ABOUT US
We have over 50 years of experience in Child Protection, Child Rights, Child Safeguarding, Learning and Development, and Safeguarding Vulnerable Populations, including the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
Our lead consultants have worked on developing organisational child safeguarding policies, procedures and training packages in countries throughout Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and North America. We have experience working with UN agencies, international and national NGOs, faith-based organisations and global consortia and alliances.
Our consultants have experience with donor safeguarding requirements, including the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). We are actively involved in advocacy around safeguarding global standards, guidelines and best practices. Safeguarding standards which Child Safe Horizons follows include those of the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, the Core Humanitarian Standards, and the United Nations Secretary-General’s Bulletins and Guidance on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
Karen Rasmussen - Director
I am a safeguarding and protection specialist with over 23 years of experience in development and humanitarian contexts across Asia, the Pacific, and Australia. My work has taken me from Cambodia and Papua New Guinea to Thailand and the United States, with consulting assignments in more than a dozen other countries.
​
My expertise covers child protection, child safeguarding, and the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEA/H). I have developed a strong global reputation for helping organizations design and implement safeguarding systems that strengthen accountability and protect vulnerable populations.
​
I am passionate about delivering interactive, strengths-based training and have a proven ability to work effectively across cultures. I am also experienced in risk assessment, program evaluation, compliance with donor and UN safeguarding requirements, and inter-agency coordination.
​
I founded Child Safe Horizons to provide consulting, research, and training in child safeguarding and protection in emergencies. We support organizations to strengthen their policies, practices, and culture through both online and face-to-face services.
​
Most recently, I served with the International Organization for Migration (IOM–UN Migration) in Washington, D.C., as the agency’s first National PSEA Officer in the United States. I am now available for short- and long-term contracts as I establish residency in Mexico.
​