Welfare and rights of children in football in sharp focus at GFF seminar

PRESS RELEASE || The Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in collaboration with the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) and the Restorative Justice Centre (RJC) Guyana, held a two-day seminar titled, ‘Children’s Rights in Football: An Introduction to Restorative Practice and Child Safeguarding.’

The initiative formed part of a strategic partnership aimed at advancing child protection, safeguarding, and rights-based development within football across Guyana.

The seminar, facilitated by the Restorative Justice Centre Guyana, was held on March 26-27 at the Ministry of Education’s National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

Designed to equip participants with a foundational understanding of restorative practices, the programme focused on their application in fostering safe, inclusive, and respectful environments for young athletes.

Participants were also being introduced to key child safeguarding principles, gaining practical tools to promote and protect the welfare and rights of children involved in football.

Chief Executive Officer of the Rights of the Child Commission, Andre Gonsalves, emphasised the leadership role football is playing in child protection within Guyana’s sporting landscape.

“As football takes the lead on children’s protection and safeguarding in Guyana, you are the trendsetters. You are demonstrating that success is not only about winning matches, but about mentorship, awareness, and responsibility. Coaches must be able to recognise when a child is struggling and determine when intervention is necessary. Achieving this requires training and capacity building, and the Restorative Justice Centre has stepped forward to support that mission.”

Director of the Restorative Justice Centre, Orrin Boston, underscored the importance of integrating restorative practices into football environments, noting their effectiveness in managing conflict and strengthening relationships.

“Football is more than a game; it is a space for meaningful human interaction where friendships are formed and communities are strengthened. However, it can also expose underlying tensions- from player disagreements to coach-related conflicts. If left unresolved, these issues can disrupt team harmony. Restorative justice, grounded in dialogue, accountability, and healing, offers a powerful framework for addressing and resolving such challenges.”

President of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde, reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to safeguarding.

“Child safeguarding is of paramount importance to the GFF. We are committed to ensuring that parents have full confidence in the football environment we are building. At the same time, we are equipping coaches, match officials, and all stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect our children from abuse, exploitation, and all forms of harm.”

In February 2026, the GFF and the Rights of the Child Commission formalised their collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The agreement outlines a shared commitment to strengthening and enforcing the Federation’s Child Safeguarding Policy in alignment with national legislation and international best practices.

The partnership also prioritises capacity building across the football ecosystem; including coaches, referees, administrators, parents, academies, and players, through comprehensive training in child rights, safeguarding standards, ethical conduct, and restorative justice principles.

(SOURCE: Guyana Football Federation)