Child and Vulnerable Adult / Adult at Risk Protection Policy

Sport2Be aims to provide equal opportunities to all children and young adults, girls and boys, enabling them to thrive and achieve socio-professional integration, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the National Action Plan for Children adopted in 2005 by the Federal Government and the Governments of the Regions and Communities.

Sport2Be also pays special attention to the protection of young adults at risk / vulnerable adults. Our organisation is committed to respecting and upholding the right of beneficiaries to protection against all forms of abuse (UNCRC, Art. 19). The purpose of this policy is to protect the children and young adults at risk / vulnerable adults involved in our activities.

This document:

• Helps our teams, donors, and partners fulfill their responsibility to protect children by adopting appropriate behavior and reporting questionable behavior;
• Prevents individuals with harmful intentions from being associated with Sport2Be’s work;
• Establishes strict measures for anyone found guilty of abuse against a child or young adult at risk / vulnerable adult.

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

• A child (beneficiary): Any person under the age of 18 (UNCRC, Art. 1).
• A young adult at risk / vulnerable adult (beneficiary): Any person aged 18 or older who needs or may need support due to mental health issues, learning or physical disabilities, sensory impairment, age, illness, power imbalances, social disadvantage, and/or poverty; as well as those who are unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves against any major form of harm or exploitation (adapted from the definition in the UK Care Act 2014), including underprivileged or disadvantaged individuals, refugees, migrants, undocumented persons, people experiencing homelessness, etc.
• Abuse committed against a beneficiary: Any form of physical or emotional mistreatment, sexual abuse and exploitation, neglect, commercial or other exploitation inflicted on a beneficiary. This concept encompasses any act or omission, whether intentional or unintentional, committed by an individual, an institution, or resulting from a process, that causes actual or potential harm impairing the well-being and dignity of a child or undermining their prospects for healthy and safe development into adulthood, or affecting young adults at risk / vulnerable adults.
• Beneficiary protection (Safeguarding): The responsibilities as well as preventive and reactive measures taken by Sport2Be to protect children from harm they might suffer as a result of their association with Sport2Be, their contact with Sport2Be staff, associates, and visitors, and/or their participation in Sport2Be activities.

WHO IS COVERED?

Sport2Be’s beneficiary protection policy applies to all staff (operational support as well as sports and development coaches), all associates (members of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly, volunteers, Sport2Be sponsors/patrons and donors, employees, consultants, suppliers, and representatives of partner organisations or local authorities), visitors (journalists, media, researchers, celebrities, etc.) who may come into contact with beneficiaries through Sport2Be, and designated officers (staff members with specific responsibilities regarding beneficiary protection). All must comply with its terms.

PRINCIPLES

Our beneficiary protection policy is based on a set of principles derived from the UNCRC, notably:

• All children have the same rights to protection against abuse and exploitation (UNCRC, Art. 19); to life, survival, and development (UNCRC, Art. 6); to fulfill their potential (UNCRC, Art. 27); and to freely express their views, which will be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity (UNCRC, Art. 12 and 13).
• Inequality and discrimination must be combated: children or young adults at risk / vulnerable adults will be treated with respect, regardless of gender, national or ethnic origin, religious or political beliefs, age, mental or physical health, sexual orientation or gender identity, family, socioeconomic, or cultural situation, or involvement with the justice system (UNCRC, Art. 2).
• Everyone shares the responsibility to support the care and protection provided to children (UNCRC, Art. 3).

Our policy for protecting children and young adults at risk / vulnerable adults is also grounded in the principle of Sport2Be’s special responsibilities toward the children and young adults at risk / vulnerable adults involved in its activities. No beneficiary should suffer harm as a result of their engagement with Sport2Be as a participant in sports activities offered by Sport2Be, a participant in the socio-professional integration program, a Sport2Be-organised event, a fundraising campaign, or advocacy actions by Sport2Be. These special responsibilities extend to all individuals or organisations associated with Sport2Be. Everyone working with Sport2Be or associated with its work must therefore understand and adhere to the provisions of this policy (safeguarding).

RESPONSIBILITIES

Every person working with or maintaining a relationship with Sport2Be must ensure the protection of beneficiaries. The responsibilities outlined below are mandatory for all individuals covered by this policy.

