Don’t let the kids become victim to seedy side of event
AWAY from the podium and the medals table, major sporting events have a seamy side.
When a city hosts an international competition, there is a spike in demand for the sex trade.
And as the market booms, there is a very real risk that some men may pay for sex with children aged 17 or under, believing them to be older.
Now a British-based campaign, It’s a Penalty, is working with sports stars across key dates in the sporting calendar to stamp out abuse of children clustered around these events.
They are currently campaigning at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, and will be moving on to the Hong Kong Rubgy Sevens and the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, in April.
Huge names such as Gary Lineker, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Usain Bolt have thrown their weight behind It’s a Penalty.
Their strategy is to educate locals, visitors and sporting officials about the penalties for child abuse – and the signs to look out for.
The slogan is “if you see something, say something”, and each event has a local number to call or text to raise the alarm.
As well as working with sports governing bodies of sport and event organisers, It’s a Penalty takes the message to hotels and airlines as well as charities and other organisations working with children and young people.
They highlight the global problems of child abuse and exploitation as well as the specific dangers of vulnerable children being groomed and exploited during global sports events.
Sarah de Carvalho set up It’s a Penalty specifically to protect children in the run-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
They built on this work at the Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics and estimate they have now “reached and impacted” 519million people throughout the world.
Sarah said: “There is no doubt that prevention is infinitely preferable to cure when it comes to child abuse.
“From our work with the 2014 World Cup and Rio 2016, we know how crucial it is to educate, equip and encourage the public to stop more children becoming victims of sexual violence.”
“With more than two million children exploited into the global sex trade every year, it’s never been more important for sports fans to work together as a team to protect vulnerable children and we hope our new initiatives will inspire much-needed change.” Visit itsapenalty.org for more information.
There is no doubt that prevention is preferable to cure