With a new program, child protection organization Terre des hommes Hellas introduces an improved way to protect children from abuse in sports and entertainment. Children's camps all over Greece have responded positively, helping to break down one of the most persistent taboos in the country.

We all have a responsibility to protect children, especially those institutions and organizations that deal with children. That is why they must — in accordance with international standards — ensure that children are not exposed to harm and abuse in the course of their actions, and that there is a mechanism for responding to any relevant concerns. The Greek office of the international organization Terre des hommes, which is celebrating 60 years of child protection around the world, is expanding its activities to protect children from all forms of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect) in sports and entertainment environments, such as camps, with the program "Keeping Children Safe in Sports" ("Children Safe in Sports", KCSS).

Why protect children especially in sports?

"The reason for the operation of KCSS was the shocking rates of child abuse around the world, and the frequency with which similar incidents occur, especially in sports and entertainment venues", explains the program coordinator, Maria Athanatsiki, adding: "In Greece there has been no extensive research or data collection on incidents of child abuse in camps. But international experience shows that the level of risk for abuse in places where professionals come into contact with children is high as would-be abusers often choose to work close to minors."

What do the incidents tell us internationally?

  • The vast majority of children have been abused by people they trust: about 70–85% of children know the perpetrator, while data from 28 countries show that 9 out of 10 teenage girls who have been forced into sexual activity have been victims of someone from their close or wider circle.
  • According to the Council of Europe, around 1 in 5 children in Europe are victims of some type of sexual violence (touching, rape, pornography, etc.).
  • Nearly 1/3 of abused children will never talk to anyone about what is happening to them.
  • Based on data from 30 countries, only 1% of teenage girls who have been forced into sex will seek professional help.
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In a survey by Lang and Hartill (Safeguarding, Child Protection and Abuse in Sport, 2015), it is specifically mentioned, that inGreece, among female athletes, 32% have suffered sexual harassment by a male athlete and 16% by a coach.

In the field of children's camps at an international level, there have been several scandals. CBS News reports hundreds of cases of child sexual abuse at camps in the U.S., with more than 500 victims over the past 55 years. Similar cases have been reported in Christian Camps also in the U.S., in public camps, in scouts, and even in the camp that operates the school attended by the daughter of former U.S. President Barack Obama. As a teammate of Sheldon Kennedy (a professional Canadian ice hockey athlete) characteristically stated when he realized that the latter was sexually abused by his coach from 14 to 19, "if you don't want to believe it, you won't see it".

The good news - however - is that child abuse can be prevented. Maria Athanatsiki points out that "major bodies such as FIFA, UEFA and the International Olympic Committee have in recent years recognized the responsibility they bear and are working to prevent and address child abuse within their ranks while governments and state authorities are internationally committed to systematically take measures to prevent and address the phenomenon".

In foreign countries, which have already complied with international standards, the certification for the existence of child safeguarding policies granted either by state or private bodies or by the association of camps, is a prerequisite for the start or continuation of the operation of a camp while there are systematic checks for the observance of the policies and measures applied.

Tdh is also working towards this in Greece with funding from the European Commission. According to international experience, camps can provide opportunities for child abuse to abuse abusers. However, with the creation of national standards, in cooperation with the competent state authorities, all camps must meet them, for accreditation, licensing, certification and operation, then the road for would-be abusers will become more difficult.

The programme in practice

Through the project "Keating Children Safe in Sports", the organization enhances the protection of children in camps or sports areas (in Greece and Romania where the program "runs"), working on four pillars:

  • Implementation of procedures, measures and protocols that prevent or address child abuse in camps or sports
  • Enhancing the skills and training of professionals active in these areas (team leaders, coaches, etc.)
  • Empowering children to play an active role in the recognition of abuse and their self-protection
  • International and transnational cooperation and exchange of experience to address the issue even more systematically

The program started in September 2019 and is expected to be completed in August 2021. To achieve this, Terre des hommes Hellas collaborates with camps from all over the country, which with their participation will receive a relevant certification. Last summer, within the framework of the project, specialized staff of the organization implemented actions with groups of children / adolescents in 7 children's camps (Thassos, Kavala, Corinth, Attica). A total of 152 children (74 girls and 78 boys) participated in the activities.

Tdh consulted international scientific advisors specializing in Child Safeguarding issues. Some topics during educational activities with children concern issues such as: the right of children to protection from any kind of danger, the prevention of bullying / cyber-bullying phenomena and strategies to deal with them, the right to privacy and the differentiation between "good" and "bad" touch on the body, the senses and emotions associated with situations of danger, etc.

