{"id":10392,"date":"2023-05-16T13:59:13","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T11:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/?post_type=news&p=10392"},"modified":"2023-05-16T13:10:11","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T11:10:11","slug":"empower-each-other","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/news\/empower-each-other\/","title":{"rendered":"New Sports & Rights Alliance report on survivors of abuse: \u201cWe have to empower each other\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWe have to empower each other:” <\/span><\/i>Consultation with Survivors of Abuse in Sport Outlines Need for Global Network<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(Nyon, Switzerland, 16 May, 2023) \u2014 Focus group research and trauma-informed interviews with over 25 athlete survivors and representatives of survivor-led organizations have revealed a widespread need for an international network to connect survivors, share experiences, facilitate learning and empower greater advocacy, the\u00a0Sport & Rights Alliance<\/a>\u00a0said today. Based on the findings of this study and thanks to the support of the Oak Foundation, the Alliance will soon launch the Global Network of Athlete Survivors.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe consultation was inspired by the movement of mothers against police violence in Argentina, Brazil, US and other countries,” said\u00a0Andrea Florence<\/a>, director of the Sport & Rights Alliance. “Our goal was to explore interest, capacity and opportunities in creating a survivor-led network to facilitate greater worldwide connection, representation, advocacy and support. Survivors\u2019 answers were a resounding \u2018yes,\u2019 and we are grateful to be able to help fill this need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The study took an intersectional and transversal approach to gather perspectives from the most diverse and representative group of individuals possible, resulting in 10 of the 25 total participants hailing from countries in the global majority, including from Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Iran, Kenya, Mali and South Africa, with the other 15 coming from Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, United Kingdom and the United States.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cWe know that to bring about the change we want to see, we have to start with the voices of athletes with lived experience,\u201d said\u00a0Joanna Maranh\u00e3o<\/a>, former Olympic swimmer, survivor and project lead of the Alliance\u2019s study. \u201cBecause Black, Indigenous and People of Color have historically been excluded from these conversations, it is important to start from the margins in, hearing from as many people as possible from the Global South to be able to establish a solid base of evidence for any endeavors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Acknowledging the risk and common occurrence of retraumatization and distress even in the most well-intentioned engagements with affected people, the project organizers used trauma-informed principles and a \u201cdo no harm\u201d ethic of care to prioritize the safety, wellbeing and autonomy of all participants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cOur approach to facilitation aimed to create a space where participants would be acknowledged, affirmed, and heard,\u201d said\u00a0Stephanie Dixon<\/strong>, Paralympian, researcher and project moderator.\u00a0\u201cAttending to feelings of safety and affirmation of the participants was not a list of checkmarks to be completed, but rather invited and facilitated through a community agreement and commitment to ongoing listening, learning, and growth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Every participant was compensated for their expert contribution and any needs for psychological, legal or other kinds of support. They were also offered choice in their level and method of participation and provided options to communicate feelings of discomfort and ask the moderator to shift the conversation away from any distressing topics.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cOne of the most surprising takeaways of our assessment was just how often participants told us they are asked to consult, give interviews, or tell their stories of abuse in sport without being offered any real compensation or support,\u201d said\u00a0Rachel Causey<\/a>, coordinator of communications and survivor outreach for the project. \u201cGiven the harm they have already experienced in sport, this practice of expecting free labour, and the additional harm that often comes with it, is truly shocking \u2013 and must come to an end.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Throughout the focus groups, there was a strong consensus on the need for an international solidarity network focused on survivor athletes\u2019 needs, which can be summarized in three areas: healing, voice, and justice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cWe have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are hoping to enable a place where survivors can find peer-to-peer support, training and emergency funds as well as a launch pad for advocacy, research and representation,\u201d said Maranh\u00e3o. \u201cThe aim is to build a network by survivors, for survivors and with survivors\u2019 interests at the forefront, every step of the way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Conducted by the Alliance from May to November 2022, the study and resulting report, \u201cWe need to empower each other,\u201d was led by Brazilian Olympian, survivor, advocate and researcher Joanna Maranh\u00e3o, supported by Canadian Paralympian and researcher Stephanie Dixon, the Alliance\u2019s Director Andrea Florence and Communications Coordinator Rachel Causey. The study was guided by a Steering Committee of experts from\u00a0Safe Sport International<\/a>,\u00a0The Army of Survivors<\/a>, the\u00a0Centre for Sport & Human Rights<\/a>,\u00a0Human Rights Watch<\/a>, and the\u00a0Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cPlayer unions stand with survivors and are committed to organizing around abuse, negotiating safe work environments, and fulfilling the justice needs of athlete victims and survivors \u2013 especially in countries where the right to organize is not respected,\u201d said Brendan Schwab, executive director of\u00a0World Players Association<\/a>. \u201cThis new project has the full support of World Players and we stand ready to amplify the voices and demands of survivors for systemic change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The full report can be found on UNI’s website here<\/a> and at the Sport & Rights Alliance\u2019s website here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span>***<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The\u00a0Sport & Rights Alliance\u00a0<\/b>partners include\u00a0Amnesty International,<\/b>\u00a0The Army of Survivors<\/b>,Committee to Protect Journalists<\/b>,\u00a0Football Supporters Europe<\/b>,\u00a0Human Rights Watch<\/b>,\u00a0ILGA World (The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association)<\/b>, the\u00a0International Trade Union Confederation<\/b>,\u00a0Transparency International Germany<\/b>, and\u00a0World Players Association, UNI Global Union<\/b>. As a global coalition of leading NGOs and trade unions, the SRA works together to ensure sports bodies, governments and other relevant stakeholders give rise to a world of sport that protects, respects, and fulfills international standards for human rights, labour rights, child wellbeing and safeguarding, and anti-corruption.<\/span><\/i><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cWe have to empower each other:” Consultation with Survivors of Abuse in Sport Outlines Need for Global Network \u00a0(Nyon, Switzerland, 16 May, 2023) \u2014 Focus group research and trauma-informed interviews with over 25 athlete survivors and representatives of survivor-led organizations have revealed a widespread need for an international network to connect survivors, share experiences, facilitate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":10393,"template":"","categories":[41,148],"global-issues":[],"sectors":[20],"cross-sector-groups":[],"workers-rights":[],"regions":[],"topics":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNew Sports & Rights Alliance report on survivors of abuse: \u201cWe have to empower each other\u201d<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/news\/empower-each-other\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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