VOICES FOR TRUTH AND DIGNITY
The EU-funded project Voices for truth and dignity (VOICE) focused on combating
sexual violence and harassment in European sport through research and by
listening to voices of those affected, promoting safe sporting environments
and freedom from harassment, violence, exploitation and abuse.
The project kicked off in 2016 and was
concluded in mid-2018. Within the scope
of the VOICE project, a European work-
shop was organised in Cologne in Septem-
ber 2017, and in 2018 the final conference
took place in Bergisch Gladbach near Co-
logne on May 4-5. “Your voice – your life –
your truth” – this message from former
Irish swimmer Ms Karen Leach was the
title of the final conference, bringing to-
gether 135 participants from 16 countries
with the aim of learning from the reports
of those affected how sexualised violence
develops in sport, what support they need
and how protective measures should be
designed.
At the centre of the project was an inter-
view study with people affected by sexual
violence in sport, which was conducted
in seven European countries. In detailed
interviews, a total of 72 people reported
their experiences of violence in sport.
After carrying out interviews with the
survivors of sexual harassment, violence
and abuse in the past, the events helped
to bring forward these voices. Through
cooperation with the survivors, research
institutions, organisations from the field of
sport and victim support/child protec-
tion services, project partners developed
educational materials and preventive
tools, providing recommendations for
safer sport.The project was led by German Sport Uni-
versity Cologne (GER), partnered by seven
other universities – Edge Hill University(GBR), University of Ljubljana (SLO),
University of Southern Denmark (DEN),
University of Vienna (AUT), University
of Antwerp and Thomas More College
(BEL), University of Vic (ESP), as well as
the Youth section of the European Non-
Governmental Sports Organisation (HUN),
European Paralympic Committee (AUT),
the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Fed-
eration (NED) and the European University
Sports Association (SLO). Each university
was also partnered by a national sports
body and a national child protection/victim
support organisation.The VOICE project was funded by the
Erasmus+ Programme of the European
Union.