London Olympics 2012
London Olympics 2012 - make it safe for women
Drawing on our basic belief that prevention should be at the foundation of attempts to eradicate violence against women, the EVAW Coalition is campaigning for all those with responsibility for organising London 2012 to plan to prevent violence against women.
With a year to go before the opening ceremony we published an authoritative report in July 2011 entitled ‘Violence Against Women and Sport,’ written by Dr Cath Palmer of Durham university. The report brings together research on the relationship between major sporting events, increased rates of domestic violence, increased demand for prostitution and potentially trafficking, and increasing evidence of the nature of abuse of female athletes by those in close working relationships with them.
Our report was accompanied by an open letter to Lord Sebastian Coe, chair of the Games organising committee, appealing to him to act now to prevent violence against women in the run up to, during and after the Games.
You can read the report here and the open letter to Lord Coe here.
The Coalition is specifically calling on the London 2012 organisers to:
* champion women’s safety and make a public statement that the Games will be safe for women and will set a standard for future Olympics;
* work with a stakeholder group of experts on women’s safety and carry out a ‘women’s safety audit’ which assesses the risks to women visitors, competitors and locals and puts measures in place to mitigate these; this should be done in partnership with the GLA and the five host boroughs;
* make information available in athletes’ packs and elsewhere about UK law on different forms of violence against women and girls; this should include the law on rape, domestic violence, and paying to have sex with a coerced woman;
* make information about women’s support services widely available;
* ensure that London Ambassadors’ training includes information about the law as above, and services for women who want to report abuse.
End Violence Against Women Coalition Co-Chair Professor Liz Kelly said:
“We are looking forward to being hosts of a stunning London event. In the Olympic spirit we urge LOCOG to do more than any other host country to date has to ensure that all women – visitors, tourists, Londoners, athletes – can enjoy the Games safely.
“We urge Lord Coe and his colleagues to look at the risks and to take preventative action now – by making sure all visitors are informed of the law on sexual consent, on domestic violence and on the coercion of those working in prostitution. Women’s organisations are ready to support women who need help, but our job will be easier if those leading the Games send a strong message now that there is zero tolerance of violence against women here.”