Safeguarding Reimagined: Centering Athletes’ Rights and Repositioning Para Sport to Chart a New Path

Abstract

ObjectivesPara sport has much to teach the broader sports world about safeguarding and athlete protections. By centering athletes’ human rights and underlining the rights-based philosophical underpinnings of the Paralympic Movement, we outline how sport can be safer to all players, coaches, and other participants.MethodsWe address global Human Rights conventions and their application to Para and non-disabled sport. Safe Sport is positioned as a matter of human rights. The nature of interpersonal violence that human beings experience within and outside sport is discussed. The intersectionality of vulnerable identities (related to gender, sexuality, disability, ethnicity, etc.) is reviewed in some detail.ResultsRights violations in Para and non-disabled sport illustrate both individual and organizational vulnerabilities. Individual- and organizational-level drivers of abuse, as well as various modes and types of abuse observed in Para sport, are relevant in all sport settings and should be centered in global sport safeguarding work. The rights-based core of Para and similar sports movements, exemplifies this.ConclusionFrom a Para-informed vantage point, we issue a call to action, where interpersonal violence in sport is reduced by leveraging relevant elements of the Paralympic Movement. This call asks all sport participants to reject a purely capitalist approach to sport and follow a Para sport paradigm; which embodies human achievement (including sporting success), reflects human rights and inherent human dignity, and requires a higher standard of behaviour.

The role, readiness to change and training needs of the Athlete Health and Performance team members to safeguard athletes from interpersonal violence in sport: a mini review

“…Thus, preventing IV in sport depends on the commitment and collaboration of the collective AHP team members ( 12 , 24 ). Each AHP team member must understands their roles, responsibilities, and obligations in this regard ( 23 , 26 ). Consideration must also be given to their respective perspectives and needs in advancing safe sport ( 27 ).…”

“…Additionally, results of this literature review suggest that sport managers should understand the realities and needs of the different groups of athletes. Preventive measures to safeguard athletes are not “one-size-fits-all” and must take into consideration diversity and intersectionality ( 20 , 26 , 47 ). For instance, equity and inclusion should be part of safeguarding strategies ( 13 , 20 , 47 ).…”

Experiences of Interpersonal Violence in Sport and Perceived Coaching Style Among College Athletes

“…It expands on emerging research among US college athletes that has, until now, primarily focused on the potentially devastating consequences of sexual abuse as a form of IV . Recent research from the Commonwealth Games Federation suggests that athletes who are actively engaged in highly competitive training are in a unique period of their lives . Qualitative interviews with currently competing adult athletes, who are mentally honed to focus on the all-consuming nature of their sport, suggest that, in the moment that IV occurs, these athletes might not be consciously aware of IV while still forced to cope with IV’s consequences .…”

“… 8 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 Recent research from the Commonwealth Games Federation suggests that athletes who are actively engaged in highly competitive training are in a unique period of their lives. 52 Qualitative interviews with currently competing adult athletes, who are mentally honed to focus on the all-consuming nature of their sport, suggest that, in the moment that IV occurs, these athletes might not be consciously aware of IV while still forced to cope with IV’s consequences. 52 Similar patterns have been reported among survivors of other types of trauma and abuse.…”

The journey to reporting child protection violations in sport: Stakeholder perspectives

“…For sport, recognition includes taking a definitive step away from the often-entrenched habit of assuming gain from pain and ‘explaining away’ otherwise unacceptable displays of interpersonal and collective violence as part a ‘normal’ part of sport culture ( David, 1998 , 2004 ; Hartill et al, 2021 ). Sport needs to become – or return to, a more inclusive, and overall more respectful and dignified space ( David, 2004 ; Tuakli-Wosornu et al 2021a , b ; Tuakli-Wosornu and Kirby, 2022 ). Recognition is a major tool in the toolbox for child protection and safeguarding in youth sport.…”