NOTE: This document is a template and does not constitute legal advice. Member Organisations should take their own professional advice regarding applicable requirements.
1. Introduction
Commitment
1.1 The Singapore National Olympic Council (“SNOC”) affirms the fundamental ethical principles of Olympism and is committed to ensuring that all participants in its community play, practice, compete, officiate, work, volunteer and interact in a positive environment, free from harassment and abuse[1].
1.2 As a member of the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”), SNOC has taken the lead and the guidance of the IOC through:
– the IOC Prevention of Harassment and Abuse in Sport (PHAS) initiatives established by the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission, Athletes’ Entourage Commission, Medical and Scientific Commission, Women in Sport Commission.
– IOC Guidelines for International Federations and National Olympic Committees Related to Creating and Implementing a Policy to Safeguard Athletes from Harassment and Abuse in Sport (2020).
1.3 The SNOC Athletes’ Commission, Medical Commission and Women in Sport Committee have been key partners in the consultation and development of the Safe Sport Unified Code and the Safe Sport Programme, the national framework for safeguarding in sport.
Objective
1.4 The SNOC Safe Sport Policy (‘Policy’) seeks to ensure that all participants are aware of their rights and responsibilities and should be read in conjunction with:
– prevailing SNOC code(s) of conduct in SNOC team membership agreements
– relevant major games time frameworks (e.g. Olympics, Commonwealth Games)
– any other terms and conditions of participation in SNOC activities
1.5 The Policy also sets out procedures to report any abuse and harassment (including protections from any retaliation or repercussions for such reporting).
2. Definitions
“Persons” refers to all individuals employed by, contracted by or engaged in activities with SNOC or its Members including but not limited to employees, interns, contractors, board members, committee members, athletes, coaches, support personnel, volunteers, technical officials, convenors, managers, administrators and participants authorized as a member of the Singapore delegation in events hosted, organised and sanctioned by SNOC.
“Member” refers to an individual or organizations who are members or affiliates of SNOC.
“Safe Sport Commission” is responsible for administering the Safe Sport Programme.
“Safe Sport Unified Code” defines, the forms of abuse and harassment which may take place in the sporting environment that can be found at www.safesport.sg
“Safe Sport Programme” is a framework for applying, implementing and enforcing the Safe Sport Unified Code.
“Safe Sport Programme Handbook” sets out the process and procedures for reporting and resolution which can be found at www.safesport.sg
“Respondent” refers to the Person against whom a report is made pursuant to this Safe Sport Policy.
3. Scope of policy
3.1 This Policy applies to all Persons involved in SNOC Activities including but not limited to all events over which SNOC has jurisdiction such as the Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, Asian Youth Games (“Games”), as well as other events and activities organised by or hosted by the SNOC (collectively, including the Games, the “SNOC Activities”).
3.2 This Policy supplements and does not prevent immediate discipline or sanction from being applied under any games times framework[2] or other National Sport Association policies to which a Person may be subject to.
4. Application of the Safe Sport Programme
4.1 SNOC is a key signatory and member organisation under the Safe Sport Programme. SNOC thereby:
a. adopts the Safe Sport Unified Code (“Unified Code”) and the definitions of Misconduct set out in Article 4 which are sexual, physical and psychological in nature;
b. adopts the rules, policies and procedures of the Safe Sport Programme set out in the Safe Sport Programme Handbook (“Handbook”) for handling allegations of Misconduct;
c. subject to the relevant Games time framework, delegates jurisdiction and authority to:
i. the Safe Sport Commission to:
– assess and investigate allegations of Misconduct which are under its discretionary (low level) and mandatory (medium and high level) jurisdiction;
– issue interim measures pending conclusion of investigations;
– make recommendations of sanctions or disciplinary action as a result of such investigations;
ii. the committees constituted under the Safe Sport Disciplinary Panel to adjudicate matters referred to it by the Safe Sport Commission.
4.2 Persons within SNOC’s jurisdiction and/or disciplinary authority are:
a. responsible for knowing the information, policies and procedures outlined in this Policy, the Safe Sport Unified Code and the Handbook. Ignorance of any rule or regulation is not a defence to a breach and/or alleged breach of the Unified Code or Handbook;
b. subject to the rules, policies and procedures under the Handbook and shall submit, without reservation or condition, to the jurisdiction of the Safe Sport Commission for the resolution of any alleged breach of the Unified Code and/or Handbook.
4.3 A breach of the Unified Code or and Handbook will be considered per se violation of this Policy.
5. Training and education
5.1 Training and Education is a key component of any abuse and misconduct prevention strategy. Awareness training provides participants with the necessary information to identify and prevent the occurrence of abuse and harassment in the sporting environment.
5.2 All Persons should be empowered to report abuse and misconduct. To do so, all Persons should have a basic understanding of what constitutes a violation of the Safe Sport Policy and how to spot strategies used by offenders to target victims.
5.3 As part of the condition for participation in the Games, SNOC may from time to time, require completion and/or a refresher of the relevant Safe Sport modules on the SportSG-ED platform and production of the necessary certificates of completion as a condition for participation in the Games.
6. Breach of Policy
6.1 A Person commits a breach of this Policy when they either alone, or in conjunction with another engages in any conduct which constitutes Misconduct under Article 4 of the Unified Code:
A. Offences Under Domestic Law
B. Sexual Misconduct (e.g. Sexual Harassment, Sexual Contact without Consent, Sexual Communications)
C. Psychological & Physical Misconduct (e.g. Bullying, Harassment, Hazing)
D. Other Inappropriate Contact (e.g. Grooming, Intimate Relationships, Other Inappropriate Conduct)
E. Misconduct related to Process (e.g. False Reporting, Abuse of Process, Retaliation)
6.2 A Person(s) right to participate in SNOC’s Activities may be limited, made conditional, suspended, terminated or denied if found to have engaged in Misconduct.
7. Reporting and resolution
7.1 Any individual who becomes aware of or experiences Misconduct
a. in Games, should report the incident in accordance with the process set out in Annex A;
b. out of Games, should report directly to the Safe Sport Commission.
7.2 Where SNOC delegates authority to the Safe Sport Commission, the reporting and resolution procedures set out in the Handbook shall apply.
[1] Article 1.4 IOC Code of Ethics
[2] E.g. applicable disciplinary procedures under a SNOC Team Membership Agreement or Olympic Games Framework for Safeguarding Athletes and Other Participants from Harassment and Abuse in Sport, Commonwealth Games
Annex A:
