FIJI sport faces a test beyond putting safeguarding policies on paper — ensuring those policies protect athletes, coaches and officials when it matters most.
The challenge has emerged after 11 national sporting organisations participated in five pilot safeguarding sessions delivered by Team Up in support of Fiji’s National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against All Women and Girls.
The training also exposed a growing demand for support, with sports organisations seeking greater capacity to strengthen safeguarding practices and reach more people within their sports.
The sessions were delivered at the invitation of the Fiji NAP PVAWG Secretariat under the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection.
NAP PVAWG National Coordinator Laisani Petersen said safeguarding was critical to preventing violence and creating inclusive sporting environments.
“Strengthening safeguarding in sport is an important part of preventing violence against women and girls and ensuring everyone can participate safely,” Petersen said.
Team Up Safeguarding Adviser Roshika Deo said sports organisations needed to understand how violence could manifest within sport and how policies could prevent and respond to harm.
“A key takeaway was the high demand by sport organisations for further capacity support to enhance their safeguarding practices,” Deo said.
Team Up has also supported the development and review of Fiji’s national safeguarding policy and procedures.
The real test now is implementation — turning safeguarding from policy into everyday protection across Fiji sport.
