In this article (blog 1/3) Kenyan sports lawyer and safe sport advocate Caroline Mwanzia describes why safe sport is important to her, and which changes she recommends for making sports safer for athletes both in Kenya and across the globe.
Why I Advocate for Safe Sport
To me, safe sport means engaging in sporting activities that are free from abuse, harassment and all forms of discrimination. This includes the protection of both adults and children in sports.
While children may be incapable of making certain decisions, they still have the right give their consent to decisions that directly affect their physical, mental, emotional and psychological welfare. At the same time, while adults are generally able to give consent, this does not automatically mean that it is given freely, or that they are safe. These complexities are not widely understood, and this is why safe sport is important.
Coaches, parents, guardians and staff are responsible for the welfare of players. If not carefully trained, selected and vetted, these categories of people can pose a risk to the children and adult players they are responsible for, as the trusting connections they form with them are vulnerable to exploitation. Proper training is therefore essential for safe sport to be promoted in our local clubs and sporting academies. It is paramount to have all people who directly handle children and adult players trained in the different forms of abuse, how they manifest, and the proper reporting channels. In encouraging safe sport, we protect our players from harm and allow them to flourish. Human dignity is valuable and must be preserved.
The Changes I Want to See
I am very passionate about the protection and safety of athletes in sports. Abuse in any form is unacceptable. Preventative measures must be taken, and perpetrators should face consequences. Each person deserves to feel safe wherever they are, including in sports. This is why I am passionate about safe sports. Nobody should have to face abuse or harassment in sport.
Safe Sport Promotion on the Field
I would like to see stadiums advertising safe sport content within and if possible, during the game. There needs to be more awareness, especially from the organizations responsible for these games. For instance, the Paris Olympic Games would have been a good example to showcase and advertise more safeguarding content. The World Cup is another forum in which FIFA can use to advertise on FIFA Guardians and other hubs responsible for promoting safe sports.
Safe Reporting Mechanisms
In Kenya, I would love to see a toll-free line which people can call to report concerns surrounding abuse in sports. This can equally be applied in other jurisdictions all over the world where a toll-free line could be shared within sporting federations and organizations to allow people to make reporting concerns.
Formal Education on Safe Sport
I would love to see safe sport taught in our schools and academies as part of the curriculum. Children need to be informed of the importance of a safe sports environment and their rights in the sporting context. Both coaches and students need to be aware of how abuse within sports is manifested and the way forward in reporting. This will be a good start in navigating safe sport and cleaning the system.
Safe Sport Conferences
Let there be more conferences and arenas in which safe sport is the topic of discussion. Additionally, let the conversations surrounding safe sport be amplified on social media to enable the movement to thrive. The more open and honest conversations we have, the more awareness is created, and the more safety we create for survivors to come forward people come forward with confidence.
Join the Safe Sport International 2024 Online Conference
This year, Safe Sport International is hosting an online global conference with the theme of ‘Parks + Podiums’, which will focus on the lessons learned during 2024 on how to make sport safer for everyone, everywhere. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates and find out how to attend.
About the Author
Caroline Mwanzia is a sports lawyer practicing in sports governance, anti-doping, safeguarding and sports research. She is also a licensed FIFA Football Agent and an ad hoc researcher at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). Caroline also has a Master’s in Sports Management and Legal Skills from ISDE, Barcelona and has obtained various certifications on integrity and safeguarding from FIFA, Biathlon Integrity Unit and World Athletics. She is a member of Women in Sports Law (WISLAW) and is particularly passionate about safe sport and clean sport.
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