SIGA held a meeting in Miami which brought together officials from sporting bodies, law enforcement agencies and "social influencers" to launch a plan to tackle child abuse in sport.

SIGA state the plan will include the development of an inventory and comparative analysis of existing policies, which will identify not only methods that have worked, but also potential weaknesses and loopholes.

The plan will also see the development of a set of guidelines, recommendations and universal standards for recruitment, training education and protection of children, which will be applicable to all sports.

There are also plans to develop a global awareness campaign under the banner "It’s not okay" with use of the #itsnotokay hashtag.

Sports organisations who have committed to the scheme include the United States Center for SafeSport, the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee.

At the end of the four-hour session in Miami, SIGA chief executive Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros expressed the importance of the plan.

"It was a powerful and far-reaching discussion," he said.

"We feel invigorated by such a strong level of support and commitment to action."

De Medeiros said: "All children have the fundamental right to participate, enjoy and develop through sport in a safe and sound environment.

"They are not commodities.

"They are human beings, and must be regarded and treated as such.

"Time’s up for paedophiles, smugglers and traffickers.

"We won’t allow them to transform sport into an ugly business."

CANOC President Brian Lewis added: "It was a tremendous honour and privilege to share ideas and thoughts with such an esteemed group of committed and dedicated change creators.

"We must seek transformation and contribute to building a safe sport environment for children and young people.

"The betrayal of trust is an atrocious and vile attack on the fundamental values of sport.

"We must not continue to be complicit."