The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), through its Member Associations division, will gather its 54 Member Associations for a crucial CAF Safeguarding workshop that will focus especially on Anti-Player Trafficking.
In 2022, CAF launched the CAF Safeguarding programme through which Safeguarding focal points were appointed across CAF’s 54 Member Associations to oversee amongst other aspects, the safety and security of young African footballers.
In close partnership with Mission 89 – an internationally recognized research, education and advocacy organisation that fights the exploitation of young athletes through social and economic transformation programmes – the sessions are set to take place on Wednesday, 27 March (English-speaking nations) as well as Friday, 29 March (French-speaking nations).
Ahead of the workshop, extensive research and monitoring of the concerning incidents of trafficking, exploitation and abuse of African footballers has been conducted by both CAF and Mission 89, with the aim of designing a programme that would equip Member Associations with the knowledge and skills to combat the scourge faced by many African players.
Under the umbrella of Anti-Player Trafficking, topics that will be covered during the two sessions include Understanding Player Trafficking, Legal and Ethical Considerations, Safeguarding Protocols, Role of Stakeholders, as well as Community Engagement and Awareness, amongst others.
This marks the second workshop conducted by CAF in partnership with Mission 89 in recent times.
In April last year, the two parties commemorated International Day of Sports with Training Programmes for 120 CAF Safeguarding Officers where topics such as safeguarding in football and anti-human trafficking were addressed.
