Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport

The report references the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1993) to define violence against women and girls as ‘any act of violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women or girls. It can include threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.’

The authors point out that certain groups, including women and girls from rural or indigenous communities, women of colour, those living in poverty, women with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ individuals, face heightened risks of violence. Acknowledging and addressing these varying levels of risk requires considering the multiple and intersecting identities and experiences of women and girls.

The report notes that athletes face multiple forms of violence including sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, online or digital violence, economic abuse; and bullying and microaggressions.

The report mentions the Essential services package for women and girls subject to violence launched jointly by several UN agencies and the RESPECT women framework as relevant tools for sports practitioners and policy makers.

The sports ecosystem includes international sports federations, national Olympic committees, athletes' unions, sponsors, fans and nonprofits among others. The report discusses that the challenges in partnering with these entities revolve around navigating their diverse priorities, governance structures, and levels of commitment. However, opportunities lie in leveraging their influence, resources and networks to promote gender equality.

The report underscores that the risks of violence are heightened during of mega sporting events (MSEs). Girls and women are disproportionately affected by these risks, including trafficking and prostitution, harassment and violence from visiting spectators as well as discriminatory treatment of women fans.

The report recommends fostering a systematic safeguarding culture in sports by implementing comprehensive policies, conducting regular training and awareness programs, establishing clear reporting mechanisms, and ensuring accountability through oversight and enforcement.

The report also explores the issue of underreporting and how victims, survivors and whistleblowers hesitate to report instances of violence due to fear of retaliation in their personal and professional lives.

Citing examples of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and the Netherlands Olympic Committee and the Netherlands Sports Confederation (NOC*NSF) helpline, the authors stress on the importance of creating essential services centred on the survivors.

As per the handbook, response mechanisms for violence in sports should offer the survivors a ‘safe space’ wherein their thoughts may be heard without judgment. They should acknowledge the pain and suffering of the individuals and ensure that perpetrators of violence are held accountable.

The handbook encourages the challenging of violence against women and girls prevalent in the general society using sport programming. It says that having athletes and other sport personalities speak about issues like gender equality can aid in transforming public opinion on violence against women and girls.

Highlighting sports for development (S4D) programmes including Maitrayana and Slum Soccer in India, the handbook advocates for the use of sports to combat gender-based violence. These programmes tackle gender stereotypes and inequalities and empower girls and women, the handbook notes.

Focus and Factoids by Ishan Tyagi.

PARI Library's health archive project is part of an initiative supported by the Azim Premji University to develop a free-access repository of health-related reports relevant to rural India.