GFF and Rights of the Child Commission sign landmark protection agreement

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has taken a decisive step toward professionalising its youth infrastructure by signing a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC).

The agreement, formalised at the Federation’s Secretariat on Wednesday, aims to embed robust safeguarding systems across all tiers of Guyanese football.

Backed by the Restorative Justice Centre (RJC), the partnership represents a major alignment with FIFA’s global mandate to ensure football remains a safe haven for young athletes.

Under the banner “Children’s Rights in Football – Safeguarding the Future of Guyana’s Young Athletes,” the MOU mandates a shift from voluntary compliance to strict enforcement of protection policies.

Rawlston Adams, GFF Second Vice President, confirmed that the federation is adopting a “zero-tolerance” stance on abuse. Crucially, the agreement makes safeguarding training and formal compliance declarations mandatory for all coaches, referees, and administrators operating within the GFF ecosystem.

“This partnership reinforces our commitment to global standards,” Adams said. “It is about creating a culture where every child, parent, and coach understands that safety is the bedrock of development.”

The move aligns the GFF with the FIFA Guardians™ framework, a toolkit designed to help member associations worldwide strengthen their safeguarding measures.

RCC CEO Andre Gonsalves praised the GFF’s leadership, noting that as the official FIFA representative in Guyana, the federation’s proactive stance sets a national benchmark for sports organisations.

Orrin Boston, Director of the Restorative Justice Centre, emphasised that the collaboration would also ensure that youth are treated with appropriate legal and ethical care within the sporting context.

The MOU establishes a comprehensive roadmap for reform, focusing on five critical areas:

• Policy Enforcement: Aligning GFF rules with national laws and international best practices.
• Confidential Reporting: Establishing clear, secure channels for whistleblowers and victims.
• Transparency: Implementing rigorous case management procedures.
• Advocacy: Lobbying for a national ‘Children’s Bill of Rights in Sport.’
• Accountability: Creating a dedicated Safeguarding Committee to oversee implementation.

The GFF will now lead the rollout of targeted training programmes for academies and regional associations.

By appointing a dedicated Safeguarding Focal Point, the federation aims to move beyond rhetoric and provide a tangible safety net for the thousands of children currently enrolled in youth programmes across the 10 administrative regions.