CHILD SAFEGUARDING
OVERVIEW
“Our children, our youth are our future. They represent our hopes and aspirations for a better and brighter legacy for Asian football."
"Creating a safe and conducive environment for our children and young people is a basic right and non-negotiable condition for football to flourish, and we at the AFC, together with all our Members and Regional Associations are resolute in advancing this important agenda and upholding the highest standards of safeguarding across the Continent.”
AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
As the governing body of Asian football, the AFC is committed to protecting the rights of children and ensuring football is carried out in a safe, positive and encouraging atmosphere for all children and young people, regardless of the level played.
The AFC’s Child Safeguarding Policy outlines the AFC’s statement of intent along with safeguarding expectations and responsibilities of all AFC’s staff and stakeholders who are to be guided by the following principles:
1. To act in the Child’s best interests by promoting and prioritising the safety and wellbeing of Children;
2. To value, respect and listen to Children, allowing them the right to participate and freely express their opinions in matters affecting them;
3. To ensure all Children are never subjected to any form of discrimination; and
4. To uphold and promote a culture of Child Safeguarding regardless of function, level or position.
It is also the responsibility of each Member Association and Regional Association to take the appropriate steps of ensuring that children are safe and protected when participating in their football activities.
The AFC, together with FIFA (refer to FIFA Guardians™ Toolkit), will continue to support and guide Member Associations and Regional Associations in implementing and reviewing their child safeguarding measures; helping to prevent any risk of harm to children in football; and responding appropriately if concerns should arise.
Any concerns or suspicions of Child Abuse involving any AFC employee or representative within an AFC programme or activity may be reported to the AFC Child Safeguarding team at safeguarding@the-afc.com using the Child Safeguarding Incident Reporting form which can be found here.
If you have any questions or concerns related to child safeguarding, you can contact the AFC Safeguarding team at: safeguarding@the-afc.com
