The World Athletics Council, through its Athletes' Commission and Gender Leadership Taskforce, on Wednesday, December 4, announced plans to tackle gender-based violence as a matter of priority.
During the final day of the 236th World Athletics Council Meeting in Monaco, the Athlete’s Commission made a special request to the World Athletics to take a leadership role for practical ideas that can help curb the issue of femicide among athletes, which has been on the rise across the globe.
Kenya in particular comes on the spot whenever the question of athletes' welfare is mentioned, following a spate of deaths among female athletes.
The most recent outrageous case occurred in September 2024 when Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei lost her life at the hands of her partner. Cheptegei unfortunately joined a long list of athletes to have seen their careers cut short as a result of gender-based violence.
Others include Agnes Tirop, who was also killed by her lover, and Damaris Mutua, who was found murdered in Iten.
In their statement, the World Athletics said the recent cases in Africa had sent “shockwaves through the sport”. The body further expressed its willingness to use its influence and jurisdiction to drive change.
Three main areas the World Athletics will focus on include raising awareness, education, and lobbying for change.
“In a sport as diverse and universal as athletics, it is rare to see athletes from different countries, disciplines and socio-economic backgrounds agree on something as unanimously as the topic of gender-based violence," World Athletics Athletes’ Commission Chair Valerie Adams said.
“We as athletes are in a unique position to leverage our profiles and social influence in our communities to lobby for change. It will take a concerted effort from all of us to be leaders in the space to influence and drive the change we need.”
Further, the Athletes Commission recommended World Athletics to explore partnerships with relevant organisations to combine forces and push for change.
The fresh resolve by the World Athletics came just days after Kenyan middle-distance runner Hellen Obiri faulted her own country while justifying her move to the US.
Obiri openly spoke about why she left Kenya, admitting that a first-world country like the United States offered equal opportunity for both men and women.
