Barranquilla, Atlántico, March 21, 2024. With the purpose of advancing gender equality in the department’s sports, the Secretariat of Women and Gender Equality of the Atlantic led the Women and Sports forum: all women, all sports, all rights, organized with the support of the Institute of Recreation and Sports (Indeportes Atlántico) and the Women and Sports Association.
The Secretary of Women and Gender Equality of the Atlántico, María Lourdes Dávila highlighted the importance of creating a safe environment where women can develop without the constant fear of abuse by coaches or other members of the sports community.
“We must recognize and value the diversity and capabilities of women in sport, their ability to play multiple roles that are constantly challenged by gender stereotypes. We have to promote equality in sport. This will allow us to move towards a future where all people, regardless of their gender, can enjoy the same opportunities and security,” she stressed.
The forum was also attended by representatives of the ministries of Education, Sports and Equality, athletes, coaches, academics and civil society.
The Secretariat for Women and Gender Equality of the Atlantic announced its public policy on gender equality that seeks to promote gender equality and the materialization and guarantee of the rights of women and girls with awareness-raising, training and awareness actions for all. the population.
During the development of the territorial table of key actors to advance gender equality in sports, representatives of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, the Attorney General’s Office, the Comptroller’s Office and officials from the governorates of Atlántico, Córdoba and Sucre were present. ; mayors of Santa Marta, Soledad, Luruaco and Barranquilla, as well as representatives of the Libre, Simón Bolívar, Ascun and Esap universities; civil society and indigenous communities, among others.
In her presentation, the regional coordinator of Asomujer y Deporte, Olga Salas, referred to access to justice by victims of violence in sports, and presented the case of a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor under 14 years of age in 2013. against a weight trainer, who continued working until 2018 without any measure being taken to prevent him from continuing to be in contact with girls and young people in sports processes.
“This meeting aims to ensure that all people feel that there are pressing needs in terms of gender violence and respect for women’s rights, and that by becoming aware of this, we can move forward from different spaces and institutional areas to change this situation” stated Salas.
During the panels, it was made clear that in any scenario women and girls are at risk, but with the aggravating factor that in the cases of girls from ethnic minorities or those from low socioeconomic conditions this risk increases. In terms of regulations, there are tools to punish this type of crime; That is why authorities and officials are called to enforce them.
Finally, the call was for girls and women to understand that union and denunciation are the only alternatives to change these phenomena.
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ATLANTIC GOVERNMENT
