International Safeguards for Children in Sport

International Safeguards for Children in Sport

This resource “International Safeguards for Children in Sport” is a draft set of Standards, called Safeguards, that were developed by a partnership of organisations working together for the Beyond Sport Summit in London, 2012. These were further developed through an extensive piloting phase over the following two years.

The finalised version of the Safeguards was launches at the Beyond Sport in October 2014. They lay the foundations for a holistic approach for ensuring children’s safety and protection in all sports contexts internationally.

Right to participate in sport in a safe and enjoyable environment

Millions of children and young people take part in sporting activities every day across the world. For  some children this is purely for recreation and fun. Others may participate in sport for development programmes. For some young people sport may be their chosen future career, either as talented athletes,  as coaches or as officials. Sport may also be used as  a vehicle for diverting young people from anti-social  or criminal behaviour.
Children have the right to participate in sport in a safe and enjoyable environment. Their rights are enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Over the past 15 years or so victims of all forms of violence in sport have started to be able to have their voices heard and responded to. Previously there has been little questioning of the perception that sport is only a force for good for young people. Until the late 1990s/ early 2000s very few sports organisations had put in place systems and structures to respond to complaints about the behaviour of adults or other young people.