Project
SAFE HARBOUR
Strengthening Response Mechanisms for Safeguarding in European Sports
SAFE HARBOUR aims to boost the capacity of the European sports movement to respond to safeguarding concerns and violations by classifying safeguarding concerns within and across Europe. It also aims at identifying the gaps in safeguarding response within and across Europe. The project hopes to establish National Strategies, a European Response Framework, and a European Network for Safe Sports.
Objectives
The SAFE HARBOUR project is designed to empower National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and Federations to address safeguarding concerns and violations. Coordinated by the EOC EU Office, the project brings together 27 organisations, including the EOC, the IOC, 2 International Federations, 20 European NOCs, and researchers/experts in safeguarding (Thomas More), human rights and law (Asser Institute) in sport.
The goal of the project is to provide NOCs and Federations with the required knowledge and resources to promote structural and cultural changes and disseminate the culture of safeguarding as a main principle of good governance in their respective areas of competence, while also serving as role models.
- Firstly, a report on the shortages of safeguarding response services, and mapping the layers of responsibilities of stakeholders will be created, while complementary round-table discussions and propaedeutic thematic discussions for the European Response framework will be held.
- Secondly, each NOC will tailor the European Response framework by developing a National Strategy to lead their actions beyond the end of the project, and ad-hoc training will be delivered to the NOC leadership and NFs to reach the ambitious objectives of the Olympic movement in this area, while operating within an informed network (i.e. ENSS). These actions will lead to a European Response framework to guide IFs and NOCs to respond to safeguarding concerns.
During the project, the European Response framework will be made available in an online format to a wider sports movement. Also, ad-hoc National Multiplier Events are expected to boost awareness of the urgency to tackle safeguarding concerns in sport; thus, benefitting not only the consortium but also a wider range of national/regional stakeholders in responding to safeguarding concerns, beyond the project.
Partners
The project is coordinated by the EOC EU Office and brings together 27 organizations:
EOC EU Office • Thomas More • Asser Institute • NOC Belgium • NOC Bosnia and Herzegovina • NOC Croatia • NOC Cyprus • NOC Czechia • NOC Denmark • NOC Germany • NOC Hungary • NOC Kosovo • NOC Latvia • NOC Lithuania • NOC Luxembourg • NOC Malta • NOC Montenegro • NOC Norway • NOC Poland • NOC Portugal • NOC Romania • NOC Slovakia • NOC Slovenia • International Biathlon • International Ice Hockey • International Olympic Committee
Blog
Researchers
Researcher
Tine Vertommen
Tine Vertommen (PhD) is research coordinator of Safeguarding Sport & Society in the People and Well-being research group. As a criminologist she conducts research on the prevalence and prevention of interpersonal violence in sports.
Researcher
Karolien Adriaens
Karolien Adriaens (PhD) is a researcher in the People and Well-being research group, research line Safeguarding Sport & Society. As a clinical psychologist she is working on research projects on interpersonal violence in sports and child maltreatment
