Guidelines for Branch Office Service Desks

These guidelines assist Service Desks to provide direction to the elders. Service Desks are to consider each case prayerfully and carefully so that direction given to the field will reflect divine wisdom and discernment as well as love and concern for Jehovah’s sheep, especially those who are victims of child abuse.—Isa. 32:1, 2; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2, 3.

What procedure does the Society follow in handling letters of inquiry or reports that a publisher knows of an appointed one [elder] who molested a child in the past?

Guidelines for Branch Service Desk Use Only, September 1, 2005, p. 5

Child Safeguarding Policies

Australia

We believe that parents have the primary responsibility for the protection, safety, and instruction of their children. Therefore, parents who are members of the congregation must be vigilant in exercising their responsibility at all times

Child Safeguarding Policy of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Australia, p. 1

United Kingdom & Ireland

The most recent child safeguarding policy is available in a difficult-to-locate section of jw.org: Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Scripturally Based Position on Child Protection