Coordination of youth, the fight against violence against women and trafficking in persons, with the technical support and the intervention of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized an awareness day on GBV and human trafficking in the sports sector in the DRC. The leaders of the federations and clubs, about fifty people and ten journalists participated, as well as some renowned players and artists for a total of 70 people, with the remarkable presence of the boxing champion, Junior Makabu.
The sports sector in the DRC is shaken by trafficking practices underpinned by sexual abuse, pedophilic harassment, particularly in the various sports federations including the football, basketball and volleyball leagues, and especially in the field of martial arts or combat sports. Several club officials, managers and coaches are implicated. Although the Congolese federation has not remained indifferent to this problem, the fight against GBV and human trafficking in the sports sector in the DRC is essential and falls within the vision of the Head of State, Félix Tshisekedi.
To fight against GBV and human trafficking in the sports sector in the DRC, coordinator Chantal Yelu Mulop suggested that the whole community should rise up and effectively fight against all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. to offer children, girls and boys evolving in the sports sector, a serene and fulfilling course in what they undertake. A “Red Card” campaign has been launched in the sporting world of the DRC to say “NO” to all forms of discrimination.
In the sports environment of the DRC, human traffickers take advantage of the visibility of all that is positive in the sports sector to seek victims. Ely Thélot, Technical Advisor at IOM, said that IOM is very concerned about these practices. There is a campaign to accompany the victims and protect them against the executioners.
It is important that these sensitizations continue in order to block the way to any corruption of good morals within our respective communities and to make the DRC a reference in sporting matters on a global scale.