In partnership with UNICEF, British Council Launches Safeguarding Toolkit to Support Partner Schools in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf in Addressing Digital Risks and Low Disclosure

Manal Saleh

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 1^st April 2026:  The British Council has launched a new global Safeguarding Toolkit, developed in partnership with UNICEF, to help Partner Schools, in the Middle East and North Africa region strengthen early identification, proportionate action and consistent safeguarding practice.

Across the Middle East and North Africa, safeguarding risks are often hidden rather than absent. Digital exposure has increased the risk of online grooming, while social stigma can prevent children from speaking out. UNICEF and the ITU report that one in three internet users worldwide is a child, increasing exposure to manipulation online. The World Health Organization estimates that one in seven adolescents lives with a mental health condition, often intersecting with safeguarding concerns in school settings. Yet the persistent gap is not awareness; it is implementation. Many schools have safeguarding policies, but everyday decision-making can vary.

Fakhar Jaffery, Exams Director, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain at the British Council, said:Like their counterparts, some schools in Saudi Arabia are navigating a rapidly changing landscape covering digital risks*- ranging from wrongful use of AI to online bullying and harassment. At the same time, stigma can make disclosure difficult for many students. This Toolkit provides school leaders, teachers and the wider community with the structure needed to recognise concerns early and respond consistently, ensuring safer learning environments for students.’

Almudena Olaguibel, Child Protection Officer at UNICEF Spain, said: ‘The Safeguarding Toolkit reflects a shared understanding between the British Council and UNICEF that effective protection depends on systems, not improvisation. As safeguarding risks become more complex and less visible, preparation, clarity and shared responsibility across school communities are essential.’

Designed as a practical, role-based implementation resource for everyday school use, the Toolkit supports a whole-school approach that reduces reliance on individual judgement. It clarifies responsibilities, strengthens recording, follow-up, establishes shared thresholds and escalation routes.

As safeguarding concerns increasingly move between online and offline environments, the Toolkit helps schools respond more consistently to risks including online grooming, harassment, coercion, impersonation and AI-generated sexual imagery, enabling earlier intervention before concerns escalate.

Rolling out across 2,500+ British Council Partner Schools globally, reaching nearly 1.7 million students, the Toolkit is designed to be adaptable across local legal contexts while maintaining consistency across an international school network.

The Safeguarding Toolkit is available to the media upon request.