Gender committee presents report to CS Amina

The Ministerial Committee on Gender Welfare in Sports constituted to examine gender inclusivity in sports in the country has completed its work.

Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed disclosed Thursday that the committee chaired by legendary long distance runner Catherine Ndereba has already handed the report to the ministry.

Amina explained that the report that will officially be released during the Agnes Tirop Conference due January 17 to 22 in Diani, Kwale has provided an elaborate report detailing widespread cases of gender based discrimination and violence in the sports sector.

The ministry has invited 50 sportswomen and an equal number of sportsmen to the conference that will also bring together sports stakeholders from Kenya and across the world, top government officials and investigative agencies.

Also invited are officials from the United Nations and World Bank, among others for the conference that will discuss issues of gender-based violence in sports and find lasting solutions to the vice. 

The committee was mandated to conduct an urgent analysis of women inclusion in teams and federations’ management, existing challenges and opportunities for corrective improvement.

Updating the media on the forthcoming conference, Amina hinted that the committee has also provided, as requested, a string of recommendations on how to curb these vices and ensure gender equity is realised.

Among the issues highlighted in the report, Amina said include disparities in remunerations between male and female coaches.

“This is something that doesn’t exist in our government where male and female are paid the same,” said Amina, adding that there are also disparities in payment between sportsmen and women and men and female referees.

“The report also brought out the gender imbalance in the composition of federations and technical bench of various national teams as well as media coverage," explained Amina. “But the worst are the rampant cases of sexual harassment and sexual abuse directed towards sportswomen by some officials on technical benches and a few sportsmen.”

Amina noted that some of the recommendations included fairness in remuneration to deal with the issue of discrimination. 

“The report recommends for giving opportunities to retired players and coaches to mentor and train young female coaches and players besides giving additional budgetary support to female athletes and broader media coverage,” said Amina, adding that action should be taken against those perpetrating sexual abuses.

Amina said that the conference will provide a platform where sports stakeholders, sportsmen and women and officials can converge and discuss priority issues in inclusivity of welfare and dignity especially in sports.

"The objective is to find sustainable solutions," said Amina, adding that the conference will run under the theme, "Leveling the playing field; gender inclusivity in sports."

"It will include plenary sessions, panel discussions on key areas including women in leadership, mental health and sports as a tool for ending discrimination," said Amina.