Special Olympics Operation Safeguarding

ended

It is estimated that children/adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) may be 5 times more likely to face sexual, physical and emotional abuse and bullying. Young women and girls are at greater risk of sexual violence, but boys and men are far from immune to such abuse. Since its inception over 50 years ago (1968) , Special Olympics has been successful in protecting its beneficiaries (athletes) from abuse and neglect. However, given the nature of our athletes’ disability, the nature of the sports environment, the involvement of large numbers of volunteers, the geographical penetrations and visibility, the potential risk for allegations or incidents is extremely high on our organisation globally. This proposed project with support from the Centre for Sports and Human Rights (CSHR) , would allow our Special Olympics National Programmes (SONP) with the support of Special Olympics (SO) Europe Eurasia Foundation (SOEEF) and the Centre for Sports and Human Rights to develop and roll out their own safeguarding policy and training programme to their staff, coaches and volunteers. The project will last for 24 months and if successful, the project will commence in January 2022. This project will focus not only on providing safeguarding for children s with ID who participate in SO programming but also and critically to provide protection for adults with ID. The project aims to develop fully developed safeguarding policies, training and resources in the SONP engaged in this project through the expert support of both SOEE and our expert partner the CSHR. At present, many of our SONP globally do not have the expertise or the resources to develop and implement a safeguarding policy that can provide children and vulnerable adults with ID increased protection from sexual and other forms of abuse. Therefore this project can have significant impact and will impact positively on the lives of some 38,000 Special Olympics athletes through the SONP involved in this project.