FASANOC
The recently concluded Regional Safeguarding Skills Building Workshop, which was hosted by the Oceania Sport, Equality and Inclusive Communities Impact Network, has proven to be more than just a workshop; it's a powerful blueprint for creating a safer, more inclusive sporting environment.
The recently concluded Regional Safeguarding Skills Building Workshop, which was hosted by the Oceania Sport, Equality and Inclusive Communities Impact Network, has proven to be more than just a workshop; it's a powerful blueprint for creating a safer, more inclusive sporting environment.
The Regional Workshop was hosted by 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 Women Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through Olympism365 and Olympic Solidarity.
With shared values and intersecting interests, these organisations are collaborating on initiatives, including the regional safeguarding workshop, with the aim of ensuring more women, girls and communities can access the benefits of sport, that more sport organisations are safe and inclusive, and that policies, institutions and networks in the region support and celebrate gender equal, inclusive, and safe sport for all participants.
UN Women Fiji MCO’s support is through the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women (Pacific Partnership), funded primarily by the European Union, and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and UN Women.
The three-day workshop, held from 11-13 October, in Nadi, Fiji brought together participants from across the Pacific region who engaged in discussions, practical training sessions, and the sharing of best practices to create a safeguarding culture within sports organisations.
Speaking on behalf of the IOC through Olympism365 and Olympic Solidarity and the National Olympic Committees of the 17 countries across Oceania, Co-Chair of the ONOC Equity Commission, Liz Dawson, thanked the Impact Network Partners, Team Up, UN Women and ONOC for facilitating and resourcing the regional safeguarding workshop.
Ms Dawson said, “We know that when we leave here over the weekend and go back to our homes, our work and our communities, we must be the change makers and for our NOC leaders, we must take up the baton, as we are being asked to by athletes, by the IOC, and along with our member sports, we must be strong and constant, we must be brave and courageous, and we must stand up for what is right.”
Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) Chief Executive Vanessa Kilner said being part of the workshop was an eye-opening experience with the opportunity to connect with like-minded representatives from sporting organisations across the Pacific.
"FASANOC in the last year has focused on Policy development for Safeguarding and this workshop provided a framework to be able to execute our Policy through advocacy and creating a more inclusive sporting environment for everyone," she said.
Ms Kilner said FASANOC's role was to be able to give athletes, safe spaces where voices can be heard and changes can be made.
"Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and Sports can be a positive medium in educating the public on matters such at these and that safeguarding is more than one person within an organization; it’s an entire mechanism that needs to be built to protect our athletes," she said
Ms Kilner said Fiji being a signatory to the convention on Human Rights, all National Federation’s (NF) including FASANOC have moral, ethical and legal responsibilities towards its athletes.
The Regional Safeguarding Skills Building Workshop has marked a transformative moment in the Pacific region's sports landscape. It is a testament to the commitment of all stakeholders involved to go beyond talk and actively work towards a safer, more inclusive sporting environment.
Pic: ONOC: ONOC Equity Commission Co-Chair & New Zealand Olympic Committee President, Liz Dawson
