Panama Approves Safe Sport Bill: A Step Towards Creating a Secure Sporting Environment

The Law’s objective is the prevention, prohibition and punishment of abuse, harassment, violence, whether physical, sexual, psychological or economic, harassment and any other form of discrimination or mistreatment in sport and in all its disciplines.

In May 2021, and after an extensive diagnostic analysis for the elaboration of the Strategic Plan of the recently created Safe Sports Office of the COP, the need to have a Safe Sports Law for our country was evident, which motivated, in June of that same year, a meeting to present the proposal to HD Gabriel Silva and his work team, who after carrying out the respective study, analysis and consultations, on October 4, 2021 in conjunction with HD Juan Diego Vásquez and Génesis Arjona proposed Bill 150 to the Education, Culture and Sports Commission of the National Assembly of Deputies, chaired by HD Alina González, taking the corresponding procedures until it is approved to move to the second debate on March 7, 2023.

The International Olympic Committee defines safe sport as “a sporting environment that is healthy, safe and protects the rights and well-being of all participants”. This includes the prevention and protection against all types of violence, including harassment, abuse and discrimination, as well as the prevention of injuries and the promotion of health and well-being in sport.

The President of the Olympic Committee of Panama, Damaris Young expressed: “Safe sport promotes transparency, ethics and responsibility in all sports disciplines, promotes inclusion and diversity. In short, safe sport is a fair, respectful and protective environment for all those who participate in sport, so each athlete, each human talent linked to sports management in our country deserves nothing less than that, precisely legal instruments. such as Bill 720 foster environments tending to undertake this purpose.”

The Bill establishes in its article 2, that it is applicable to athletes and athletes, sports technical personnel, coaches, assistants and teachers, health personnel, physical therapists, masseurs, doctors, psychologists, nutritionists, among other professionals), organization personnel and competition control, maintenance personnel, administrative personnel, sports leaders, members of sports organizations and those people who, paid or voluntary, carry out activities directly linked to sports practice, whether in the field of sports, school, adapted, federated , competition and high performance, or professional.

One person who has been very aware of the entire process is the Director of the Safe Sports Office of the Panamanian Olympic Committee, María Carla Sayavedra, who indicated that: “The Law not only complements the message that we bring to the sports ecosystem: you are not alone, you have where to turn and both the Office and the Law will watch over you, because you deserve to have a safe sport, but it also establishes measures to safeguard the integrity of people subjected to acts of violence in sport, giving them strength and protection to those who resort to it.”

For our Pan American medalist athlete, Héctor Cención, who was present in each of the discussions of the second and third debates, pointed out: “I feel that it is and has been a good initiative by the COP, thanks to María Carla for thinking of the athletes from another point of view and not only as they are used to demanding in physical performance. This is an opportunity for us athletes to feel safer, more supported and more confident.

I am happy that Panama will be the 3rd country in the world to have this type of legislation”.

The Olympic Athlete Diego Castillo, who serves as President of the COP Athletes Commission and member of the Board of Directors, highlighted that it is a great step in the rights of Panamanian athletes and athletes: “For sport it is important to be able to provide security to the athletes, in that space where they feel safe where they seek objectives, performance, results; and being able to give greater security and peace of mind through a law helps us to prevent any situation so that sport is a free practice and is enjoyed”.

FUENTE: OLEPOR COMMITTEE