What is safeguarding?
The UK’s Care Quality Commission offers a straightforward definition of the concept: “Safeguarding means protecting people's health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. It's fundamental to high-quality health and social care.”
The Council of Europe (COE) ran a Child Safeguarding in Sport project from 2020 to 2022, aiming to strengthen the abilities of European countries in preventing violence against children and promoting their wellbeing through the implementation of effective policies. The COE continues to highlight the need for safeguarding policies in sport through the “Start to Talk” campaign.
“Sport is great for children. It can bring joy and healthy habits, boost self-esteem and create a sense of belonging. Through sport, children adhere to key values and learn important life skills. However, abuse can also occur in sport,” states the COE website.
“Violence against children in sports happens far too often, affecting all countries and disciplines alike, and occur from grassroots to elite sport. Violence and abuse can leave scars for life. Most victims suffer in silence and never get help. Impunity allows many offenders to keep preying on children.”
While safeguarding does not focus solely on sexual violence, the COE’s Human Rights Channel states that sport presents an environment of risk in this context due to several factors, including:
high tolerance of physical violence and injuries
unequal power relationships between coaches and athletes
scandal avoidance, that is, silencing of incidents
male-dominated gender ratio
requirement for physical contact in many sports
reward structures
acceptance of discrimination and gender inequality
potential risk situations such as changing rooms, carpooling and overnight stays
Some of these factors can also relate to risk of other forms of violence, such as verbal abuse, discrimination and bullying. With the role that handball federations, associations and clubs play, safeguarding players and those around the game is therefore a vital consideration.
While safeguarding is not relevant only to women and girls, alarming statistics show that girls and women are more likely to be subject to different forms of abuse in sports environments. Safeguarding is therefore an important area in the context of developing women’s handball and women in handball, as well the game more broadly.
“Safeguarding on all levels is important and we have to create awareness that there is a right for a safe environment for women players. It should not be normal that trainers are shouting at the athletes, for example, and safeguarding concepts also should create awareness that ‘I can not be happy with that, and I can express that,’” says EHF Secretary General Martin Hausleitner.
