It is not always easy to identify harm or abuse. However,  there are some red flags whose presence will indicate the likelihood that harm or abuse has taken place, or is likely to happen if not prevented. 

Reflect on the following scenarios and attempt to justify if there is harm or not.

1. People in the office are talking about a new board member.  The rumour has it that in his last organisation, he had “favourites” and now, he has started to have private work meetings with a female staff member. A  few weeks later, the female staff member was promoted.
2. A learner with disabilities tells you that her uncle is touching her inappropriately when he visits the family home.
3. A male member of your support staff asks for a few days off to get married. After the congratulations, it becomes clear that the bride is 14 years old.
4. A colleague tells you that he heard that a senior male staff member keeps asking some learners to go for dinner with him alone. One of the learners mentioned to another of your colleagues that she feels uncomfortable but does not know what to do.
5. At a training, a member of staff from a partner organisation tells you that no one is being paid the salary that is declared, and they are all too scared to speak up.