WBSC Integrity Unit launches #SafeCall safeguarding campaign

WBSC Integrity Unit launches #SafeCall safeguarding campaign
02/02/2021
The mission of the WBSC Integrity Unit is to enhance fair play and transparency, protect athletes’ rights and promote inclusiveness, and further enhance governance.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Integrity Unit has launched #SafeCall, a new safeguarding campaign to serve and protect the rights and best interests of athletes.

#SafeCall involves the WBSC Athletes Commission, who will appoint Safeguarding Officers to be present at WBSC events as part of the initiative. The Safeguarding Officer will be present throughout the entire tournament and will document all reports of discrimination, harassment and abuse, determine if follow up is needed and recommend if the case should be referred to the WBSC Ethics Commission or local authorities. Outside of events, athletes can report a case via email - safeguarding[at]wbsc.org.

The mission of the WBSC Integrity Unit, chaired by WBSC Secretary General Beng Choo Low, is to enhance fair play and transparency, protect athletes’ rights and promote inclusiveness, and further enhance governance.

"The WBSC Statutes clearly state that all athletes in WBSC-sanctioned international competitions have the right to participate in safe sport," Choo Low said. "It means being able to compete and train in a respectful environment free from all forms of discrimination, harassment and abuse. There is no place in sport or society for discrimination, harassment and abuse, or anyone who takes advantage of athletes’ trust."

You might also be interested in:
- WBSC Statutes By-Laws - Harassment & Abuse
- New WBSC Integrity Unit releases updated Baseball5 official ball certification programme
- WBSC establishes new Integrity Unit to safeguard future of baseball and softball

For the last few years, the WBSC has developed initiatives to ensure sport is safe, fair and free from all forms of discrimination, harassment and abuse. This WBSC framework for safeguarding applies to every WBSC tournament, to every participant and every incident of discrimination, harassment and abuse.

Further reading:
- WBSC President Fraccari Op-Ed: 200 days to Tokyo 2020 and baseball-softball’s Olympic comeback
- Year in Review - Top Stories of 2020
- 2020 in Review: Baseball-softball global activity remains strong in challenging times
- End-of-the-year message from WBSC President to the global Baseball Softball community

Both the WBSC and the International Olympic Committee clearly mention in their Code of Ethics, and Safeguarding Bylaws that there is zero-tolerance for discrimination and harassment irrespective of gender, race, colour, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.


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