Table of Contents
Mali: Girls’ Coach Gets Life Ban for Sex Abuse
FIBA Punishes 5 Basketball Officials But Needs to Exclude Abusers, Protect Witnesses
[Date and Place], [Publication Name] – The International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) sanctions on top women’s basketball officials in Mali confirm the responsibility to remedy systemic abuse of young athletes, Human Rights Watch said today. But the appointment of another official suspected of abuse as head of the Mali Basketball Federation (FMBB) raises concerns that continuing monitoring by FIBA and the International Olympic Committee is urgently needed.
Background
On June 21, 2023, FIBA issued a lifetime ban on Amadou Bamba, the former Mali women’s national basketball team coach, and sanctions on four other top officials. These sanctions come almost two years after the original complaints by teenage basketball players in Mali were made public.
FIBA’s McLaren report, released in September 2021, verified accounts of sexual exploitation, extortion, and retaliation within the FMBB, revealing an “institutionalized acceptance of sexual abuse.” However, the appointment of Jean-Claude Sidibé, who was alleged to have threatened witnesses and violated FIBA’s supposed “zero tolerance” policy for sexual abuse, as the president of the Mali Basketball Federation in December 2022 is concerning. The McLaren report’s recommendation that FIBA’s Disciplinary Commission should review the evidence against Sidibé has apparently been ignored.
Failures in the Process
The failures in FIBA’s process, including the McLaren investigation’s endangering survivors, are symptomatic of foundational flaws in FIBA’s governance, structure, and responsibilities to basketball players. The survivors and whistleblowers in Mali continue to live under threat and cannot safely play. Furthermore, FIBA’s current safeguarding policies lack a clear way for athletes to safely report abuses.
Editorial
The Importance of Accountability and Safeguarding
The recent sanctions by FIBA against top officials in Mali for their involvement in the sexual abuse scandal are a necessary step towards accountability. However, more needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of young athletes.
It is deeply troubling that an official suspected of abuse has been appointed as the head of the Mali Basketball Federation. This highlights the urgent need for continued monitoring by FIBA and the International Olympic Committee to ensure that abusers are excluded from positions of power and that witnesses are protected.
The Impact on Survivors and Whistleblowers
The failures in FIBA’s process have left survivors and whistleblowers in a vulnerable position. These individuals have shown immense courage in speaking out against abuse, but they continue to face threats and retaliation. FIBA must take immediate action to ensure their safety and provide the necessary support for survivors to heal and move forward.
Creating a Survivor-Centered Approach
It is crucial that FIBA and the relevant Malian government institutions take a survivor-centered approach in addressing the issue of abuse in girls’ basketball. This includes providing confidentiality, trauma support, and witness protection for all those who come forward with complaints.
The Ministry of Youth and Sport should form a government commission of inquiry to impartially investigate systemic sexual abuse in girls’ basketball and other girls’ sports in Mali. Additionally, the ministry should work with women’s rights and healthcare providers with expertise in sexual abuse and trauma to ensure that survivors have access to long-term, quality support services.
Advice
Implementing Safeguarding Policies and Background Checks
FIBA has an opportunity to learn from the failures in its process and implement stronger safeguarding policies throughout the federations it oversees. Background checks for federation leaders should be put in place to prevent abusers from holding positions of power.
Compensation for Survivors
It is essential that FIBA compensate the women and girls who came forward to report abuse. This acknowledgment of their bravery and the harm they endured is crucial in providing a sense of justice and closure.
Upcoming Opportunities for Change
With the Youth Olympics coming to Dakar, Senegal in 2026, FIBA has a chance to demonstrate its commitment to human rights and implement necessary reforms to protect athletes. This includes imposing a safeguarding policy, creating a safe reporting mechanism for abuses, and prioritizing the well-being and safety of athletes.
The recent sanctions against officials in Mali are a step towards addressing the systemic abuse of young athletes. However, it is vital that FIBA takes further action to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes, provide support for survivors, and prevent abusers from holding positions of power. Only through these efforts can the sport of basketball truly be a safe and empowering environment for all.
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