Statement by the AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors 501(c)(3)
Gender equality on and off the mountain: that is the essence of our mission here at Summit Scholarship Foundation.
We are a team of female and gender diverse climbers and adventurers who aim to uplift others just like us. Therefore, we are very aware of gender-based dynamics and aggression in mountain regions.
Most of the time, we focus on empowering women and gender diverse adventurers through scholarships, community building, and storytelling. Today, we must take a stance on the allegations of sexual abuse against female mountaineers brought against Nirmal Purja in the New York Times on May 31, 2024.
We are personally appalled by Purja’s reports of sexual violence against women in the mountains. This was further aggravated by the fact that one of the women was at the time explicitly under Purja’s care as a paying customer on one of his commercial expeditions. Regarding credible assault charges.
As an organization focused on creating, identifying and supporting safe spaces for women and gender diverse people in mountain regions, we believe that the issue of gender-based aggression and violence in mountain regions is much more widespread. I have to admit that it does. This one high profile incident. Against this backdrop, we are disappointed to see the silence or unresponsiveness of many influential voices in the climbing community and the various brands that partner with Purja.
There are ways to respect due process and at the same time take a clear and unwavering zero-tolerance stance against sexual violence. We praise the former. We expect and demand the latter.
Red Bull, Nike, Scarpa, Gribel and Osprey, let me be clear: we cannot hide behind a desire to seek a conviction in court and evade our responsibility to take a clear stand. All concerned, including the general public and the retail customer base, know that legal proceedings are highly unlikely to lead to justice, especially when non-nationals are involved in countries like Pakistan and Nepal. Silence and inaction speak louder than words.
We ask all brands that currently or have recently partnered with Purja to:
1) A clear, independent statement clearly condemning the types of conduct and sexual violence detailed in the allegations published by the New York Times.
2) A transparent action plan to re-evaluate Purja’s relationship with the brand in light of recent developments.
3) Suspension of Purja’s financial, product and marketing support while the above action plan is implemented.
For individuals: do not be silent, and do not be silenced. The #metoo movement was a pivotal moment for gender equality, but it did not penetrate deeply into the world of mountaineering.
If you have been sexually assaulted, please speak up. We ask for your support in raising the voices of those around you. I would like to ask you to take a proactive stance in whatever way you can.
Not taking a stand, not speaking out, not supporting victims hurts everyone. There are people around you who have been affected by sexual violence, whether they have told you or not. The women and gender diverse people around you are greatly affected by these actions.
I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to all those who have worked hard. For those who are scared or hurting, we stand with you.
We salute our outspoken allies who are taking a vocal stand condemning sexual violence. Individuals like Melissa Arnott and Cody Townsend are among the contributors, as are guiding services such as Alpenglow, Furtenbach Adventures, Climbing the Seven Summits and sister organization AWExpeditions. is.
Mountains are dangerous places. Adrian Ballinger of Alpenglow Expeditions said it well. Mountains are supposed to be dangerous because of the nature of the mountains, not because of the nature of the people in them.
It is time for gender dynamics in the mountaineering community, and the wider world, to break free from these patterns of harm, and those that support and condone them.
Alison Wright, Chairman of the Board
Nou Lahoud, Executive Director of the Board
Tana Seaford, Board Treasurer
Sunny Stroyer, Executive Director