First lady stresses on importance of child protection and safeguarding in sports

First Lady Fazna Ahmed has stressed on the importance of child protection and safeguarding in sports.

The first lady highlighted this while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Child Safeguarding Policy for football established by the Football Association of the Maldives (FAM) in collaboration with Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC), on Saturday.

While speaking at the ceremony, Fazna acknowledged the role of FAM, ARC and other organizations coming together to implement this policy and described the launching of this policy as "the most joyous milestone for child protection" in the Maldives following the ratification of the Child Rights Protection Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.

Further noting the participation of children in the creating process, the first lady emphasized that "it is crucial for children to be involved while making decisions such as this".

Fazna then called attention to the difference between child safeguarding and child protection – she stated that safeguarding is to ensure that children are kept safe from experiencing traumatic situations or events, highlighting the importance of an effective child safeguarding system within sports. She explained through examples that this policy shields young children in sports from potential mental, physical or emotional trauma, while at the same time providing guidance for coaches and sports management in best practices and how to seek further help.

The first lady further urged other sports organizations to follow in FAM's footsteps, and create similar policies in order to gain the trust of children by developing sports as an inclusive environment where children feel safe and empowered. She also advised that FAM to continue their work to strengthen their policy and be attentive to implement it.

FAM's Child Safeguarding Policy was formulated jointly by FAM and ARC, with the support of the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) Maldives and relevant state agencies.

This policy aims to establish a safe environment for children who play football by forming a culture of respect and zero-tolerance towards any form of violence, abuse, harassment or bullying.