A seminar on Protection of Children’s Rights in Football was organized at AFFA Education and Rehabilitation Center. The event was held within the Children’s Rights Month, which covers October 20 - November 20, with the support of UEFA and the organization of AFFA.
The seminar was opened by AFFA Social and Environmental Sustainability Manager Kifayat Mustafayeva. The training process was led by Project-Based Learning expert and project mentor Ofeliya Gafarova and PhD in Psychology Ramida Oktay gizi.
Social and environmental managers of clubs participating in Misli Premier League attended the event. They were presented with practical materials on the protection of children's rights, the code of ethical conduct, the prevention of violence and discrimination, and the creation of a safe football environment.
The main goal of organizing the seminar is to recognize and protect children's rights in the football environment, prevent violence and dangerous behavior, formulate ethical principles of behavior, and create a safe football environment. This initiative aims to strengthen the protection of children within the framework of the social responsibility project implemented as a result of the joint efforts of AFFA and UEFA, as well as to turn football into a means of social development and education.
Within the training program, the participants:
● Participated in interactive Law Cards and Football Violations tasks;
● Conducted group discussions based on real-life scenarios on recognizing violence and dangerous behaviors;
● Gained practical skills in preparing educational materials through the Make Your Own Brochure activity;
● Learned the principles of a safe football environment through the True/False game.
At the end of the seminar, participants were given recommendations on developing and implementing a code of conduct, establishing feedback mechanisms for children and promoting educational activities in clubs and academies.
AFFA plans to hold similar seminars for national teams, league representatives and schoolchildren in the future. The aim is to continuously promote a safe, inclusive and respectful environment in children's football.
