Human Rights Watch calls on Mali to investigate systematic sexual abuse in its women’s basketball

Organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday called on Mali’s transitional government to investigate alleged “systematic sexual abuse” in women’s basketball, after International Basketball Federation (FIBA) the former coach was banned for life Amadou Bamba for various allegations of sexual harassment.

In a statement, HRW expresses its concern over the appointment of Jean-Claude Sidibé last December as head of the Basketball Federation of Mali (FMBB), who, according to a report commissioned by FIBA ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​and cited by the NGO, threatened witnesses and violated the zero tolerance policy against abuse .

“Continued supervision by FIBA ​​and the International Olympic Committee is urgently needed,” HRW says of women’s basketball in Mali.

Last June, FIBA ​​suspended the former coach and sanctioned four other senior officials, including the former president of the national federation, Harouna Maiga.

“All Malian government institutions with jurisdiction over the matter, including the judicial system, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the FMBB and FIBA, must investigate the abuses and cover-ups, now that FIBA’s sanctions are in place,” HRW said.

The organization is calling on the Malian Ministry of Youth and Sports to form a government commission of inquiry to impartially investigate “systematic sexual abuse in women’s basketball and other women’s sports in Mali.”

The sexual abuse scandal in Mali’s women’s basketball was exposed in June 2021, when FIBA ​​suspended several charges against the FMBB for alleged abuse of female players by its members.

An independent report commissioned by FIBA, HRW recalls, concluded that there is “institutional acceptance of sexual abuse” and “intimidation and retaliation against whistleblowers” in the Malian federation.