Constitutional protection of the right to comprehensive development of children and adolescents in physical activities: a legal, preventive, and educational perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v81.119437Keywords:
Children’s rights, integral development , physical activity, Physical EducationAbstract
Introduction: The constitutional protection of the right to the integral development of children and adolescents constitutes a fundamental mandate of the Ecuadorian State. In the field of physical activities, this right requires preventive and educational guarantees that ensure safe and inclusive environments.
Objective: Analyze the constitutional protection of the right to the integral development of children and adolescents in physical activities in the province of Pichincha, from a legal, preventive, and educational perspective.
Methodology: A mixed-method approach was adopted, with a non-experimental design and a descriptive-correlational scope at an explanatory level. The population consisted of educational institutions and sports organizations in Pichincha, with an intentional sample of ninety-six participants, including administrators, physical education teachers, and coaches. Likert-scale questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and an institutional checklist were applied, ensuring content validity and statistical reliability.
Results: A broad normative recognition of the right to integral development was identified, although differences emerged in the implementation of safeguarding protocols and training programs. A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between the existence of preventive protocols and the perceived effective guarantee of the right.
Discussion: The findings confirmed that the effectiveness of the constitutional mandate depends on the institutionalization of preventive and training mechanisms, consistent with specialized literature on children’s rights and sport.
Conclusions: The constitutional protection of integral development in physical activities requires articulation between legal standards, prevention, and education to consolidate its effective guarantee at the provincial level.
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