IOC Shuts 12 Committees Including Human Rights and Gender Equality The International Olympic Committee is closing 12 permanent committees, among them the human rights and gender equality bodies, and will rely on expert panels when needed. The cost-cutting move leaves 19 committees in place. The International Olympic Committee is shutting down 12 permanent committees, including those focused on human rights and gender equality, and will instead create expert panels when needed. The IOC announced the streamlining and cost-cutting move on Friday in Lausanne, Switzerland. The decision leaves 19 committees in place. The IOC said in a statement that the switch to ad hoc working groups will allow "targeted engagement on key strategic priorities and policy development.Kirsty Coventry Adopts Agile Working Groups" The change is effective immediately, according to the IOC. The organization is headquartered in Lausanne. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who is in her second year in the role, has already relied on appointing smaller working groups for key issues. A review in March of the protection of the female category in sports was allocated to an expert panel whose membership was kept confidential.That review was not given to the in-house commission for Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. That commission will now be shut down, as will the IOC Advisory Committee on Human Rights chaired by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Mlambo-Ngcuka is the former deputy president of South Africa. The human rights committee was established to advise the IOC on human rights matters.Stakeholders Raise Human Rights ConcernsIts closure, along with the gender equality commission, has raised concerns among some observers about the IOC's commitment to these issues. The other commissions being scrapped include those for sustainability, technology, athletes' entourage and digital engagement. These committees typically comprised from 10 to as many as 30 members. They would gather in the IOC's home city of Lausanne, Switzerland, for annual meetings.The IOC expects the new approach to reduce expenses associated with these gatherings. The IOC maintains that the new ad hoc approach will allow for more flexible and focused engagement. It argues that expert panels will be able to address human rights and gender equality issues more effectively when needed. The IOC has not announced specific plans for future human rights engagement beyond the ad hoc panels.The gender equality commission was previously responsible for promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion within the Olympic movement. The IOC's decision to handle the review of the female category in sports through a confidential expert panel rather than the commission has been seen as a sign of the changing approach. The streamlining move is part of a broader effort by the IOC to cut costs and improve efficiency.Cost Cutting Amidst Past CriticismThe IOC has faced criticism in the past for its bureaucratic structure and costs. This decision may be seen as a response to such criticism, aiming to make the organization more efficient and responsive. The IOC's move is part of a larger trend of sports organizations seeking to streamline operations. The 19 remaining committees will continue their work.However, the IOC will rely more on temporary expert panels for specific issues. The IOC said the change will allow for targeted engagement on key strategic priorities and policy development. President Coventry has already used smaller working groups for key issues, signaling a shift towards a more agile structure. The closure of the human rights and gender equality committees has prompted reactions from various stakeholders.Some have expressed concern that the IOC is weakening its commitment to these critical areas. The IOC argues that the new expert panels will be able to address these issues more effectively when needed. The dissolution of Mlambo-Ngcuka's committee marks a significant change in the IOC's approach to human rights.