As part of the MOU signed between FAM Foundation and ARC, the formulation of the “FAM Child Safeguarding Policy” kick started with the aim of protecting children from harm and abuse in Football. The policy will be led by a Working Group formed by FAM President Bassam Adeel Jaleel in his capacity as the Chair of FAM Social Responsibility Strategy Implementation Committee.
The Working Group consists of key staff of FAM and representatives from ARC, Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Ministry of Education, Local Government Authority, Maldives Police Service and UNICEF. This group has been established to oversee the development of the new FAM Child Safeguarding Policy, currently being developed by FAM Foundation, in partnership with the Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) and in line with FIFA’s minimum standards.
The first virtual meeting of the Working Group was held on Sunday, 7th March, where technical input to the draft Child Safeguarding Policy outline and content were provided. The Working Group also advised issues such as reporting mechanisms and potential actions to be included in the Action Plan to implement into the Policy.
FAM, FAM Foundation and ARC believes that the presence of specialized child protection and law enforcement agencies in the Working Group will improve the standard of the policy. The input from the group will also ensure that the FAM Child Safeguarding Policy covers all essential areas of child protection and harmonize it with existing child protection reporting mechanisms, referral systems and support services in the Maldives.
As per the FIFA guidelines and minimum standards of FAM, FAM Foundation and ARC also conducted separate consultation sessions for children, clubs and academies, and FAM technical staff to provide them with the opportunity to raise their safeguarding concerns and inputs on how to address them.
8 March 2021