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UNICEF, GFF and RCC Strengthen Child Protection in Football
– 23 Sporting Professionals Trained in PSEA and Child Safeguarding
Kaieteur Sports – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) have recently concluded a two-day Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding sensitization workshop for football coaches, referees and key football officials from regions 3, 4 and 5 at the Cara Lodge Hotel Georgetown.
The two-day initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen child safeguarding mechanisms within football and ensure children and adolescents participating in the sport are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation and maltreatment.
Participants and officials gather for a photo at the UNICEF, GFF and RCC Child Protection programme. (GFF)
Recognising these risks and the need for proactive safeguarding measures, UNICEF supported capacity-building sessions tailored for football coaches, referees, GFF personnel and representatives of the Rights of the Child Commission who hold safeguarding oversight responsibilities.
The sessions focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of child safeguarding principles, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, international standards, professional conduct and behavioural expectations in youth sport environments.
Ms. Anna Valente, UNICEF Representative of Guyana and Suriname, at the opening of the workshop underscored the importance of safeguarding frameworks and continuous education for adults working with children in sport, noting that all children have the right to participate in recreational and sporting activities in environments that are safe and free from abuse and exploitation.
“Child safeguarding is a shared responsibility, and coaches and referees play an important role as trusted leaders in protecting the safety and well-being of children. Children themselves must be empowered with knowledge of their rights and provided with safe, accessible, and confidential mechanisms through which they can report concerns or seek support,” Ms. Valente said.
Highlighting that play is a fundamental human right that can only be fully realised when children are guaranteed absolute safety, Ms. Aleema Nasir, RCC Chairperson encouraged the participants to take their responsibility seriously. “A child cannot realise their true potential if they do not feel safe. A child cannot score goals while carrying the heavy, silent burden of fear,” she indicated.
Meanwhile, Mr. Wayne Forde, GFF President noted that the Federation remains committed to ensuring that football environments throughout Guyana are safe, inclusive and protective spaces for children and youths.
“We are deeply committed to making football a safe space for children by fostering an environment in which their fundamental rights are respected, protected, and upheld by everyone involved in their development and supervision while in our care. This is a sacred duty of the GFF and a shared responsibility across the entire football community,” Forde said
He added, “Working alongside the Rights of the Child Commission and UNICEF in pursuit of this mission is both a privilege and an honour, and I encourage everyone involved in sport to embrace this responsibility with the seriousness and commitment it deserves.”
The sensitization sessions were aligned with international child protection standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and UNICEF’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct.
The participation of children in sport provides opportunities for holistic development, including the strengthening of teamwork, leadership, discipline, resilience and problem-solving skills. However, global reporting has also highlighted the vulnerabilities children may face within sporting environments, including sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, trafficking and other harmful practices linked to gaps in safeguarding systems and unequal power dynamics.
The GFF, UNICEF and RCC will continue collaborating on initiatives aimed at strengthening child protection and child safeguarding systems within football and promoting safe sporting environments that support the wellbeing and development of children across Guyana.
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