Comprehensive protections needed against tech-facilitated abuse
SHAH ALAM – It's high time for sports organisations to offer digital safety training and institutional support for tackling tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).
These measures should not be just one-time efforts but ongoing commitments. Sports organisations must offer ongoing digital safety training and support to protect athletes from tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), creating a safer environment for all. Photo for illustration purpose only. - Photo source: Football Association of Malaysia
Athletes and advocates alike convey the urgency of implementing comprehensive protections to ensure a safe environment for young athletes.
National U19 women's football player Lauren Hoh Ruyi stressed the importance of ongoing and relevant safety measures.
"I definitely think it should be implemented, but I don't think it should be a one-time thing.
"It needs to be useful...something we can actually apply in our daily lives,' she said in a film screening and forum titled "Breaking the Silence: Exploring the Impact of Sexual Harassment in Sports and Beyond" last Friday.
Also present during the forum and film screening were activists and Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
Lauren emphasised that fostering trust between athletes and their support systems is crucial to creating a safe and supportive environment.
She said many athletes, particularly younger ones, often struggle to voice their concerns due to hierarchical structures and the significant age or experience gap between them and their coaches or management.
'It's so important to create an environment where people know they can speak up.
"That comes with having people you can trust, like a coach or a staff member. As an athlete, I found it difficult sometimes, especially due to power imbalances and age gaps," she said.
She suggested involving former female athletes as mentors, as it would be helpful to have someone closer in age and experience to help with.
The advent of social media has been a double-edged sword for athletes, according to Lauren.
While platforms like Instagram help athletes share their journeys and gain visibility, they also expose them to harassment.
'Scrolling through Instagram, you see inappropriate messages on female athletes' posts, which is something you don't find as much with male athletes.
"For young athletes, navigating this space is tough, especially when you're unsure how to manage it.
'Athletes need people to talk to and educate them about handling such challenges. It's not easy, especially with the pressures of performance,' she said.
Commenting further, former national gymnast and founder of Safe Sport Malaysia, Sarina Sundarah Rajah pointed to the vulnerabilities faced by child athletes.
'Parents often trust coaches implicitly, believing that harsh training methods are necessary to win. This mindset can make it difficult to recognise abuse,' she said.
Drawing from her experience, Sarina recounted the challenges gymnasts face.
'In gymnastics, we were evaluated not just on performance but also on appearance.
"I remember being weighed frequently, with the results publicly recorded. Even a 100-gramme weight gain meant punishment, like running in the sun until the weight was lost,' she said.
Sarina cited progressive policies like those in British gymnastics, where weighing athletes is now limited to medical practitioners for medical reasons.
'In Malaysia, however, this isn't the case. At my club, I don't weigh my athletes. Instead, I encourage healthy eating habits and educate parents on safeguarding,' she said.
She said the importance of empowering young athletes to recognise and speak out against abuse.
'Parents need to engage their children in supportive conversations, encouraging them to express discomfort. At my club, I teach the girls what safeguarding is and to voice their concerns if something feels wrong,' Sarina added.
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