Equality Now and Athlete A Host Town Hall to Discuss Sexual Abuse in Sports

 

As Part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence NEW YORK,PRNewswire/ -- Equality Now and the acclaimed documentary film Athlete A have partnered together for 16 Days of Activism to host a Town Hall event to address the problem of sexual abuse in sports.  Featuring the creators and subjects of Athlete A together with leading United Nations gender expert Dubravka Šimonović, the dialogue will address the case of Dr. Larry Nassar, the prevalence of sexual abuse of girls and adolescents in elite sport, and steps that can be taken to achieve progress on the issue.

Panelists include Athlete A Co- Director Bonni Cohen; United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Dubravka Šimonović; Athlete A subject and the first woman to pursue criminal charges against Dr. Larry Nassar, Rachael Denhollander; and Athlete A co-producer, author, and former USA Gymnastic national team member Jennifer Sey . Equality Now, an international organization advocating for the rights of women and girls, collaborated with Athlete A to draw attention to often under-reported issue of sexual abuse of minors. "Athlete A is a significant contribution to the global women's rights movement, integrating the experience of adolescent girls into the larger societal reckoning around systemic sexual abuse." Said Yasmeen Hassan, Global Executive Director of Equality Now and moderator of the Town Hall. "The documentary also shines a spotlight on the complicity of individuals and institutions who both directly and indirectly grant impunity to powerful and well-connected individuals. While Larry Nassar committed the actual acts of sexual violence, the film highlights the larger enabling environment that allowed Nassar to become a serial predator. " The event will be hosted on Zoom and is open to the media by registration here.