Despite vast advances in gender equality within the sporting sector, it still remains a male-dominated arena. From athletes to criminal justice authorities, the involvement of women in sports promotes good governance and justice.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Programme on Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Economic Crime works with female leaders to inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in sports law, challenge gender stereotypes, and promote integrity on and off the field.
Martina Spreitzer-Kropiunik, Judge and Vice-President of the Vienna Criminal Court, discussed with UNODC the challenges of prosecuting manipulation of competitions while emphasizing the key role women play in this endeavour.
The primary responsibilities of judges include impartially interpreting and applying the rules, conducting hearings in an unbiased manner, weighing evidence and delivering fair and just decisions. In safeguarding matters [i.e., prosecuting the manipulation of competitions], judges play a critical role in protecting the well-being and rights of individuals involved, particularly minors and vulnerable.
This is a good question, because there are multiple possible victims:
Therefore, safeguarding the integrity of sports is crucial for maintaining societal trust and preserving the positive influence of sports on communities.
A solid, well thought-out and strategically prepared prosecution is the key to a possible conviction. Prosecutors have to raise the level of understanding of the judge or tribunal. In order to do this, they might use the MPRC (manipulated performance, reward and communication) approach, explained in detail in the recently launched UNODC – IOC Practical Guide to the Prosecution of Cases of Competition Manipulation .
Sports law in particular is still dominated by men, which is why it is fundamentally important to increase the proportion of women, especially in decision-making bodies. This can help ensure diversity and representation on the bench, which is crucial for fair and impartial decision-making. It can also serve as a means to challenge systemic biases and stereotypes within the legal system, ultimately promoting equality and justice for all individuals regardless of gender.
Practice has shown that the introduction of a mandatory women's quota increases the proportion of women. And as soon as there are women who are also seen as role models, other women are attracted to work in this area. We women also have to learn to use the same techniques and networks that men have employed for centuries to support each other and bring each other forward.
