With regard to the following news Item : https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2161918/japanese-gymnast-wants-punishment-violent-coach-be-less-severe

(South China Morning Post 30/08/18)

This very disturbing news item states quite clearly a lot of brain washing is evident with this athletes response’s

” I am determined to work with coach Hayami whatever happens” and ” she accepted the treatment as a means of re-motivating her”

We do wonder how long this coach has been working like this and other coaches, athletes and possibly parents have witnessed this yet done nothing to stop it, thank heavens that a whistle-blower stepped in and was listened to. However the athletes response is something that we have seen so many times in victims of CSE and deep seated emotional abuse. Victims blaming themselves,  becoming riddled with self doubt, self harming behaviour as a coping mechanism and simply believing that everything is always their fault are common within all forms of CSE.

More needs doing with athletes and parents at a much earlier age to help them understand training techniques, that all forms of abuse are illegal and that children must know their rights about being safe as cited in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (commonly abbreviated as the CRC or UNCRC);

Article 3, always act in the best interests of the child

Article 12, respect the views of the child

Article 19, protection from all forms of violence

Article 34, protection for all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse

Article 36, protection from all other forms of exploitation

Article 42, access to knowledge or rights.

To our knowledge all countries in the world have signed up to the charter except USA and Somalia.

Lets all get promoting these children’s rights as they are enshrined in law in all of our countries! Below is a link to the charter with the relevant articles for children.

https://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf

This sadly shows us that our work is not yet done and vigilance is needed now more than ever.