There are stories and evidence of sexual harassment, molestation, and eve-teasing by coaches, officials, and fellow athletes in sports in western countries. Although such mishaps are not reported in Bhutan for now, the Bhutan Olympic Committee launched the first ‘Safe Sports Policy’ in Thimphu yesterday. The policy aims to prevent and respond to harassment and abuse against all involved in sports.
The types of harassment and abuse in sports include psychological abuse, physical abuse, sexual harassment, and neglect where a coach or another person with a duty of care towards the athletes fails to shoulder the responsibility.
As per the policy, any alleged incidents of harassment and abuse shall be reported either to persons designated by sports federations, associations, Bhutan Olympic Committee or Safeguarding Officers, Athletes Commission of Bhutan, and the Gender Equity Committee.
In an event of harassment or abuse, victims can email or report in person to relevant officials. A committee will review the complaint. And based on the review report, actions will be taken accordingly.
Sonam Dendup, a member of BOC’s Gender Equity Committee said the policy will ensure that cases of harassment and abuse in the country’s sports sector do not go underreported.
“We also believe to a certain extent that a lot of problems and issues go underreported. Athletes might be getting abused economically or physically but it might go underreported because there isn’t a framework or a policy to safeguard this type of issue.”
Thirteen federations and five associations signed a memorandum of understanding with the member affiliates of the Bhutan Olympic Committee to endorse the policy.
This is the first comprehensive Safe Sports Policy developed to safeguard athletes and officials since the inception of BOC in 1983.
The policy was developed by the Athletes Commission of Bhutan and the Gender Equity Committee, with support from the Olympic Solidarity upon the command received from BOC’s President, His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck in November 2020. Olympic Solidarity is one of the International Olympic Committee’s commissions that organizes assistance the IOC gives to the National Olympic Committees to help develop sports in their countries.
Tshering Dendup
Edited by Phub Gyem
