Mark Mungal Caribbean Sport and Development Agency

 Increasingly recognized for its benefits  Increasingly recognized as contributing to government strategies/objective s  Are we getting it right? SPORT

 Used by some to cause harm to children and young people  Deliberate/malici ous  Unintended/poor practice SPORT

 Training for team/club/school  Representing country/regional/inte rnational level  Participating in recreational sport in school/community settings  Participating in Physical Education in school… EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE FUN, BE SAFE AND FREE FROM HARM…

Lack of effectively functioning structures, policies, systems at organizational, national and international levels Marked absence of empirical data on violence against children in sport Good practice in sport for development initiatives can provide a vehicle to promote safeguarding and protection of children in sport Protecting Children from Violence in Sport (2010) – UNICEF, Innocenti Research Centre THE RESEARCH

A negative sporting culture exists. is accepted as the ‘norm’ and is perpetuated by peers, coaches and other adults Young people in the study reported emotional harmful treatment and unacceptable levels of sexual harrassment Peers were the most common perpetrators of all forms of harm reported in the research Experiences of Children Participating in Organized Sport in the UK (2011), University of Edinburg/NSPCC THE RESEARCH

92% of survey participants had observed or were aware of Emotional Abuse occurring to children in their sport 72% Incidence of Physical Abuse in Caribbean sport 47% Incidence of Sexual Harassment in Caribbean sport 19% Incidence of Sexual Harm in Caribbean Sport Caribbean Child Abuse & Poor Practice in Sport Study – CSDA THE RESEARCH

72% INCIDENCE OF PHYSICAL ABUSE IN SPORT

PHYSICAL ABUSE WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?

92% OF SURVEY PARTICIPANTS HAD OBSERVED OR WERE AWARE OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE OCCURRING TO CHILDREN IN THEIR SPORT

EMOTIONAL ABUSE WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?

DRUG ABUSE

SEXUAL HARASSMENT/HARM  47% Incidence of Sexual Harassment  Where sexual harassment includes any instances where children were subjected to unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Examples include a child being subjected to inappropriate physical contact or having sexual comments made about their appearance.  19% Incidence of Sexual Harm  Where sexual harm includes any instances where a child is abused by adults (female or male) or other young people to meet their own sexual needs. Examples include a child being touched sexually, kissed or being forced to have sexual intercourse against their will.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT/HARM

Ensuring that all children in the Caribbean have the opportunity to participate in sport in a safe and enjoyable environment. OUR COMMITMENT

COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY Making Sport Safer for Children Regional: CARICOM/OECS/CSDA International: Safeguarding Children in Sport Working Group National: Governments Departments of Sport/Youth

 UN International Working Group for SDP  2010: Included Child Protection in Sport as one of three Areas of Priority  2012: Safeguarding Children in Sport Working Group convened:  International Safeguarding Standards  Capacity Building (systems)  Lobbying (policy)  Learning (research)  Dissemination (sharing) INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

 Regional Task Force for Child Rights and Child Protection  Alignment with Regional Children’s Agenda  Inclusion of Safeguarding and Child Protection in Sport on CARICOM’s Regional Child Rights And Child Protection Plan Of Action 2013 – 2014  Regional Collaboration  Regional Meeting of Directors of Sport, CARICOM, CSDA  Sharing outcomes of IWG  Agreement on Regional Priorities  Commitments of Governments CARICOM

Filling the gap re data about harm to children participating in sport in the Caribbean Child Abuse and Poor Practice in Sport Study Brunel Study Research Government (Gov’t of T&T) Organizations (NGBs, CBOs, Youth-Led Orgs.) Policy/Guidelines Organizations Teachers/Coaches/Volunteers Parents Children Capacity/Resources Safestamp Organizations Individuals Systems PRIORITY ACTIONS

Regional registry of organizations and individuals who meet standards