Prevention of harm

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Abstract

The full article is only available after purchase.

Abstract

This review was commissioned by the Child Abuse Programme (CAP) of Oak Foundation, a large international philanthropic organisation. It forms part of CAP’s effort to win societal rejection of practices such as the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents around major sporting events (MSEs), and to embed prevention and protection from exploitation as a permanent concern for global sports-related bodies.

Executive Summary

This document details eight safeguards that should be put in place by any organisation providing sports activities to children and young people. Reflecting international legal and child protection standards and good practice, these Safeguards have been informed by research conducted by Brunel University with a diverse range of perspectives from different countries and have been piloted by organisations all over the world.

The eight safeguards are:

"Start to talk” is a Council of Europe call for action to public authorities and the sport movement to stop child sexual abuse. By joining this call, governments, sport clubs, associations and federations, as well as athletes and coaches, pledge to take concrete measures to prevent and respond to abuse.

UNICEF has published a step-by-step guidance for businesses on how to set up their onw, internal child safeguarding policies, in order to ensure the safety and rights of children that come into contact wiht the organisation or its products and services.

'It's our game, not yours'

This video shows several children involved in different sports describing how the behaviour of parents and spectators deteriorates when they wear their ‘magic sports kit’ – that is, when they compete.

The young people talk about a range of bad adult behaviours and how these negatively affect them. They then describe and promote positive behaviour.