Sport2Be staff, associates, visitors, and designated officers commit to:

• Never commit abuse against a child or young adult at risk / vulnerable adult, nor expose a child or young adult at risk / vulnerable adult to the risk of harm.
• Respond in cases of suspected abuse in accordance with this policy and the procedures set out in the "Sport2Be Coach Manual."
• Report any abuse committed against a child or young adult at risk / vulnerable adult, or any issue related to their protection, in accordance with this policy and the procedures set out in the "Sport2Be Coach Manual."
• Fully cooperate, in complete confidentiality, in the event of an investigation into suspected abuse.
• Contribute to creating an environment where children and young adults at risk / vulnerable adults are respected and encouraged to speak about their concerns and rights.
• Always respect the rights, integrity, and dignity of beneficiaries, act in their best interests, and never expose them to the risk of harm. For example: when photographing or filming children or young adults at risk / vulnerable adults, or communicating with or about them, ensure compliance with Sport2Be's rules on the subject.
• Never disclose, or facilitate the disclosure of, information that could identify families or participants in Sport2Be activities through any medium (including print materials, photos, and social media), unless such disclosures comply with Sport2Be policies and procedures and/or carry explicit consent from Sport2Be.
• Contact beneficiaries or members of a family associated with Sport2Be’s work only after informing Sport2Be officers (including visits, emails, and letters).

Sport2Be staff members further commit to:

• Comply with the standards of behavior described in the Sport2Be Coach Manual.
• Organise visits by Sport2Be coaches, socio-professional integration team members, press, or visitors with participants in Sport2Be activities within a protected environment designated by the local Sport2Be office. This may be a sports field used by Sport2Be or the child's home, with family consent and upon advice from local office staff.
• Share an association coach's contact details with former participants who are 18 or older only with the coach's prior approval.

Sport2Be designated officers further commit to:

• Ensure that Sport2Be associates sign their commitment to the beneficiary protection policy and abide by it throughout their involvement with Sport2Be (safeguarding).
• Ensure that Sport2Be staff members who report a child or vulnerable adult protection concern, or who are accused of abusing a child or young adult at risk / vulnerable adult, receive appropriate care, support, and protection while dealing with all aspects of the case, including safety concerns and potential retaliation.

OUTSIDE INTERACTIONS WITH SPORT2BE

Sport2Be does not intend to dictate the personal value systems of its employees, associates, visitors, or designated officers in their private lives. However, actions outside of interactions with Sport2Be deemed incompatible with our child and vulnerable adult protection policy will be considered a breach of this policy.

IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND SANCTIONS

Ultimate responsibility for compliance with our child and vulnerable adult protection policy rests with the managers, directors, and Board of Directors of Sport2Be. Additionally, Sport2Be has appointed a designated focal point for safeguarding matters: Arthur Parmentier (arthur@sport2be.org). Furthermore, we regularly monitor compliance with these rules.

Any failure to comply with this policy or these responsibilities may result in the following sanctions:

• For Sport2Be staff or designated officers: Disciplinary sanctions, up to and including dismissal.
• For Sport2Be associates or visitors: Sanctions up to the termination of all relationships, including contractual and partnership agreements with Sport2Be.
• Where applicable: Legal action or other measures deemed appropriate given the circumstances.

In the event of doubt regarding the conduct of a staff member, associate, visitor, or officer, and/or in case of a violation of the child and vulnerable adult protection policy, an investigation will be opened in accordance with this policy through one of two pathways:

• The individual concerned will be referred to statutory authorities for a criminal investigation in accordance with the law of the country where the alleged offense took place; or
• Sport2Be will manage the matter internally following disciplinary procedures. This may result in disciplinary sanctions for the employee or officer involved.

It is important to note that if a case of suspected abuse against a child or young adult at risk / vulnerable adult is reported in good faith, and subsequent investigation proves it to be unfounded, no disciplinary measures will be taken against the whistleblower. Conversely, appropriate sanctions will be applied in cases of false and malicious accusations.

All personal data and information gathered during reports, verifications, or investigations are handled with the strictest confidentiality and in compliance with applicable data protection regulations (GDPR). Access is restricted strictly to authorised personnel necessary for processing the case.