Declaration of Principles for the Protection of Women and Girls from Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Football Worldwide
Why this Declaration is needed
Women and girls around the world must have the right to participate in football in a safe environment, free from any exploitation, harassment, coercive control or sexual abuse. The recent crisis of sexual and physical abuse in the Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team has sadly demonstrated that women and girls are being denied their fundamental rights, by both individuals and power structures within world football. Unfortunately, we know that this team’s plight is not isolated.
What we want to achieve
Athlete well-being must be the centrepiece of football culture. This Declaration of Principles is designed to serve as a stimulus and a challenge to all people and organisations involved in football governance, to ensure that proper systems are put in place so that women and girls can play football in freedom and without fear.
Key Principles for the Protection of Women and Girls from Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Football Worldwide
- Safeguarding codes and educational programs must be instituted
All football governing bodies and their member associations must adopt clear standard safeguarding codes, setting out that the exploitation, harassment, coercive control and sexual abuse of athletes, staff and referees by those in positions of authority over them are prohibited. Governing bodies and member associations must educate the football community as to those codes.
- Whistleblowing and reporting mechanisms must be implemented
Women, girls and their advocates must be able to report their concerns without fear of retaliation, through transparent whistleblowing processes that are accessible, independent and responsive. All football governing bodies and their member associations must be mandated to report any suspected incidences of exploitation, harassment, coercive control and sexual abuse to appropriate law enforcement agencies, to FIFA and to other sport governing bodies.
- Enforcement policies must be upheld
All football governing bodies and their member associations that either violate safeguarding codes or fail to uphold these policies must be dealt the most serious sanctions by FIFA, including wholesale financial penalties and lifetime bans for individuals involved.
- Affected individuals must receive appropriate support
Athletes, staff, referees and their families, including whistleblowing third parties, must be offered protection from persecution, intimidation and violence. They must be supported with appropriate redress, which may include legal action.
Our sincere hope is that this Declaration of Principles will bring about significant changes in the governance of world football, to prioritize safeguarding women and girls playing football around the world. The aim is to strengthen women’s football globally, to enable more women and girls to become empowered through football at all levels of the game, grassroots through elite.
Signed and endorsed by
Michelle Akers | Football Player – Former US International |
Dr Rimla Akhtar MBE | Member – English FA Council |
Eniola Aluko | Football Player – Former England International |
Yael Averbuch West | Football Player – Former US International |
Jonas Baer-Hoffman | Secretary General – FIFPro Europe |
Tanya Barron | CEO – Plan International UK |
HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein | Founder – AFDP Global |
Erin Blankenship | Co-Founder – Equal Playing Field |
Enrique Bonilla | President – Liga MX |
Yann Borgstedt | Founder & President – The Womanity Foundation |
Jamie Carragher | Football Player – Former England International |
Romina Calatayud | Founder & CEO – Girls United Football Association |
JF Cecillon | CEO – AFDP Global |
Aleksander Čeferin | President – UEFA |
Katie Chapman | Football Player – Former England International |
Shimon Cohen | Chairman – The PR Office |
Kat Craig | Founder & CEO – Athlead UK |
Charles Davies | Football Player – Former US International |
Hesterine de Reus | Football Coach & Player – Former Netherlands International |
Moya Dodd | Football Executive & Player – Former Australia International |
Landon Donovan | Football Player – Former US International |
Claudio Echeverria | Head of Development – Cruzados |
Jim Ellis | Manager of Community Sport – Sport New Zealand |
Gustavo Favre | Former Member – FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee; Central Bank of Chile |
Mathieu Flamini | Football Player – Former French International |
Craig Foster | Football Player – Former Australia International |
Robbie Fowler | Football Player – Former England International |
David Gallop | CEO, Football Federation Australia |
Jürgen Griesbeck | Founder & CEO – streetfootballworld |
Mara Gubuan | Founder – Equality League |
Antonia Hagemann | CEO – SD Europe |
Mary Harvey | Football Executive & Player – Former US International |
Emma Hayes MBE | Football Manager – Chelsea Women |
Paul Hijazin | Trustee – AFDP Global |
Nancy Hogshead | Founder – Champion Women |
Gérard Houllier | Football Manager; AFDP Global Ambassador |
James Johnson | Senior Vice President, External Affairs – City Football Group |
Andrew Kamanga | President – Football Association of Zambia |
Harry Kewell | Football Player – Former Australia International |
Pratik Kumar | Founder – Sashakt Foundation |
Kristine Lilly | Football Player – Former US International |
Kelly Lindsey | Football Manager – Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team |
Lori Lindsey | Football Player – Former US International |
Emanuel Medeiros | CEO – Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) |
Christopher Mihm | Managing Director for Strategic Issues – U.S. Government Accountability Office |
Shabnam Mobarez | Football Player, Captain – Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team |
Victor Montagliani | Président, CONCACAF |
Carolina Morace | Football Coach & Player – Former Italian International |
Yuuichiro Nakajima | Member – FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee |
Kely Nascimento | President – Nascimento Foundation |
Heather O’Reilly | Football Player – Former US International |
Cristina Otero | Photographer & Artist – Campaign Image Photographer |
Cindy Parlow Cone | Football Player – Former US International |
Rick Parry | Football Consultant & Ex-Chief Executive – Liverpool FC |
Rajesh Patel | President – Fiji Football |
Vera Pauw | Football Coach & Player – Former Netherlands International |
Mike Penrose | Executive Director – UNICEF UK |
Robert Pires | Football Player – Former French International; AFDP Global Ambassador |
Khalida Popal | Football Manager & Player – Former Afghanistan International; Founder & Director – Girl Power Organization |
Hope Powell CBE | Football Coach & Player – Former England International |
Jawahir Roble | Referee – FA |
Ben Sadler | CEO – Alive and Kicking |
Louis Saha | Football Player – Former French International |
Lloyd Salmons | Marketing and Brand Consultant |
Rebecca Sauerbrunn | Football Player – US International |
Brendan Schwab | Executive Director – World Players Association |
Kelly Smith | Football Player – Former England International |
Rebecca Smith | Football Player – Former New Zealand International; Global Executive Director of the Women’s Game – Copa90 |
Ivančica Sudac | Head of International Affairs and Licensing – Croatian Football Federation |
Kimon Tailiadoros | President of Football Federation Victoria |
Tashima Kohozo | President – Japan Football Association |
Ravy Truchot | Founder & President – FC Miami City Champions, US Champions Soccer Academy, International Center of European Football |
Sarah Van Vooren | Founder – Atoot |
Amanda Vandervort | Football Fan Engagement and Marketing Expert |
Marion Vayson de Pradenne | CFO – AFDP Global |
Tomaž Vesel | President – Slovenia Court of Auditors |
Rob Williams OBE | CEO – War Child |
Dato Windsor John | General Secretary – AFC |
Minky Worden | Director of Global Initiatives – Human Rights Watch |
John Wroe | Co-Founder & CEO – Street Child United |
Rachel Yankey OBE | Football Player – Former England International |