Council of Europe's (COE) Enlarged partial agreement on Sport (EPAS) held an annual meeting of its Pool of International Experts on Safe Sport on November 13 and 14 in Paris, also featuring an extended session with a seminar on safe sport in hybrid form, focusing on creating safer environments for children in sports associations.

In the framework of the Pool of Experts annual meeting, EPAS and its flagship project Start to Talk organised a seminar on Creating safer environments for children in sports associations, in cooperation with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF). Participants were also able to attend the event online. The seminar was aimed at child safeguarding officers and other sports association staff members. High-level international experts discussed key safeguarding issues with participants and provided practical guidance on implementing safeguards within sports organisations that work with children and youth.

The event was opened by the EPAS Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Stanislas Frossard, with welcoming video addresses by Amelie Oudea Castera, President of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and Solene Charuau, Chair of the EPAS Governing Board of the Council of Europe. The publication Guidelines on safer recruitment in sport: Human rights compliant screening of professionals and volunteers in contact with children was one of the focus.

The first content session focused on Safer recruitment in sport, with introduction by Elena Casero, EPAS Programme Manager of the Council of Europe. Additional insights by Melanie Lang, Reader in child protection in sport at Edge Hill University and member of the Council of Europe’s Pool of international experts on safe sport.

The second session focused on supporting survivors and whistle-blowers in football, with contribution by Joyce Cook, Chair of the Independent Panel of YourSide and the FIFA Foundation.

Investigation of cases was presented by Katherine Fudakowski, Barrister at Old Square Chambers, and Agnes Lehair, President of the Olympic and Sports Departmental Committee of Moselle. 

After a break, the next session focused on safeguarding children from exploitation and trafficking in sports, with contribution by Daniele Canepa, Campaigns & Workshop Facilitator at Mission 89.

The event concluded by a session on strengthening safeguarding efforts globally, with presentation and discussion by Gloria Viseras, Safeguarding Senior Manager of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The seminar was held in English and French languages, and was attended by representatives of key organisations, including European University Sports Association (EUSA).

For more information and resources please see https://www.coe.int/en/web/sport/safe-sport