The ESSEPA project (European Sport Safeguarding Education and Promotion Action) has reached an important milestone with the publication of two key project reports.

The first publication, the Research Report on Safeguarding Policies, provides an overview of existing legal frameworks, safeguarding policies and practices in the partner countries, with particular emphasis on safeguarding in sport and university sport. Based on an analysis of national systems, the report identifies similarities, differences and areas requiring further development.

This was followed by the publication of the Research Analysis Report, which presents the findings of a study conducted among a range of university sport stakeholders from 19 countries. The report offers insight into their experiences, levels of awareness and perceptions of safety within sporting environments. Its findings will serve as a foundation for the development of an online education and certification platform, as well as for subsequent project activities.

The ESSEPA project is coordinated by the European University Sports Association (EUSA) and co-funded by the European Commission. It brings together ten partner organisations from nine European countries with the aim of strengthening safeguarding and safety in university sport. The University of Zagreb is one of the project partners.

Associate Professor Zrinka Greblo Jurakić and Ida Dukić, MSc in Psychology, of the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Croatian Studies, are actively involved in the project’s implementation.