A new report by Aga Khan University and partners highlights various sporting, cultural, and societal factors that normalise Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in sports across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
In Kenya, gender inequality and patriarchal attitudes are identified as the leading factors at 34%, followed by a lack of consequences for perpetrators (20%), and silence or denial within the sports community (15%).
Media portrayal of women and violence in sports (7%), acceptance of aggressive coaching (6%), cultural biases (9%), and issues with sporting facilities (9%) also contribute.
Notably, "Other" factors are at 0%.
Uganda and Tanzania show similar trends, with gender inequality and patriarchal attitudes also being the most significant factor at 41% for both.
These statistics underscore the pervasive nature of SGBV within the East African sports landscape, pointing to deep-seated societal issues that require comprehensive interventions.
