Athletic Club Launches Pioneering Child Protection Program

The protection and creation of safe spaces for children in sports is a fundamental aspect of sports institutions.

Although Athletic Club has always had this theme as something fundamental in its daily work, it has taken a step forward in terms of child protection within its institution.

With the figure of the Head of Child Protection within the Club, the bases are laid for a systematic work that will culminate with a policy of comprehensive protection of children including elements of prevention, training and protocols of action that have as their sole purpose the welfare of all children of our entity.

This figure is innovative within the world of elite football, as no club in La Liga and very few internationally have it. It is therefore a clear message of institutional responsibility for the children with whom we work in all the projects of the entity, not only in the football teams (Foundation, External Project and arranged clubs). This innovative experience can teach the way to the integral protection of children within the world of sport.

Athletic Club has hired to lead the project Iñaki Alonso, Law graduate from the University of Deusto, international expert in Humanitarian Aid and specialist in Children’s Rights, working for UNICEF and Save the Children. He has carried out and participated in researches, studies and analyses on the different types of violence against children. In addition, he has been sports coordinator of the female Pauldarrak for the last 16 years.