Sports

In April 2020 the Centre for Sport and Human Rights led a call for experts and practitioners in child rights, protection, and safeguarding in sport to come together to consider the Sports-Related Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children. A paper of the same name was subsequently published in June 2020.

UNICEF has long recognized that there is great value in children’s sport and play, and has been a consistent proponent of these activities in its international development and child protection work. Health, educational achievement and social benefits are just some of the many desirable outcomes associated with organized physical activity.

Discover how sports coaches can engage, communicate and understand the positive contributions that parents can play in sport. From how best work with parents to, how to involve parents and recognise their involve is a positive factor in their child’s participation in sport, resulting in a positive experience for all involved.

Dr Camilla Knight describes the critical roles that parents play in supporting their children through their sporting journey. This includes the emotional support parents offer as children learn about winning and losing and ensuring they are a positive role model through their behaviour at competitions and when playing sport themselves.

An expert group (XG) on Good Governance was set up in 2015 to produce recommendations on this key topic. The XG held its first meeting on 16 October 20214 and began its work on the protection of minors deliverable on 23 February 2016, followed by further discussions on 12 May and 14 July.

UNICEF and the Olympic Committee for Children with Disabilities signed a co-operation agreement on the inclusion of children with disabilities in sports activities.

This cooperation agreement provides comprehensive and inclusive sports activities, direct health services and early childhood development for 6-8 year olds and young people with intellectual disabilities.

Sexual abuse happens in sport too. It is hard for children to talk. Video clip to call public authorities and the sport movement to give children a voice and stop child sexual abuse in sport. Produced by the Council of Europe with the support of the European Union in the framework of ProSafeSport . starttotalk.org

An expert group (XG) on Good Governance was set up in 2015 to produce recommendations on this key topic. The XG held its first meeting on 16 October 20214 and began its work on the protection of minors deliverable on 23 February 2016, followed by further discussions on 12 May and 14 July.

The Council of Europe has put together guidance and examples of Code of Conduct in sports.

"Guiding principle

One of the most popular instruments to protect children’s safety in sport is the code of conduct for all people involved in sport.

Indeed, many of the available normative frameworks mention this instrument as a suitable tool in the prevention of sexual violence in sport. Promoting ethical guidelines, a code of conduct, ethical leadership or an acceptable standard of behavior is recommended in all documents.