HRC asked ‘to take the lead’
The Human Rights Commission is now looking into alleged abusive practices in gymnastics.
Yesterday, a spokesperson said the commission was ‘‘in discussions with stakeholders regarding this issue’’.
The spokesperson said the commission did not comment on whether complaints had been received ‘‘as we do not want to undermine the confidential nature of the complaints process or deter people from contacting us’’.
Its involvement comes after a Stuff investigation uncovered alleged abusive practices in the sport, including verbal and psychological abuse, body shaming and athletes being forced to compete with serious injuries.
It follows moves by Gymnastics Australia, which engaged with the Australian Human Rights Commission to conduct an independent review into alleged abusive practices.
The Australian commission is due to release its findings in early 2021.
Gymnastics New Zealand has contracted former World Anti-Doping Agency head David Howman, and recently brought on former Silver Fern Lesley
Nicol and former gymnast Rachel Vickery to conduct an independent review. The findings are due to be made public in mid
October.
Roger Mortimer, from the Athletes Federation, said the issues being raised were wider than sport.
‘‘When we started peeling back the layers it soon became apparent this is a human rights and child protection issue,’’ he said.
The Athletes Federation, which is working with current and former gymnasts, contacted Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission last week, Mortimer said.
‘‘We are really keen on their input, leadership and direction,’’ he said.
‘‘[The Human Rights Commission] is the only place it . . . should have gone to be professional and to be safe. It needs to get out of sport’s hands and into experts’ hands.’’
He said the focus for now was getting the right people to make the right decisions on how a review should progress. ‘‘These are serious matters,’’ he said. ‘‘It has to be handled in the right way by the right people.’’
No time frames have been put in place yet, but Mortimer said they’d be looking to the Human Rights Commission to ‘‘take a lead’’.
The federation has also connected with two sports human rights experts, he said.
This week, advocates of a group of more than 100 current and former gymnasts, coaches and judges raised concerns about the process of establishing the independent review.
They said they had lost trust in the process, and Gymnastics New Zealand, and called for the review to be ‘‘reset’’ while proper consultation was undertaken.
The advocates, academic Dr Georgia Cervin and former elite gymnasts turned judges Olivia Jo¨bsis and Jacqui Godfrey, called on Gymnastics New Zealand to follow the lead of Gymnastics Australia.
Gymnastics New Zealand chief executive Tony Compier said the organisation had a ‘‘constructive and confidential’’ discussion with the Human Rights Commission.
‘‘We look forward to further discussion once the Human Rights Commission has subsequently gone back to the Athletes Federation and athletes group,’’ he said.