Safeguarding, child protection
Gday dear reader. “Millions of children around the world are involved in football.
What these children all have in common is the right to enjoy football in a safe environment, in a culture of respect and understanding,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Safeguarding means taking proactive action to protect people from harm or abuse through appropriate prevention and response measures and promoting their wellbeing.
It means doing everything possible to identify and address risks and to prevent any kind of harm or abuse from happening such as physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect trafficking and exploitation.
It also means having appropriate systems in place to adequately address and respond to concerns.
Child protection is an essential part of safeguarding and refers to the action taken in response to a specific concern for a child or children, who may be suffering or is/are at risk of suffering harm or abuse.
It requires referral to specialised child protection services, law enforcement agencies and experts from local organisations that are trained to advice on, and manage cases, if concerns arise about a child’s welfare.
OOD Integrity
FIFA’s mission is to promote the game of football, protect its integrity and bring the game to all. As part of that effort, “FIFA’s vision 2020-2023, making Football Truly Global” sets out FIFA’s commitment to promote safe sport as part of broader efforts to protect human rights.
One of the cornerstones of this commitment is the FIFA Guardians Safeguarding Programme, which provides a framework to help the 211 FIFA members.
This is done in order to prevent any risk of harm to children in football and respond appropriately.
Everyone in football has the right to protection from harassment, abuse and exploitation, be it physical, emotional or, sexual, neglect or bullying.
When members of the football family, such as players, coaches, officials, volunteers, or staff members, are subjected to or engage in, abusive behaviour or misconduct, it undermines FIFA’s mission and is inconsistent with promoting the integrity and the values of safe sport.
Children(all those U18) have specific rights to protection, as articulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, because of their need to be cared for and owing to their dependency on others.
Safeguarded
FIFA also identifies young people over the age of 18, women and persons with disabilities, especially vulnerable groups, who must be safeguarded in the delivery of the beautiful game.
FIFA has introduced a Diploma in Guardian Safeguarding in Sports, which commenced on March 2021. Currently, each FIFA member has two participants in this programme. This is a three-year online programme with five courses. These courses are safeguarding essentials, FIFA guardian starting your safeguarding journey, FIFA guardian developing safeguarding effectiveness, FIFA guardians embedding safeguarding practice, and FIFA guardians promoting wider safeguarding change. For this programme, EFA is represented by Lucky Dube and Sibonangaye Dlamini.
In conclusion, safeguarding is a very important aspect of child development. It is, therefore, imperative for everyone in a child’s life to ensure that it is in place. Safeguarding entails the prevention of child and vulnerable adults from any kind of abuse and harm. It also ensures that children’s rights are respected and that children do enjoy them.
Till next week, football for all and safe life for all.