LIST OF INITIATIVES
LIST OF PROJECTS, ACTIONS, INITIATIVES RELATED TO PREVENTING AND COMBATING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN SPORTS
START TO TALK
“Start to Talk” represents an initiative by the Council of Europe, specifically a call for action to public authorities and the sport movement to stop child abuse. It aims at preventing and addressing child abuse in sport. It encourages athletes, coaches, parents, and organizations to speak out against abuse and promotes safe sporting environments for children and young athletes. The initiative provides resources and guidelines to help recognize, report, and prevent abuse, fostering a culture of transparency and protection in the sports community. “Start to Talk” is about adults breaking the silence and lending children a voice.
CENTRE FOR PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND AWARENESS “REACT ACT PREVENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE”
The Social Policy and Action Organizations, since 2020, operates the Centre for Prevention, Education and Awareness “React Act Prevent Sexual Violence”, with the aims to a) educate and provide information and raise awareness to different target groups (young people, parents, CSO officers, government officers, policy makers, and media) regarding prevention of sexual violence, b) develop and provide innovative tools and methods of primary prevention to combat sexual violence and c) to develop and promote effective strategies, policies and practices for sexual violence prevention, by other organizations. The Center was established at the end of the EU co-funded project entitled “React Act Prevent Sexual Violence Through Youth Work”.
REACT ACT PREVENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE THROUGH YOUTH WORK” (KA2 PROJECT)
The “React-Act-Prevent Sexual Violence Through Youth Work” was co-funded by the Erasmus+ (KA2), and was concluded by 31st Oct.2020. It was coordinated by the Social Policy and Action Organization and was implemented in five EU countries, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, France (including Martinique) and Spain.
The aim of the project was to provide youth NGOs with innovative comprehensive tools and means,to successfully and effectively adopt, plan, and implement prevention policies, strategies, programmes and practices aiming to combating sexual violence against children, adolescents and youth, based on primary prevention approaches including information sharing, awareness raising, education, training, networking and cooperation, using non-formal learning tools and methods. Throughout the project 7 intellectual outputs were produced: 1) Guide entitled “Sexual Violence Prevention Through Youth Work: Strategies, Programmes and Good Practices in Europe”. 2) Online Awareness-Raising Campaign “React Act Prevent Sexual Violence Youth Campaign”. 3) Package of E-Learning Training Modules entitled “React Act Prevent Sexual Violence Through Youth Work – Part A: Youth Organizations”. 4) Package of E-Learning Training Modules entitled “React Act Prevent Sexual Violence Through Youth Work – Part B: Individuals. 5) Interactive E-Learning and Training Platform on Sexual Violence prevention Through Youth Work. 6) Strategic Action Plan ” React Act Prevent Sexual Violence for Better Communities”. 7) Establishment and Operation of R.A.P.S.V. Info Centers (React Act Prevent Sexual Violence Info Centers).
I-PROTECT FROM SSI
The i-Protect Programme provides a holistic approach to a child safeguarding strategy. This includes digital learning and activities aimed at Coaches, Sports Managers, Safeguarding Officers and Leadership Teams. Supporting grassroots sport clubs with safeguarding education and guidelines through a) Safeguarding Courses for Individuals (FREE), b) Assisting sports club to develop a club safeguarding strategy, c) Custom Branded Safeguarding Training for Sports clubs
ETHOS “Engaging with gender-based violence through sport”
ETHOS is a pilot project implemented within the broader RESISTIRE project in collaboration with the Gender Studies Center of Panteion University. The main aim of ETHOS was to fill in the gap of activities aiming at raising awareness and promoting the prevention of GBV in sports and through sports in Greece by organizing a first series of sport activities that promote awareness of GBV and secondly by creating a tool kit that other sports organizations may use to promote relevant activities. As it is valued sports have a positive role in education promoting social and personal values and influence the behavior and attitudes of children and young athletes in their lives. The approach of the whole project was within the scope of the RESISTIRÉ project as it was based on an international conception of GBV that encompasses multiple forms of GBV and different actors. More specifically, the project addressed GBV, including verbal, non-verbal, physical, and sexual harassment, and abuse, against young female, male, but also LGBTQ+. It identified factors as age, race/ethnicity, class, disability, and sexuality that may play a role in GBV. The basic principle behind this approach was that prevention of GBV should not only target extreme types of GBV, but also more subtle forms of GBV that construct cultures that legitimize gender bias and abuse. The project organized activities that challenge GBV tolerant cultures in sport and engaged professionals working in the field, students interested in pursuing a career in sports, parents, and young athletes.
