UN Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences - Violence against women and girls in sports

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, Reem Alsalem, explores the various forms, causes and consequences of violence against women and girls in sports.

Read the full report here.

I. Introduction
1. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, Reem Alsalem, explores the various forms, causes and consequences of violence against women and girls in sports. Sports are valuable for physical and mental well-being, and also offer routes out of poverty, increase
social cohesion in times of conflict,1 increase self-confidence, promote independence and empowerment2 and provide educational and career opportunities. They also serve as a platform for the development of self-confidence and leadership skills.3 In
addition, sports are important avenues for creating social change, as they enable women and girls to challenge gender norms and stereotypes. 4 

2. Nevertheless, participation in sports with safety, equality and dignity remains challenging for women and girls, as they continue to face sex and gender-based discrimination, compounded by discrimination on other grounds, for which there
continues to be widespread impunity.

3. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur examines the forms of violence experienced by women and girls in sport, their causes and the perpetrators of this violence, and offers recommendations for better prevention and response to violence against women and girls in sport. The Special Rapporteur received over 100 submissions from relevant stakeholders. She also held expert consultations in which 50 persons participated.