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June 14, 2024
The Sport and Rights Alliance (SRA), a global coalition working to embed human rights across sports, recently unveiled the Athletes Network for Safer Sports. Comprised of people and organizations connected by lived experiences of abuse in sport, the Network is a safe space that leverages survivors’ collective strength to create real change in the world of sport.
SRA was founded in 2015 by leading NGOs and trade unions to advocate for human rights and anti-corruption across sport. It promotes the rights and wellbeing of those most affected by the negative impacts of sports. The Network was created following an in-depth study and needs assessment consultation with survivors of abuse in sports from May to November 2022 which resulted in the report, “We have to empower each other”.
The report included focus group research and trauma-informed interviews with over 25 athlete survivors and representatives of survivor-led organizations. The research showed a strong consensus on the need for an international solidarity network focused on survivor athletes’ needs in healing, voice and justice. With the support of an advisory council comprised of athletes, allies, survivors and victims of abuse, the SRA has spent the last year developing a network for survivors’ needs including a trauma-informed and harm-reduction ethic of care – ensuring that people impacted by violence in sports lead the process of their healing.
“People impacted by abuse in sports are experts by experience, not by choice and have the right to be part of the solution,” said Joanna Maranhão, Network Coordinator. “There’s no legitimacy in any safeguarding initiative without the effective and respectful engagement of people with lived experience.”
The Network leverages the collective strength of survivors to continue their healing journey, amplify each other’s voices and achieve systemic change in the world of sport. It also includes an Advisory Council of athletes and allies who are responsible for providing overall programmatic guidance and strategic support.The Council inputs on programs, governance, monitoring and evaluation and risk management.
“As the Network we have four goals, healing, voice, accountability and sustainability,” said Jessica Shuran Yu, Advisory Council Member and former figure skater for Singapore. “We believe that these four goals work together to address the fact that abuse in sports is a systemic issue and that it often intersects with race, gender, LGBTQ+ and other types of discrimination.”
The Network will offer a range of activities for survivors and allies including collective campaigns, advocacy training and support, wellbeing support and resources, research analysis and an emergency fund for survivors needing urgent assistance. It’s hosting a webinar focuses on wellbeing tools needed to cope with trauma and burnout on June 21. It is also accepting new members interested in committing to a human rights-based approach led by those with lived experiences.
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