Moreover, the activities involved many interactive elements that were used as a basis to co-create the toolkit that will provide guidance to other organizations to promote GBV prevention in sports.
The expected outcomes were:
1. Raising awareness of intersectional GBV in and through sports in Greece amongst managers, coaches, training team members, students of Panteion and other Universities interested in working in the field, parents, and young athletes.
2. Developing tools to promote the prevention of GBV through sports in Greece underpinned by co-creating approaches and tools.
3. Promoting a culture that is gender sensitive and intolerant of GBV amongst coaches, parents, and young athletes.
More specifically, the ETHOS team collected data for the toolkit through a series of co-creative activities (meetings, workshops, interviews, and sport camps) in which coaches, parents, athletes, and students were actively involved in determining what is necessary and useful for effective implementation of measures to engage with gender-based violence in sport. The overall approach of the project was informed by a commitment to gender equality in sport.
BULLYING, DISCRIMINATION OVERCOME GAME (BULL.D.O.G.)
BULLDOG is a project developed in 2019-2021, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Sport programme of the European Union.
The main objective of the project is to prevent and combat bullying, discrimination and intolerance in team sports by developing a big, innovative, anti-bullying game, namely the BULLDOG Game, using both modern technology and anti-bullying activities in the sports fields. The BULLDOG Game consists of an App in 6 EU languages (EN, GR, IT, PT, RO, SK) designed for young athletes aged 9-15 years old to raise awareness against bullying and to encourage victims of bullying to continue playing sport. The APP contains an initial psychological test to identify young people at risk of bullying; 60 role-plays in the form of short videos with realistic bullying scenarios to help young people recognise and deal with possible bullying incidents; a final evaluation test.
The game then moves from the digital realm to the field with motor activities and anti-bullying role-plays, always aimed at young athletes, which can be led by sports coaches and educators.
The games can be found at https://www.bulldogproject.eu/abt/ – App available for iOS and Android
CHILD SAFEGUARDING IN SPORT
“Child Safeguarding in Sport” (CSiS) was a European Union (EU) and Council of Europe (CoE) joint project (1 March 2020 – 30 June 2022). Its main aims were to guide and accompany European countries towards effective child safeguarding in sport policies, through the setting up of positions of Child Safeguarding Officers. 6 countries were partners to the project: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Israel, Norway and Portugal.
The aims of the CSiS project were to guide and accompany European countries in the development of (more) effective child safeguarding in sport policies that ensure safe, positive and empowering sport environments for all children. The project was based upon the following three components:
- Providing the partner countries with tailor-made roadmaps for (more) effective child safeguarding in sport policies, including concrete steps for setting up Child Safeguarding Officers,
- Developing the competences and skills of those who will have a role to play in implementing the roadmaps and in the setting up of CSO roles,
- Equipping all those who can play a role in ensuring a safe sport environment for all children (Child Safeguarding Officers, decision-makers, coaches, sport leaders, trainers, etc.) with resources and examples of good practice.