In addition, in October Tdh organized a 5-day meeting in Athens where 21 camps, represented by executives, owners, leaders or other professionals, met to train, exchange experiences and lay the foundations for the adoption or enhancement of beneficial policies. ''How do I recognize the signs of abuse?', 'How do I respond to a child who reveals to me directly or indirectly that he has been abused?', "Where do I refer the incident and how do I cooperate with the authorities?", are some of the issues that have been approached.'' The most encouraging element in the program is the response, sensitivity and awareness of professionals in the camps, as well as the need for guidance, information and support in all aspects of child protection. The coordinator of the program, Maria Athanatsiki, points out: "Quickly reaching the stage of recognizing the risk of abuse and harm and reality, showing professional curiosity and excellent willingness to strengthen the protective environment for children, camp professionals acquire an active role in a program innovative for Greek standards and take the first step towards child protection and child protection: they break their silence as carriers and as adults in order to give a voice to children and by taking from the stage of acceptance, they are willing to overcome personal limitations and observe the world differently"

Moreover, the usefulness and importance of the programme is clearly shown in the statements and impressions of professionals from their participation in it so far. Here's what many of them said:

 "All the issues that we touched very carefully, due to the excellent training of the instructors will help us, I believe, essentially in the function that we exercise as we deal with children literally 24 hours a day. We will now be able to understand more correctly and with knowledge, issues relating to child abuse. The program of Terre des hommes Hellas is very interesting and very close to the needs of children's camps, essentially helping our work. (Capollla Marinela, Director, "Euro-camp of Thassos")

"To be honest I felt quite a few 'remorse' that our camp had not yet dealt in depth with similar issues. Without the launch of the Terre des hommes Hellas program, we would not have started anything. Thank you for the inspiration!" (George Georgiadis, Managing Director, "Tsaf Tsouf Children's Camps")

"An integral part of education, which ultimately seemed to have a great impact on its result, was the characteristic range of participants who were invited to consider an issue as delicate and major as child protection in the campground. The different perspectives, the individual tasks, the age and the experiences of each one of us, created an ideal fermentation environment so that both, trainers and trainees, can derive the maximum from this exchange of ideas and knowledge. With the common goal of creating a strong safety framework for campers and campers, our discussions may often have been intense and demanding, but the outcome of the educational process is indisputable." (Yiannis Kanlis, Entertainer, "Tsaf Tsouf Children's Camps")

"We thought we had an insight into what child abuse is and how to recognize it. Thanks to KCSS, we realized that there are no "beliefs" or "I think" in this particular matter. Now, we see things more clearly, knowing exactly what abuse is and how to react. We hope that with the completion of the program we will have created the frameworks that will enhance the safety and protection of our little friends. Thank you to Tdh Hellas for everything!" (Circe Athanasiadou, Head of Office Operation & Human Resources Manager, Argyris Dogoulis, Head of Personnel Training, "Skouras camp").

"The horizons of the program are multidimensional just like the camp life. The scenarios developed as well as the actions analyzed, were multifactorial and applied to the camp reality, giving clear directions for the application of the theory in our camping everyday life. (Leonidas Kargakos, Chief and Administrator, "Carefree Melissi")

"Now, I can say that I have the knowledge to understand the types of abuse to which children are exposed, through experiential games, group exercises, statistics, as well as the theoretical background that was given to us and that will be added to the educational program of our camp, greatly affecting the continuation of our work. I consider the overall effort of Tdh Hellas, the content of the project as well as the seminar we attended to be extremely interesting and that the knowledge I received will prove "golden" not only for the development of the business I represented but also for my personal one. (Michalis Vigopoulos, Head of Children's Camp, "Olympia Camp"

"What really surprised me is how it became clear that behaviors that we often consider tolerable and treat with a rebuke are offences and relate to the forms of violence that we have developed. Apart from the very interesting content of our meetings, what will help the camp is the organized material that we now have in our hands and we can adapt to our needs and use effectively." (Despina Tsitse, "Pitsas Camp")

"Despite the initial concerns and misgivings, I must acknowledge the high level of knowledge of our instructors, the immediacy, professionalism and ethos of all involved. The initial numbness turned into a feeling of satisfaction and vindication of the reason why we met, of surprise at where something "innocent" and "funny" might lead, but also into the certainty that things in thinking and dealing with it will not be the same as before the seminar. Now we are even more "suspicious". The range of concerns is wide. However, the targeted and immediate responses slowly led us to an outlet for thought and applications. In general, it was a seminar that exceeded our initial expectations as many concerns were given and answered in an "easily digestible" way." (Litsa Zografaki, Zografaki Children's Camps- Village Park)

In the coming months, Terre des hommes Hellas will provide personalized or group technical support to the camps for the development and adoption of child assurance policies in accordance with international standards and standards (KCS standards) developed by the international association Keeping Children Safe, to ensure that they meet the criteria to receive certification in the context of the project.

EU flag*The "Keeping Children Safe in Sports" project is coordinated by Tdh's Romania office and implemented by the organization's offices in Greece and Romania, with the support of the EU's "Rights, Equality and Citizenship" Programme.

 
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