The Council of Europe’s Sport Division has responded to the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls' call for input to the United Nations General Assembly. This contribution emphasises the widespread and multifaceted forms of violence women and girls in sports face, ranging from physical and psychological abuse to economic coercion and online harassment. Drawing on the Istanbul Convention and the Revised European Sports Charter, the Council highlights the need for zero tolerance towards violence and discrimination in sports environments.
Special attention is due to the violation of fundamental human rights resulting from exposure to violence in sports. It points to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits torture, and Article 8, which protects private and family life, as legal bases often breached in cases of abuse. The European Court of Human Rights has addressed numerous cases involving inadequate responses to allegations of sexual abuse, underscoring the critical need for effective legal protections and sanctions against perpetrators.
Research from the European Union-Council of Europe joint project "All In: Towards gender balance in sport" (2018-2019) revealed that gender-based violence in sport often involves abuse not just from coaches and officials but also from peer athletes. This abuse is predominantly perpetrated by men, although cases involving female perpetrators are also noted. In the framework of the ongoing data collection campaign of the EU-CoE joint project “All In Plus: Promoting greater gender equality in sport”, new data will be published pertaining to its participating countries by end 2024.
The EU-CoE Combating Hate Speech in Sport joint project (January 2022-June 2024) further addresses the escalating issue of online violence against women athletes.
The Council of Europe calls for comprehensive strategies to protect women and girls in sports, emphasising the roles of both state and non-state actors. This includes adopting legislative measures, ensuring effective reporting and investigation of violence, and providing robust support for survivors. Initiatives like the "Start to Talk" call for action and the “Child Safeguarding in Sport” (2020-2022) EU-CoE joint project highlight best practices and frameworks for safeguarding children and women in sports, advocating for a collaborative, rights-based approach to prevent and combat violence in this sphere.
