RISE Project

a pioneering and innovative project addressing prevention of sexual violence in Sports.

Introduction

The ‘RISE: Rise Empowered Above Sexual Violence in Sports’ represents a pioneering and innovative project addressing prevention of sexual violence in Sports. Sexual violence is considered among the most serious social phenomenon, occurring against any person, regardless gender, age, race at any place, at any time. It is well acknowledged that the more people become sensitized and aware of the ruinous consequences caused to victims by any form of sexual violence, starting from traumas, even leading to death, and the more primary prevention actions are adopted, chances of combating it increase tremendously. The duration of the project is 36 months and is co-funded by the European Union.

Throughout its duration the project suggests innovative and effective activities which contribute towards combating all forms of sexual violence in sports. Different forms of sexual violence include among others sexual harassment, sexual abuse of children, rape or attempt for rape, dissemination of naked photos/videos without consent, catcalling, gaslighting, digital sexual violence, indecent exposure and others. During the implementation of activities other related forms of violence will be tackled as well including psychological, physical and verbal violence, which in most case co-exist with sexual violence incidences.

Aims

a) to develop and promote a comprehensive set of policies, guidelines and tools for prevention of sexual violence, to be adopted by different Sport Stakeholders, building on existing practices developed under previous EU projects and on authentic data and information gathered during research studies conducted during this project

b) to sensitize, raise awareness and enhance knowledge, know-how and skills on all related to sports either as individuals or as entitles, on sexual violence prevention methods and tools. Thus, contributing to ensuring a safe and sexual violence-free sport environment for all and at the same time intervening in time to prevent sexual violence acts,

c) to raise awareness among young people related to sports, especially athletes, on the phenomenon of sexual violence, risk indicators, prevention techniques, reporting and getting support actions in case of victimization.

Specific Objectives

  • To identify and assess the needs of key sports stakeholders, including athletes (15-30 yrs old), sports professionals, and sports administrators in terms of knowledge, skills, sensitization and awareness regarding prevention of sexual violence in sports.
  • To map existing sexual violence prevention and intervention strategies, programmes, practices applied in sports and to identified those with most impact and effectiveness.
  • To measure the prevalence of the different forms of sexual violence in sports, in all partner countries Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, Austria, Italy and Spain.
  • To develop and widely promote in all 7 partner countries and beyond the following important tools including a) a Protocol on ““Identification, Reporting and Support to Victims of Sexual Violence in Sports Protocol” b) Guide with Standards of Conduct and Codes of Behaviours within Sport Contexts. c) Handbook on “How to Create a Safe and Healthy Sport Environment Which Values Athletes as Human Beings”. d) Booklet for Young Athletes on “Step-by-Step Guidelines: What to do in Case You Experience Sexual Violence in Sports”.
  • To publish and operate an E-Learning, and Training Platform with all the modules developed and accompanied material, with open-access to anybody with interest on preventing sexual violence in sports.
  • To present face-to-face and pilot-test 12 educational and training modules and accompanied material, on preventing sexual violence in sports.
  • To enhance the knowledge, know-how and skills of experts and representatives of partner organizations on how to design and implement national training workshops for in their countries, utilizing the modules and material developed by within the project.
  • To provide the opportunity to Sports Professionals, Athletes and other Sport experts from the EU, to become familiarized with tools, and good practices in prevention and combating of sexual violence in sports, as well as exchange of views and ideas for the future.
  • To sensitize, raise awareness and enhance knowledge, know-how and skills of Sports Professionals, on sexual violence prevention methods and tools, thus contributing to ensuring a safe and sexual violence-free sport environment for all and at the same time intervening in time to prevent sexual violence acts.
  • To raise awareness and sensitize young athletes (15-30 yrs old), on the issue of sexual violence, risk indicators, prevention techniques as a multiplier for sensitisation and intervention practices as a bystander witnessing sexual violence and provide them with tools on actions followed in possible victimization cases.
  • To enhance knowledge and awareness of sports stakeholders, especially young athletes, on prevention of sexual violence in sports, utilizing audio-visual tools and materials, including the 3 videos produced and social media campaigns. Videos to be produced: Video 1 entitled “Step-by-Step Guidelines: What to do in Case You Experience Sexual Violence in Sports”. Video 2 entitled “Active Bystander Interventions to Stop Sexual Violence in Sports”. Video 3 entitled “Rise Empowered: Young Athletes Against Sexual Violence”.
  • To contribute towards young athlete’s sensitization and awareness raising by engaging them in a social medial campaign entitled “Sports Against Sexual Violence”.
  • To widely disseminate information about the project, its goals, objectives, activities as well as deliverables, products and results and at the same time sensitive and raise awareness on the importance of primary prevention of sexual violence.
  • To utilize successfully every dissemination channel to ensure the wide dissemination of information, utilizing audio-visual tools.
  • To secure sustainability and exploitation of project results through the wide dissemination of information all over Europe.

