The Yaiza City Council has launched a new protocol for the prevention of any type of violence against minors in sports. The initiative of "mandatory" compliance according to the Comprehensive Protection Law against Violence against Minors, aims to make the different clubs in the municipality aware of the cases and how to act against physical, psychological and sexual violence, among others.
The head of child protection in the 'Ederto' project of the EDEX foundation, Gonzalo Silio Saiz, has detailed to La Voz, the regulations for action and compliance that clubs and city councils must carry out. A regulation that was born in 2021 and with which Yaiza becomes the first municipality in Lanzarote to implement it and among the few in the Canary Islands to implement it. A protocol that "believes in the benefits of sport for social development", and also, "wants to offer citizens activities based on safety and protection for minors, with the aim of avoiding any type of violence", the manager specified.
According to Silio, reports of violence in sport are usually "complicated" to carry out. The main reasons are the "closeness" or "trust" with the person who exercises the abuse of power. "It is more difficult to recognize that violence and report it when it is an acquaintance than to do it in the case of a stranger," he stressed. The factor that plays against being able to recognize being a victim of any violence is "the ethical part", he specified. He also makes it clear that investigations into people in the environment become more "difficult", "It is generated in a framework of trust and it is difficult to gather evidence that alludes to people close to you."
A context in which it is "necessary" to carry out preventive measures. Since these protocols are implemented in sports, the growth of complaints is "abysmal", Gonzalo pointed out. "Minors begin to use it, cases begin to be detected and communicated to the competent authorities," he argued. The project manager offers guidelines to be followed in the event of witnessing, suspecting or learning of any case of violence against minors. "Evidence should not be collected on your own, nor should the situation be confronted, it should be communicated to the Child Protection Delegate and the competent authorities," he advised.
The manager has listed three types of measures on which the procedure is based. Security, prevention and action measures against violence or discrimination suffered by any minor in sports. A way of focusing the training, which will be carried out soon, for the clubs in which to offer "a framework for the staff and that they can have the minimum mandatory tools by law and put the steps to implement them", he listed.
Workers must continue to be people "sensitive to violence and reactive in terms of violence that a minor may suffer in the sports field", Gonzalo stressed. We must focus on the fact that "all the violence that exists in society occurs in sports", he makes clear as a way of raising awareness.
Same initiative in Arrecife, Tías, Tinajo and from the Cabildo of Lanzarote
According to Gonzalo, other municipalities on the island are making progress in implementing this protocol. Arrecife, Tías and Tinajo, will have the regulations and also a child protection delegate. "All professional sports entities must have the figure of Child Protection Delegates," he pointed out. Also, from the Cabildo of Lanzarote, "they have met to take steps to comply with the law."
"Only between 10 and 20% is reported, the rest of the cases end up hidden"
In the Spanish territory, not only the Canary Islands implements the protocol, but also autonomous communities such as the Basque Country, Navarra, Rioja, and the cities of Barcelona, Oviedo and Santander, already do so, although there is still a need to implement it, work continues slowly", he stressed.
Regarding the data in Lanzarote, 20% of the child population is at risk of suffering some type of violence, according to Saiz. It should be remembered that globally "86% occurs primarily in the family, but the remaining 14% in activities with minors, including sports", added the expert.
In addition, in relation to reports of violence, "only between 10 and 20% is reported, the rest of the cases end up hidden", Gonzalo said. According to a report from the European CASES project, "80% of boys and girls recognize that they are in contact with some violence", recalled the manager.
A very well received initiative by families
Since measures directly related to minors are involved to prevent violence, families and the main protagonists face their involvement in a positive way. "It helps them to improve and to consider their own teaching style to make it more respectful," he pointed out.
The project manager warns that "all Yaiza clubs must follow the protocol." Subsequent non-compliance with the measures "incurs legal responsibilities", he states. In addition, the facilities of the Yaiza City Council also have to "comply with the compliance", he stressed. "Each club has the obligation to know the measures, implement them and be clear that each coach must be trained within what the law establishes", he pointed out in reference to the preparation of the corresponding delegate.
From the Consistory they are "surprised by the data of violence that exists" and through the implemented measures, they are "comforted, they know that working in that way is educating better", Gonzalo detailed. The most remarkable thing about the protocol is to make it clear that "there are spaces that are not safe and can lead to, for example, sexual violence in sports", Gonzalo assured.
Intervention is necessary to know the key points in which any type of aggression can occur. In changing rooms, trips and overnight stays, concentrations and above all, given the habitual physical contact in practical teaching, they will become spaces of greater attention and surveillance.
