A/HRC/40/51 D. Sexual exploitation in the context of sports 72. The sexual exploitation of children occurs in all parts of society all around the world, and sports are no exception. There are nonetheless certain power dynamics inherent to the sporting world that render children particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Children are most at risk in such situations “as the locker-room, the playing field, trips away, the coach’s home or car and social events”.37 73. In 2016, the European Commission adopted recommendations on the protection of young athletes and safeguarding children’s rights in sport.38 The Commission estimated that between 2 and 8 per cent of minors and young athletes had been victims of sexual assault in the context of sports. It emphasized that elite young athletes were particularly vulnerable and that the type of sport had no impact on the extent of sexual abuse. Moreover, it brought to the fore the higher rate of abuse of ethnic minorities and lesbian, gay, transsexual and intersex persons. 74. One of the most egregious recent cases of sexual abuse and exploitation of children occurred in the world of gymnastics in the United States. A total of 368 allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation over a 20-year period were made, with children as young as 6 affected.39 In 2018, a former sports doctor was sentenced for possession of child sexual abuse material and for sexually abusing girls, with 265 victims having been identified. 40 Throughout this period, USA Gymnastics had reportedly focused on maintaining its positive image and denied responsibility for the actions of individual perpetrators while not taking any significant measures to protect children from abuse. 41 75. In football, several cases have emerged with a common profile of repeat offenders being able to navigate around several clubs. In the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as of March 2018, the police had identified 849 victims and 300 alleged suspects across 340 football clubs. Ninety-five per cent of the victims were male and their ages ranged from 4 to 20. These cases have emerged as part of Operation Hydrant, which is tasked with investigating non-recent child sexual abuse across the United Kingdom. 42 76. In Argentina, a paedophile ring was uncovered in 2018, with dozens of boys training in lower division clubs having been sexually exploited. In that country, it is common for children from remote areas to be lodged by football academies away from their families, thus making them particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. 43 77. Lastly, a commission of inquiry on sexual harassment and abuse in sports, established by the Netherlands Olympic Committee, has provided an additional detailed picture of the extent of these crimes. It concluded that 4 per cent of its interviewees had been sexually abused or raped during their childhood. More girls than boys were affected, and young children were particularly vulnerable. The majority of identified perpetrators were male coaches or trainers, with a higher incidence in football. 44 E. Major sporting events 78. As emphasized previously, the sale and sexual exploitation of children are abhorrent crimes that affect all parts of society and occur in every possible context. Major sporting 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 IOC, Consensus statement on sexual harassment and abuse in sport. European Commission, Expert Group on Good Governance: Recommendations on the Protection of Young Athletes and Safeguarding Children’s Rights in Sport, July 2016. T. Evans, M. Alesia and M. Kwiakowski, “A 20-year toll: 368 gymnasts allege sexual exploitation”, IndyStar, 15 December 2016. BBC, “Larry Nassar jailed for another 40 to 125 years”, 5 February 2018. Evans, “A 20-year toll”. See www.npcc.police.uk/NPCCBusinessAreas/OtherWorkAreas/OpHydrant/Football AbuseStats.aspx. BBC Mundo, “El escándalo por las denuncias de abuso sexual de menores que sacude al mundo del fútbol en Argentina”, 2 April 2018. K. de Vries, C. Ross-van Dorp and E. Myjer, Rapport van de Onderzoekscommissie seksuele intimidatie en misbruik in de sport (2017). 11