The French Chess Federation announces that it is taking measures against gender-based violence

While women only represent 17% of members of the French Chess Federation (FFE), several measures to better combat sexist and sexual violence in this sport were revealed in a press release on Thursday, November 23. The industry was shaken in 2023 by several testimonies from players.

Recognizing that the current regulations are “obsolete”, to fight against discrimination, including sexist and sexual violence, the FFE intends to publish new disciplinary regulations in February. It must specify the terms of “suspension as a precautionary measure” and referral to authorities on these issues.

An awareness module for supervisors

This change comes a few months after an open letter written by 14 high-level players, and followed by several dozen others to denounce “sexist or sexual violence (…) verbal, written or physical, perpetrated by chess players, coaches, referees or managers”.

Educators, coaches and referees will all have to attend a two-hour awareness module on gender-based and sexual violence to obtain or keep their diploma and communication campaigns within French clubs and teams are also planned. The federation also intends to set up “a network of club referents” and distribute guides for minors, parents and supervisors, written with the association Colosse aux pieds d’église.