Executive Summary

AuthorDirectorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (European Commission), ECORYS
Pages2-5
2
Executive Summary
The Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) of the
European Commission commissioned Ecorys and Thomas More University in January
2019 to undertake a mapping study addressing the topic of safeguarding children in
sport.
Background
The topic of safe sport, and safe sport for children in particular has ga ined significant
attention in recent years. Millions of children across the EU participate in different sport
activities on a regular basis. There is widespread evidence on the posi tive benefits of
regular sport participation for children such as improved physical and mental wellbeing,
personal and educati onal development and social inclusion. Recent cases of violence
against children in the media have drawn atten tion however to t he seriousness of the
safeguarding risks factors for chil dren and young people who take part in sport on a
regular b asis. Empirical studies across the EU have confirmed that sport provides an
environment in which a significant proportion of children are vulnerable to various forms
of violence and bullying. The increased coverage has highlighted the importance of
ensuring that organisations offering sport to young people implement adequate
safeguarding procedures to reduce the risks of children being harmed.
Aims and methodology
The key aims of this small-scale research study were to undertake a rapid review of
empirical evidence on violence against chil dren in sport across the EU an d to anal yse
how saf eguarding issues are d ealt with at nati onal and/or international level through
legal instruments and policy initiatives. This would serve to provide the European
Commission with adequate knowledge of existing ini tiatives in order to identify where
best to focus its efforts and those of the Member States. At the scoping stage of the
study a rapid literature review was completed to identify empirical evidence on th e
magnitude of safeguarding issues in sport across the EU. The i nitial literature review
was complemented by consultations with key international stakeholders. The second
element of the desk research was to undertake systematic reviews of available data and
information and evidence on relevant policy measures and initiatives in specific Member
States. Within the limits of the resources available for the study, it was possible to
complete systematic desk reviews of available evidence and information on children and
safeguarding i n 15 countries. The countries were selected on the basis of ensuring a
good mix of different levels of policy advancements, geographies and sizes, drawing
upon the call for evidence responses gathered from country experts. Finally, a number
of national and regional measures with a specific focus on safeguarding children against
violence i n sport were examined in more depth through more detailed desk research
and telephone interviews with policy officials. This resulted in 10 case studies which are
presented in boxes in the findings chapter.
Key findings and lessons
Evidence on the magnitude of violence against children in sport
A review of the literature shows that there is a growing body of evidence on the
magnitude of violence against children in sport. The review has shown that sexual,
gender-based and physical violence (including sexual abuse, sexual harassment, peer
aggression, forced physical exertion and self-harm) have been covered more extensively
by research studi es. Studies have highlighted the prevalence of p sychological violence
towards children in sport ( including bullying, emotional abuse, neglect, virtual
maltreatment, discrimination and hazing), however evidence on the specific risk factors
associated with psychological violence are less well covered.

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