ONOC’s Safeguarding Skills Building Workshop 2023
The Regional Safeguarding Skills Building Workshop 2023 hit the ground running on the first day, focusing on topics around the roles of Safeguarding Focal Points/Officers, Child Protection, and the Identification of Safeguarding Concerns.
The Regional Workshop is hosted by the Oceania Sport, Equality and Inclusive Communities Impact Network – a collective of committed stakeholders who share a common vision of promoting gender equality, inclusion, and safety in and through sports in the Pacific region, and is initiated by the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC), through its Equity Commission, the Australian Government’s sport for development program Team Up, the UN WomenFiji Multi-Country Office (MCO), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through Olympism365 and Olympic Solidarity.
Representing ONOC through the Equity Commission during the opening of the workshop, Co-Chair Liz Dawson expressed her deep appreciation for the attendees, emphasizing the common commitment of National Olympic Committees (NOCs), sports federations, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), solidarity civil groups, service providers, and the communities in which they operate. This shared goal centers on promoting equity and inclusion, particularly in addressing violence against women and girls.
Dawson, who is also a member of the IOC’s Safeguarding Working Group, underscored the urgency of providing women and girls in communities with safe and inclusive access to the benefits of sports, complete with protection and support networks.
“Because of it being a human right, it is unacceptable that half our population doesn’t have equal access without fear,” she said.
Dawson emphasized the significance of the collective commitment towards fostering equality and inclusion in the world of sports.
“The work of our NOCs, combined with the efforts of the IOC, is testimony to the commitments we have made. As we gather here today, and for the following two days, we are on a journey of shared understanding, with a vision to drive change in our communities.”
With participants from 16 member NOCs, the day also offered an insightful session with the IOC Safe Sport Unit’s Senior Project Manager, Gloria Viseras OLY, focusing on the invaluable work undertaken by the IOC in the area of safeguarding, setting the stage for broader engagement on day three.
The Regional Safeguarding Skills Building Workshop 2023 will also serve as a capacity-strengthening opportunity for Pacific safeguarding focal points in preparation for the upcoming Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, and the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games, where each participating will have a safeguarding focal point in their delegation.
