairness. In fact, these challenges reinforce our commitment to serve with professionalism, humility, open communication, and alignment with ISKCON’s values of accountability and compassion.

A Note to the ISKCON Community

CPOC was created to uphold ISKCON’s commitment to protecting children and supporting safe devotional spaces for generations to come. This is our shared responsibility.

We welcome your feedback, support, and prayers as we continue to build systems rooted in dharma, transparency, and compassion.

For more information, visit:

www.iskconcp.org

office@iskconcp.org

FEATURE: Interim ICPO Director – H.G. Champakalata Devi Dasi

Although not a member of CPOC, H.G. Champakalata Devi Dasi has played an instrumental role during this transitional period, serving as a mentor and resource as we are establishing our systems and service approach. Her deep commitment to education, training, and structural reform in child protection coupled with her legal education and practice background (as a member of the judiciary and practicing attorney in private practice) has been a valuable support for our committee.

Acting in her independent capacity as Interim ICPO Director, she has:

Continued providing strategic guidance on training needs and best practices
Initiated planning for an in-person training in Europe, anticipated for Fall 2025
Met in person with the Europe CPO Director while in Italy, strengthening local engagement

We sincerely appreciate her dedication to child protection and her collaborative spirit in sharing knowledge and experience across ISKCON’s global landscape.