Regional Safeguarding Workshop to Progress Safe Sport Practices in the Pacific

Regional Safeguarding Workshop to Progress Safe Sport Practices in the Pacific 

Joint media release - Nadi, 21 November 2024

The second annual Regional Safeguarding Workshop wrapped up in Fiji this week, gathering safeguarding focal points from Australian Government-supported sport for development programs across the Pacific, alongside national service providers, to enhance safe sport practices. Building on the success of last year's inaugural training, this three-day workshop focused on strengthening skills in reporting, referrals, and case management of safeguarding concerns within sport.

Open and collaborative, the workshop provided opportunities to share experiences and discuss the common challenges in ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants in sport, especially women, girls and people with a disability.  Through interactive sessions, over 60 participants from seven Pacific Island countries gained deeper insights into responses to various forms of abuse and harm in sport, managing safeguarding concerns, and strengthening relationships between safeguarding champions and service providers to enhance national support and referral systems.

Supported by the Oceania Impact Network, this regional workshop is part of broader initiatives that provide safeguarding training to both sport for development programs and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) across the region. Additionally, this collaboration includes the development of safeguarding policies for the NOCs, helping to see an empowered, inclusive and safe sport ecosystem that contributes to a Pacific region free from violence and discrimination.

Quotes attributable to UN Women’s Ending Violence Against Women Programme Manager, Jurgita Sereikaite 
"At UN Women, we see sport as a crucial part of our strategy to stop violence before it starts. Alongside faith, sport touches every aspect of life, making it a key platform for driving long-term transformative change in gender equality and ending violence against women and girls. Of course, we know that sport, like any part of society, can reflect and reinforce harmful norms. It can perpetuate exclusion and normalise violence. That’s why we’re here, to work together to ensure sport is a force for good, not harm.”

Quotes attributable to ONOC Equity Commission Co-Chairperson, Liz Dawson
“The Olympic Movement is committed to seeing a safe sporting environment that is fair, equitable and free from all forms of harassment and abuse. Building the capacity of safeguarding focal points in our region is an important part of seeing Oceania become a global leader of safe sport.”

Quotes attributable to Team Up’s Team Leader, Andrew Lepani 
“Team Up showcases the powerful connection between Australia and the Pacific, using sport as a platform to advance gender equality and disability inclusion. By working closely with Pacific sports partners and stakeholders, we are not only creating opportunities for success on and off the field but also breaking down barriers to ensure that sport is accessible and inclusive for everyone, regardless of gender or ability. But for sport to positively impact lives, it must be safe. That’s why we are proud to be supporting safeguarding champions in the region." 

Quotes attributable to Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) Psychosocial Team Leader, Sister Jacinta Fidow
"This year's workshop has deepened my understanding of the lessons from last year. Previously, I was just starting to grasp the referral process for safeguarding in sports organisations. Now, I have a much clearer sense of how sports and service providers can collaborate to support those in the sporting community who experience safeguarding incidents." 

Quotes attributable to NRL in Tonga Sports Administrator, Lupeolo Fe'ao"I feel like my pockets are overflowing with new knowledge on safeguarding thanks to this workshop. If I had to choose one of my main takeaways, it would be the importance of documenting concerns and responding effectively to safeguarding incidents. This is a major challenge across the Pacific, and Tonga is no exception. NRL in Tonga and the League for Life program prioritises the safety of all involved, and the skills learned here will help address gaps in our current approach. These details are crucial for ensuring the safety and welfare of our young athletes."

Quotes attributable to Smash Down Barriers Volunteer, Tomasi Taberanibou 
"As a Deaf coach who delivers table tennis activities to children with disabilities, it was wonderful to see the workshop also emphasising the importance of inclusive safeguarding reporting policies when it comes to sport.” 
 

For further information, please contact: 

Aaron Ballekom (Communications Specialist, Team Up) 

Shazia Usman (Communications and Media Specialist, UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office)
 

About the partners

About The Oceania Impact Network: The Oceania Impact Network is a group of organisations which share a commitment to promoting equality and inclusion in, and through sport, and ending violence against women and girls in the Pacific and is initiated by the Oceania National Olympic Committees through its Equity Commission, the Australian Government’s sport for development program Team Up, the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office and the International Olympic Committee through Olympism365 and Olympic Solidarity. The Impact Network is collaborating with the aim of ensuring more women, girls and communities can access the benefits of sport, that more sport organisations are safe and inclusive, and that policies, institutions and networks in the region support and celebrate gender equal, inclusive and safe sport.

About Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) and the ONOC Equity Commission: Established in 1981, the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) is one of five Continental Associations within the Olympic Movement. It looks after the interests of 17 member nations in the Oceania Region, including Australia and New Zealand as well as seven associate members. The Equity Commission Oceania (ECO), formerly the Women and Sport Commission (WASO), was established in April 2004 to promote and coordinate the involvement of women in sport across the Oceania region. The Commission works with the vision to see ‘women and girls empowered through sport’. 

About Team Up: Team Up is the Australian Government’s sport for development program in the Asia-Pacific. With more than 60 partners across seven Pacific Island countries, our programs are specifically designed to provide all people, regardless of gender or ability, the opportunity to realise their full potential through sport.
About UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO) and the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific Partnership): The Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific Partnership) brings together governments, civil society organisations, communities and other partners to promote gender equality, prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG), and increase access to quality response services for survivors.  It is primarily funded by the Australian Government, and the European Union, and coordinated by UN Women and the Pacific Community in strategic partnership with Pacific Islands Forum.

About the International Olympic Committee (IOC): The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organisation made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 4.2 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.

About Olympism365: Olympism365 is the IOC’s strategy aimed at strengthening the role of sport as an important enabler for the UN’s SDGs, which it achieves by collaborating with a range of partners inside and outside the Olympic Movement. The themes and priority areas for Olympism365 reflect the role that sport and Olympism in society can play for the SDGs by contributing to creating healthier and more active communities, more equitable, safer and inclusive communities, peacebuilding and education and livelihoods.