Since 2015, the Council of Europe has declared today, 18 November, as the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

All children have the right to live a life free from such abuse, which may have long-lasting effects on them. This year, this Day will focus on ‘The protection of children against sexual abuse in sport’.

About one in five children in Europe are victims of some form of sexual violence and the vast majority of them are victims of people they trust. Even though sports activities are very good for children, abuse may happen and an increase in the number of reports regarding sexual abuse occurring in sports settings has been noted.

The Office of the Commissioner for Children stresses the importance of sports organisations implementing Child Protection Policies in their rules and regulations and taking all the necessary measures to prevent such abuse and to offer protection for children. Such policies should also outline the procedures to be followed if a child discloses to an adult – such as a coach/trainer or parent – that he or she has been the victim of some form of abuse.

The Office recommends that from an early age, children should be taught about what kind of behaviour can lead to abuse.

Over the next few days, the Office will be distributing a copy of Kiko and the Hand, a Council of Europe publication, to all children in Kinder 1. This is a story book for children, with an insert for parents, that aims to help parents talk to their children about acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

It is estimated that about one-third of abused children do not say anything, which is why the Office emphasises the importance of adults encouraging children to tell them about any such abuse. Anyone who is aware of any abusive behaviour towards children should report it. This can be done by calling the Supportline number: 179.