Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir said the emergence of cases of alleged sexual harassment and physical violence against rock climbers presents an important momentum for Indonesian sports to strengthen the athlete protection system.
"We must not turn a blind eye to this issue. There is no place for violence, especially sexual violence, in the world of sports, which should be a safe space for athletes to train, develop, and excel for the nation," said Erick Thohir in an official statement.
The case of alleged sexual harassment and physical violence against a number of rock climbing athletes by their head coach is currently under investigation.
The Minister of Youth and Sports expressed his support for the Indonesian Rock Climbing Federation (FPTI), which assisted and facilitated the five athletes suspected of being victims in reporting the case to the police for a thorough investigation.
He stated that every athlete deserves a safe, dignified, and violence-free sporting environment. The government, he stated, will not tolerate acts of sexual violence in the world of sport.