Target Groups

The project’s target groups include among others:

  • Athletes, especially young people, including those with fewer opportunities.
  • Individuals, organisations, and personnel of the professional network of the project partners.
  • Professionals, Practitioners, experts, clubs and organisations in the Sports Field
  • High level private and governmental Sport Stakeholders, including Ministries, Sport Authorities or Agencies and others.
  • Youth workers and professionals of social inclusion, advancement, and those providing support to victims and survivors of sexual violence.
  • Schools, universities, training providers, educational hubs and other interested organisations at local, regional, national level
  • Decision-makers, governance at local, regional, national level, e.g. steering groups, boards, policy influencers.
  • Press and media and other stakeholders and general civil society.
Project Activities

WP1: Project Management and Coordination

WP2: Research Studies and Knowledge Sharing

WP3: Development of Protocols, Policies and Guides for Prevention and Combat of Sexual Violence in Sports

WP4: Development of an Educational and Training Programme and E-Learning and Training Platform on Prevention of Sexual Violence in Sports

WP5: Skill Development, Knowledge Enhancement, Sensitization and Awareness Raising on Prevention of Sexual Violence

WP6: Development of Digitalized Audio-visual Educational, Sensitization and Awareness-raising Tools and Materials

WP7: Project Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation

Project Deliverables

Project outputs include publication of research reports, protocols, policies, guides, national and transnational learning and training programmes, E-learning and Training Platform, awareness raising campaign and promotional material, including videos, organization of a European Forum and national Info Days.

  • WP1: Project Management and Coordination
  • D1.1: Project Management and Coordination System
  • D1.2. Physical Transnational Partner Meetings
  • D1.3. Online Transnational Partner Meetings
  • WP2: Research Studies and Knowledge Sharing
  • D2.1. Comprehensive Research Report “Prevalence of Sexual Violence”
  • D2.2. Comprehensive Research Report “Assessment of Sensitization and Awareness Needs and Mapping of Good Practices for Prevention of Sexual Violence”
  • WP3: Development of Protocols, Policies and Guides for Prevention and Combat of Sexual Violence in Sports
  • D3.1. Protocol “Identification, Reporting and Support to Victims of Sexual Violence in Sports Protocol”
  • D3.2. Guide “Standards of Conduct and Codes of Behaviours within Sport Contexts”
  • D3.3. Handbook “How to Create a Safe and Healthy Sport Environment Which Values Athletes as Human Beings”
  • D3.4. Booklet entitled “Step-by-Step Guidelines: What to do in Case You Experience Sexual Violence in Sports”
  • WP4: Development of an Educational and Training Programme and E-Learning and Training Platform on Prevention of Sexual Violence in Sports
  • D4.1. Educational and Training Programme on Prevention of Sexual Violence in Sports comprised by 6 Modules for Sports Professionals and 6 Modules for Athletes
  • D4.2. E-Learning and Training Platform on Prevention of Sexual Violence in Sports
  • WP5: Skill Development, Knowledge Enhancement, Sensitization and Awareness Raising on Prevention of Sexual Violence
  • D5.1. Train-the-Trainers Workshop for Sports Professionals in Cyprus
  • D5.2. European Forum “Good Practices for Prevention and Combating of Sexual Violence in Sports” in Cyprus
  • D5.3. European Train-the-Trainers Workshop for Athletes in Cyprus
  • D5.4. National Round Table Discussions entitled “Effective Strategies and Actions Preventing Sexual Violence in Sports”
  • D5.5. National Training Workshops for Sports Professionals
  • D5.6. Organization of National Training Workshops Athletes
  • D5.7. Final Comprehensive Report with Policy Recommendations on the Educational and Training Programme
  • WP6: Development of Digitalized Audio-visual Educational, Sensitization and Awareness-raising Tools and Materials
  • D6.1. Video 1 entitled “Step-by-Step Guidelines: What to do in Case You Experience Sexual Violence in Sports”.
  • D6.2. Video 2 entitled “Active Bystander Interventions to Stop Sexual Violence in Sports”
  • D6.3. Video 3 entitled “Rise Empowered: Young Athletes Against Sexual Violence”
  • D6.4. Social Media Campaign
  • WP7: Project Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation
  • D7.1. Project website, E-Learning and Training Platform and Project Social Media Channels
  • D7.2. Project Communication Materials
  • D7.3. Media Publications - 4 Newsletters, Press releases and Articles
  • D7.4. Production of a Project Promotional Videos and short stories
  • D7.5. National Info Days

Disclaimer: Co-funded by the European Union. The opinions and views expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the funding body can be held responsible for them.

© 2024 RISE PROJECT