Adeje Town Hall and the Municipal Services Company of Adeje (EMSA) are taking another step in their commitment to child protection, implementing measures that will reach over 3,000 minors directly involved in municipal activities. On the morning of Friday, 28 November, the Las Torres Pavilion hosted the presentation of the Action Protocol for the Protection of Children and Adolescents in Sport and Leisure, a detailed roadmap aimed at creating, within the municipal framework, the safest possible environments and conditions for children and young people.
With this initiative, Adeje positions itself among the Canary Islands municipalities as a pioneer in the field, going beyond mere compliance with LOPIVI, Organic Law 8/2021 on comprehensive protection of children and adolescents against violence, by translating the law into concrete actions that make such protection effective.
The event, chaired by Adolfo Alonso, councillor for Culture, Education and Sports, also included the participation of Gonzalo Silió, head of the specialised company Bien Hecho, María África Álvarez, Director of the International Institute of Sports Excellence and Certifications, and Coraima Afonso, Adeje councillor with special delegation in education and early childhood education. All agreed that violence against minors in sport and leisure is a hidden reality, with data that, while worrying, only reveal a small part of the problem.
As Adolfo Alonso explained, Adeje’s step forward in child protection is the natural result of committed management with a focus on quality and a broader vision of sport that contributes to shaping healthier individuals and societies. “In addition to improving and diversifying facilities, promoting children’s participation, supporting clubs, and involving families, we have actively ensured the professional qualification of instructors and the ongoing cultivation of values in sports practice.” The protocol aims to establish and promote sport in a protective, safe, inclusive environment conducive to well-being, where good treatment and the eradication of all forms of violence are fundamental principles in every aspect.
“Adeje understands and cares for its children,” said Gonzalo Silió, highlighting that violence is a common reason for children to abandon sports. He emphasised that the municipality, through protocols like this one, assumes its responsibility to ensure minors are in a safe environment. Under the protocol, since last September Silió has been providing in-person training to around twenty instructors acting as delegates, with this training set to extend to around 150 municipal instructors linked to Sports Schools, Early Childhood Education, Culture, and the Music School. This means that the direct impact of these measures will exceed 3,000 minors, “a figure that will grow as sports clubs and families become involved,” added Adolfo Alonso.
In this regard, María África Álvarez noted that the work carried out in Adeje is unusual and sets the municipality apart, providing guarantees for families and athletes. “Sport is one of the best tools for personal development, if used properly, positively impacting people’s lives and creating a ripple effect in society,” said the expert, noting that Adeje is the only municipality in the Canary Islands to hold the Sports Quality Seal, awarded in January this year.
This distinction complements Adeje’s 25-year status as a Learning City, part of a national network to which only five Canary Islands municipalities belong, noted Coraima Afonso, a status that entails a permanent commitment to the education of all residents, with their active participation in the entire process.
