After recent events inside and outside of fencing, the FIE needs to take care not to further damage the image of fencing in the world.
Saudi Arabia is a country at war. Furthermore, the country has a poor reputation when it comes to human rights. Human Rights Watch is explicit, and I quote:
‘Saudi Arabia spends billions of dollars hosting major entertainment, cultural, and sporting events as a deliberate strategy to deflect from the country’s image as a pervasive human rights violator.’
In the candidacy presentation of the Federation of Saudi Arabia, there was no mentioning of the critical human rights questions that need an answer. How welcome will LGBTQ-fencers be? What restrictions will be applied for female participants? How will the security situation be during the course of the championship in view of the fact that the country is at war?
We urge the Congress not to take a decision before these questions are answered!
Therefore, we suggest that the decision of this proposal is transferred by the Congress to the FIE Board who should be responsible for taking a decision or finding a replacement. Upon taking the decision, the Board must communicate to all member federations its assessment of the risks that participating LGBTQ fencers or female fencers will be subject to emotional suffering due to the legislation of the country where the championships are held, and the risks and threats to the brand of fencing that the choice of organizing federation will cause.
Saudi Arabia is a country at war. Furthermore, the country has a poor reputation when it comes to human rights. Human Rights Watch is explicit, and I quote:
‘Saudi Arabia spends billions of dollars hosting major entertainment, cultural, and sporting events as a deliberate strategy to deflect from the country’s image as a pervasive human rights violator.’
In the candidacy presentation of the Federation of Saudi Arabia, there was no mentioning of the critical human rights questions that need an answer. How welcome will LGBTQ-fencers be? What restrictions will be applied for female participants? How will the security situation be during the course of the championship in view of the fact that the country is at war?
We urge the Congress not to take a decision before these questions are answered!
Therefore, we suggest that the decision of this proposal is transferred by the Congress to the FIE Board who should be responsible for taking a decision or finding a replacement. Upon taking the decision, the Board must communicate to all member federations its assessment of the risks that participating LGBTQ fencers or female fencers will be subject to emotional suffering due to the legislation of the country where the championships are held, and the risks and threats to the brand of fencing that the choice of organizing federation will cause.