SAFEGUARDING - DRIVEN BY RESPECT

Which conducts are prohibited?

Harassment and Abuse: they can be expressed in five forms which may occur in combination or in isolation. These include i) psychological abuse, ii) physical abuse, iii) sexual harassment, iv) sexual abuse, and v) neglect.

These forms of abuse are defined here as:

1. Psychological abuse: means any unwelcome act including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, infantilisation, or any other treatment which may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, and self-worth. Hazing is a form of psychological abuse and refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of that person’s willingness to participate
2. Physical abuse: means any deliberate and unwelcome act that causes physical trauma or injury. Such act can also consist of forced or inappropriate physical activity (e.g., age-, or physique inappropriate training loads; when injured or in pain), forced alcohol consumption, or forced doping practices.
3. Sexual harassment: means any unwanted and unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, non-verbal or physical. Sexual harassment can take the form of sexual abuse.
4. Sexual abuse: means any conduct of a sexual nature, whether non-contact, contact or penetrative, where consent is coerced/manipulated or is not or cannot be given.
5. Neglect: means the failure of a coach or another person with a duty of care towards the Covered Person to provide a minimum level of care to the Covered Person, which is causing harm, allowing harm to be caused, or creating an imminent danger of harm.

Harassment and abuse can be based on any grounds including race, religion, colour, creed, ethnic origin, physical attributes, gender, sexual orientation, age disability, socio-economic status and athletic ability. It can include a one-off incident or a series of incidents. It may be in person or online. Bullying, hazing, grooming are other aspects of harassment or abuse and should be treated in the same way under the terms of this Policy. 

Harassment and abuse often result from an abuse of authority, meaning the improper use of a position of influence, power or authority by an individual against another person.