REACT ACT PREVENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE THROUGH YOUTH WORK
The “React Act Prevent Sexual Violence Through Youth Work” project, co-funded by Erasmus+ (KA3 Action) was concluded by the Social Policy and Action Organization, in October 2022 and represented the follow-up of a previously implemented KA2 project. The project aimed at fostering the active participation of young people in raising awareness, sensitization and promote youth policy reforms,to policy-makers,youth experts and public authorities involved in youth issues,to seriously considerate designing and implementing joint and dynamic primary prevention actions on a community level to compact sexual violence. The project was encompassed by the following activities: 1) Creation of a group of Youth Ambassadors, composed by 10 young people (aged 18-35 years old), and organization of bi-monthly meetings for design and promotion of project activities,outputs and outcomes,raising awareness and sensitization. 2) Organization of Round Table Discussions entitled “Primary Prevention Actions Against Sexual Violence on a Community level”, were organized in Nicosia,Larnaca,Paralimni,Limassol and Pafos,with key stakeholders, representatives of local community,municipality and public stakeholders.3) Organization of a Debate entitled “Youth Policies and Practices Promoting Legislation Reforms Related to Sexual Violence Prevention”,with young people having the opportunity to discuss possibilities and recommend to MPs,Commissioners,Ministers, policy and legislative reforms related to sexual violence prevention.4) Organization of workshops, for youth workers and young people, entitled “React Act Prevent Sexual Violence – Primary Prevention Actions and Practices” in Nicosia,in Larnaca,in Paralimni,in Limassol and in Pafos. 5) Awareness Raising and Sensitization Seminars “Primary Prevention Practices, Actions and Measures Combating Sexual Violence for Young People” organized in Nicosia,Larnaca,Paralimni,Limassol and Pafos.
VOICES FOR TRUTH AND DIGNITY
The “Voices for truth and dignity” represents a project combatting sexual violence in European Sport through the voices of those affected. The VOICE project generated crucial research data for the European sport community by listening to the voices of those that have been affected by sexual violence in sport. The resulting evidence-base provided a platform for powerful knowledge-exchange opportunities and educational resources. The objective was to enhance the sports community’s capacity to combat sexual violence and strengthen integrity in sport. The project based on the principle that policy and initiatives generated from the accounts of those that have experienced sexual violence in sports settings will be highly valued and, therefore, most effective in ‘reaching’ the sports community and promoting knowledge-transfer, education and development.
SAFE SPORT ALLIES
Safe Sport Allies is a collaborative partnership between three sport organisations, two universities and one research centre, one international child protection agency, one safe sport practice developer and one survivor led organisation from different European countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Cyprus and Hungary) and complementary background, tradition, experience and expertise in safeguarding policies in and outside sport.
SPORTS OPENS SCHOOL (SOS)
Sport Opens School is a project developed in 2019-2021, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Sport programme of the European Union and coordinated by CUS Padova. The project started from the idea of improving the teaching of physical education in high schools, taking advantage of the positive role that sport can play as a tool for education and the promotion of positive universal values.
The main objective of the SOS project was to create an innovative physical education module in high schools that is more engaging for students and that takes into account the importance of physical activity in promoting young people’s health and well-being; the ethics of sport, including discussions on fair play, integrity, anti-bullying and the prevention of violence in sport; and the development of young people’s life and employability skills through sport. The final SOS Toolkit has been developed as a practical tool for physical education teachers to incorporate issues that are often not addressed in the classroom, with an approach that encourages students’ active participation in practical experiments and discussions on ethical and personal issues.
COMBATING VIOLENCE AND BULLYING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE
The Social Policy and Action Organization coordinated a project entitled “Violence and Bullying Among Young People”, funded by the YOUTH Programme of the European Commission.
The project involved the organisation and implementation of a Training Course, entitled “Combating Violence and Bullying Among Young People” on 4th to 10th May 2014, in Nicosia, Cyprus.
In total 23 youth workers, youth leaders, youth researchers participated at the Training Course representing different youth organisations in Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Malta and Cyprus.
The aims of the Training Course were a) to bring together representatives from youth organisations working with othe young people from different EU countries for a common severe social problem that of youth violence and bullying, b) to transfer knowledge, know-how and expertise to participants on the severe issue of violence and bullying among young peole and to present methods and programmes for prevention, c) to present innovative programmes and success stories implemented in other countries for raising awareness and educating teachers, parents and youth workers.
