European Day for the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse

On November 18, the European Day on the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse once again highlights the commitment to the safety and well-being of children and young people.

Sports, recognized as a catalyst for fundamental values essential to human development, play a crucial role in the physical, emotional, social, and even cognitive growth of all children and young people. However, sports environments can also be vulnerable to abusive behaviors, which are often difficult to identify. For this reason, prevention, response, and collective commitment are indispensable.

To address these challenges, National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Portugal is implementing programs aimed at safeguarding athletes and participants. The European project Safer Grassroots Sport targets grassroots sports organizations (clubs), focusing on the prevention and response to violence and abuse in an integrated manner. Additionally, NOC Portugal’s Pelo Respeito program reinforces sports integrity by combating all forms of violence and abuse through knowledge-sharing, awareness-raising, and capacity-building.

As part of this commitment, on December 12, NOC Portugal will host two key events:

• The Pelo Respeito Conference: “Zero Tolerance for All Forms of Violence and Abuse.”
• The Midterm Conference of the European project Safer Grassroots Sport, under the theme “Midterm Milestones and Future Directions.”

On this day of awareness for the need to strengthen the protection of children against sexual exploitation and abuse, NOC Portugal reaffirms its commitment, emphasizing that this fight requires constant and collective action. Together, we can ensure that sports remain a space for growth, respect, and safety for all children and young people.