noboot

The Iranian Women’s Team and Women’s Safety in Sport There must be safe processes in place at every FIFA/AFC tournament for athletes to access and any time it is even suggested that a group is being silenced or coerced, the governing body should intervene to be satisfied otherwise. With an institutional lack of commitment to human rights, the game has inadequate processes to protect women before, or during the commission of coercive practices or abuse and relies primarily on a slow process of investigation and sanction, instead of protocols to ensure their safety at all times. This needs to change. As to the situation at present, the players are entitled to make their own personal choices about their safety and futures without the oversight of their governing body or team management and once there is even a possibility let alone grave concerns about safety, no player can possibly be returned to a situation that puts them at risk. And the Asian Football Confederation must guarantee that safety as the governing body of Asian football with direct authority over the conduct of its own member, Iran, as does FIFA. Failing this, no participant in an Australian tournament should ever be in a position where they cannot access immediate assistance and seek the protection to which they are entitled under international law. Which, under Australia’s duty of care to visiting athletes and all women at risk, should be provided.