NSA, NCC Move to Protect Young Athletes from Abuse in Sports
Aminata Koroma The National Sports Authority (NSA) and the National Commission for Children (NCC) are set to collaborate on developing a national strategy to protect the rights and welfare of children participating in sporting activities across Sierra Leone.
The proposed collaboration seeks to strengthen existing child protection measures and ensure that children can participate in sports without compromising their rights, safety and welfare.
Deputy Commissioner of the NCC, Henry Mustapha Sheku, disclosed this during a meeting at the NSA Conference Hall at the Swimming Pool Complex, National Stadium. He said the Commission had identified the NSA as a key institution for collaboration because of its involvement in promoting sports among children of different age groups.
Sheku identified the NSA as a key institution for the partnership, noting that its involvement in promoting young athletes makes it important to ensure children’s rights are protected within the sporting environment.
He stressed that while children have the right to participate in sports, their safety and rights must remain a priority.
Responding, NSA Executive Director, Mohamed Alphaka Conteh Esq., welcomed the proposed collaboration, revealing that the Authority’s staff had already developed policies aimed at protecting children involved in sports.
He reaffirmed the NSA’s commitment to working with the Commission to develop a national safeguarding policy that will protect children participating in sporting activities across the country.
Conteh emphasised that collaboration between the two institutions would be essential to strengthening child protection and ensuring a safer sporting environment for young athletes in Sierra Leone.