Newsroom
Recent reports have once again brought to light cases of sexual abuse and exploitation of children in sports, along with a lack of coordination among the responsible authorities.
The Foni Council, also known as the Voice Council, on Monday called for the urgent creation of a mechanism to allow timely information-sharing between agencies about individuals working in sports who are involved in legal proceedings related to child sexual abuse or exploitation. The council said such a system is essential to protect children from potential harm and prevent re-victimization.
The group also stressed the need for responsible media coverage in these cases, emphasizing that victims' identities must be protected to avoid further psychological harm.
The Council of Europe has warned that publishing personal details in child abuse cases can retraumatize victims, especially when that information is made public online or in the media. Victims may experience renewed trauma knowing their most painful experiences are circulating among peers and relatives.
"Each time the story is republished, it deepens the trauma and the sense of exposure," the Foni Council said, adding that repeated media exposure may increase the risk of long-term psychological damage.
European guidelines and models such as the Barnahus, or Children’s House, an integrated child protection system that also operates in Cyprus, offer safe, confidential, and child-centered environments for reporting abuse, aiming to prevent further harm.
The Foni Council said it remains committed to supporting any initiative that helps protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation in sports.
