Sport NZ seeking feedback on sport integrity including harassment and child protection

Tue 20 Nov 2018

Sport NZ is inviting feedback from the public about sport integrity. The deadline to give feedback is 11 December 2018. The organisation is looking ...

Sport NZ is inviting feedback from the public about sport integrity.

The deadline to give feedback is 11 December 2018.

The organisation is looking at themes across multiple areas including organisational culture, whistleblowing and the institutional arrangements for sport integrity.

Sport NZ has published a detailed discussion document that outlines the areas, issues and questions they are seeking feedback on. In particular this covers five areas:

"Member protection – protecting those who engage in sport from bullying, harassment, abuse, undue health and safety risks, and other harm
Integrity issues in children’s sport – protecting children from abuse, avoiding the negative effects of an undue focus on winning, and considering the changing environment within secondary school sport
Anti-doping – the use of prohibited substances (colloquially referred to as performance and image enhancing drugs) in contravention of the World Anti-Doping Code
Protecting against corruption – fraud, bribery, bid rigging and other dishonest behaviours intended to achieve personal gain
Protecting against match-fixing – action to inappropriately predetermine the result of a match, or part of a match, for gambling purposes."

Feedback is invited from anyone involved in sport. You can give feedback by completing an online survey or emailing a written submission.

Radio NZ reported Sport NZ Chief Executive Peter Miskimmin said:

"So we're really interested in anything of those things that put people off or are a barrier to sports, from sideline behaviour to child protection issues, early specialisation of kids at secondary school all the way to discrimination and up to match-fixing and doping. There are already various controls in place at different levels of the sporting sector to address these. This review is about determining whether these measures are sufficiently robust and appropriate, so that any weaknesses can be addressed to ensure our sport remains clean, fair and safe and enjoyable for everyone."

This consultion is the first phase of a review project. This first phase is looking at the current environment, identifying areas where current policies and protections may be insufficient, and gathering evidence to support future interventions. The second phase will focus on developing solutions. The approach to this phase will be determined after the initial consultation is completed.

Related resources

Aotearoa New Zealand

NZ Rugby launched an independent review and later a 'Respect and Responsibility' programme in 2016. The full Respect and Responsibility Review report was published in 2017. NZ Rugby has since launched 0800 line for complaints about inappropriate behaviour.

Case study 1: Counties Manukau Rugby League (2015), Roguski, Wellington, New Zealand: It's not OK Campaign, Ministry of Social Development.

Not Our Game Sports Toolkit (2017). Wellington, New Zealand: It's not OK Campaign, Ministry of Social Development.

Australia

Update: The Australian Centre for Community Services Research, Flinders University recently recently published a new report on prevention programmes in sport, Developing the power to say no more to violence against women: An investigation into family and domestic violence primary prevention programs in South Australia and the Northern Territory (2018).

Child Safe Sport work from Sport Australia is developing a National Safeguarding Children in Sport Strategy.

The Australian Childhood Foundation was commissioned by the Australian Sports Commission to publish the report Safeguarding children in sport (2015) and develop a toolkit to help implement child safe approaches across all Australian sport.

Volume 14 of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse addresses Recommendations: Sport, recreation, arts, culture, community and hobby groups (2017).

Our Watch published A team effort: preventing violence against women through sport (2017).

United Kingdom

The Child Protection in Sport Unit provides a number of resources on safeguarding children in sports settings. This includes policies, best practice briefing papers, webinars, research, toolkits, videos and more.

And Independent Review into child sex abuse allegations in football is currently underway in the UK.

Other international reports

Sport, Children’s Rights and Violence Prevention: A Sourcebook on Global Issues and Local Programmes (2008, 2012), Brackenridge, Kay and Rhind (Editors), London: Brunel University, 2012

Protecting children from violence in sport: A review with a focus on industrialized countries (2010). Unicef Innocenti Research Centre.

Silence about Scott Kuggeleijn reinforces a culture of sexual violence, The Spinoff 18.01.2019

How sport can tackle violence against women and girls, The Conversation, 06.12.2018

Taimo guilty on 95 sex charges after one initial complaint, Radio NZ, 25.10.2018

Taimo survivor speaks out 26 years after abuse, Radio NZ, 25.10.2018

Auckland rugby coach found guilty of 95 sex charges against 17 victims, Stuff, 24.10.2018

Auckland rugby coach Alosio Taimo guilty of child sex charges, NZ Herald, 24.10.2018

Government launches Strategy for Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation, Beehive Press Release, 11.10.2018

Cricket: Top New Zealand cricketers given sexual consent guidelines in the age of #metoo, NZ Herald, 10.10.2018