During the training course a combination of methods applied, thus included theoetical seminars for participants to receive the basic theoretical background, presentations by key-speakers specialised on issues of youth violence and prevention, interactive workshops to receive knowledge of methods to apply in their youth work, small and large group discussions to exchange information, expertise and know-how, short film presentations and discussions, energizers and team-building activities and distribution of educational and other material.
OTHER PROJECTS RELATED
SONKEI
SONKEI seeks to prevent violence and intolerance in sport through education and promotion of values of respect, courage, gender equality, inclusion and non-violence. The project intends to change the mindsets of people and initiate social change that will provide safer environment for everyone. The duration of the project is 24 months, and it involves 8 partner organizations from eight European countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey.
WOMEN’S HURDLES
The “WOMEN’S HURDLES” project has the aim to develop, implement and transfer innovative practices related to physical activity in a high-risk and usually hard to reach population: women, especially those with family and working loads. The “WOMEN’S HURDLES” project objective is to promote and support EU strategies in the area of social inclusion and equal opportunities, encouraging participation in sport and physical activity (supporting the implementation of EU Physical Activity Guidelines). The collaborative partnership involves various organisations and actors in and outside sport (research and preventive institution, sports association, scientific associations, social association). This project has been inspired by this recommendation about the lifestyle interventions.
GoSport
The GoSport project aims at: Enhancing the capacities and awareness of sports clubs/organizations, professional and semi-professional sports teams and clubs on implementing good governance principles through social responsibility, focusing on participation and inclusivity irrespective of gender, race, sexuality, disability, age or otherwise, and the promotion of human rights. Improving knowledge on how sport organizations interpret, manage and prioritise social responsibility issues within their organizations, especially in terms of combatting violence and tackling racism, discrimination and intolerance, as well as in encouraging social inclusion and equal opportunities. Providing tools to sports organizations and professionals for understanding the relationships among the organization, its stakeholders and society, and integrating socially responsible organizational governance practices. Contributing to the promotion of participation and inclusivity principles in sport through social responsibility. The project also addresses the European policies in the field of sport, since the EU is fully engaged to promote good governance in sport and the promotion of good governance principles has been a priority.
FOOTBALL AS A SEED FOR GENDER EQUALITY
The objective of the project “Football as a seed for gender equality” is to fight discrimination and gender inequality through sport. Although sport is a phenomenon that involves both men and women, it is characterized by profound gender differences: men participate more in sport than women. In particular, women’s participation is very low in sports such as football, which in the collective imagination is considered a “male sport” and not suitable for women. The lower participation of women is a consequence of gender roles imposed by the society which inevitably influence the desires, interests and aspirations of boys and girls.
EMPOWERING WOMEN ATHLETES
Empowering Women Athletes: Tackling Feminine Abuse, Violence and Discrimination in EU Sports Clubs. Sport is a means of self-expression and fulfilment, as well as a force for citizenship and solidarity, while stressing how violence against women, stereotyping, differences in payment and barriers to women’s involvement in management are still problems tackling the sport sector. Those barriers act on multiple levels (verbal, physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, social, cultural, organisational, economic, mediatic, ecc.) and are collectively perceived as a pervasive chauvinist culture that permeates the career of any female athlete.
EGPIS2 - ENCOURAGING GIRLS’ PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS
EGPiS2 project – Encouraging girls’ participation in sports – 2, EGPiS2, was born in the wake of the success of the omonymous previous project, and aims to deal in-depth with some crucial aspects concerning the theme of girls’ and young women’s participation in sports, aspects that were brought to light from the first project. The importance of gender equality thematic is, as we know, largely recognized by Еuropean institutions, so much that it’s considered one of the fundamental principles of the European Union, and it’s described as “basic principle of democracy and respect for humankind” (Communication from the Commission “Incorporating equal opportunities for women and men into all community policies and activities, 1996).