The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) Sign Landmark MOU to Strengthen Child Safeguarding in Football
February 18, 2026, Georgetown - The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at the Federation’s Secretariat, establishing a strategic partnership to advance child protection, safeguarding, and rights-based development within football across Guyana.
Under the theme ‘Children's Rights in Football- Safeguarding the Future of Guyana's Young Athletes”, the agreement formalizes collaboration between the two institutions to ensure that football environments at all levels prioritize the safety, dignity, and well-being of children. Grounded in principles of mutual respect, shared responsibility, and the best interests of the child, the partnership seeks to embed robust safeguarding systems throughout the sport.
Stipulated in the MOU, the parties will work jointly to strengthen and enforce the GFF’s Child Safeguarding Policy in alignment with national legislation and international best practices. The collaboration will also focus on building capacity across the football ecosystem, including coaches, referees, administrators, parents, academies, players, and other stakeholders — through comprehensive training on child rights, safeguarding standards, ethical conduct, and restorative justice principles.
“This partnership represents a decisive step toward ensuring that football in Guyana is not only competitive, but also safe, inclusive, and protective of every child involved. Safeguarding is a shared responsibility, and through this collaboration with the RCC we are reinforcing our commitment to zero tolerance for abuse and to the highest standards of care. This initiative is fully aligned with FIFA’s global effort to eradicate harm to children involved in football. The GFF will therefore mandate child safeguarding training, along with a signed declaration affirming full compliance with all policies and regulations governing the protection of children, as an integral requirement for every category of GFF membership and for all stakeholders engaged in the organisation and operation of football activities.” said Mr. Rawlston Adams, Second Vice President of the GFF.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rights of the Child Commission, Andre Gonsalves, expressed gratitude for the newly forged partnership, stating, “We are extremely excited that the GFF has led the way, as it is the FIFA representative in Guyana who has singed onto the Children’s Bill of Right in Sports along with UNICEF”.
Also present as the signing was Orrin Boston, Director of the Restorative Justice Centre (RJC) at the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Boston said he is elated for the role the RJC will play in the MOU, adding “We will be happy to lend our expertise to this MOU, to ensure that youths are dealt with differently in sports”.
Key areas of collaboration include:
- Strengthening policy frameworks and enforcement mechanisms for child protection in football
- Establishing clear, accessible, and anonymous reporting channels for safeguarding concerns
- Implementing transparent and accountable case management procedures
- Advocating for the national adoption of a Children’s Bill of Rights in Sport
- Promoting a culture of safety, respect, and accountability across all levels of the game
- Delivering football programmes that support social development and child safeguarding outcomes
As part of its commitments, the GFF will lead policy implementation, organize safeguarding training for football personnel, establish a dedicated Safeguarding Committee and point of contact, and provide logistical support for joint activities. The Federation will also monitor and evaluate football programmes delivered under the partnership.
This landmark agreement signals a unified national effort to ensure that football serves as a safe platform for growth, empowerment, and protection for every child in Guyana.
