The revision of the EU Directive on Combating Child Sexual Abuse is likely to impact sport organisations  working closely with children.

During the EOC EU Office “Lunch & Learn Seminar” on March 19, 2025, representatives from the European Commission outlined the upcoming Directive’s expanded legal obligations, such as mandatory background checks for staff and volunteers who have regular and direct contact with children. The revision will also expand the definitions of offences to adapt to new phenomena (AI-generated material, deep fake) and include the notion of consent. It will increase penalties for perpetrators and strengthen requirements for prevention and assistance to victims. 

The sport movement has a responsibility in adopting adequate preventive and protective measures. Initiatives such as the SAFE HARBOUR project (EOC EU Office) and the Safer GRASSroots Sport project (NOC Portugal) contribute to providing hand-on toolkits and educational material to strengthen safeguarding measures in sport. 

The text is currently negotiated in the European Parliament and is likely to be adopted by the end of 2025. On March 3rd, the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM Committee) voted on the draft legislative opinion on the EU Directive, noting the text’s significance for gender equality due to the prevalence of girls among victims of child abuse (90%). 

The CERV Programme has opened a dedicated call to support organisations, including sport organisations, willing to take preventive and protecting measures for children in their realities. CERV-2025-CHILD: Rights of the child and children’s participation (deadline 29.04.2025)