Article
‘Reflect, Act, Learn: Making Sports Safer for Women and Girls’
On the occasion of the release of the French version of the Handbook on Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport, the historic Palais du Luxembourg in Paris played host to an important event, ‘Reflect, Act, Learn: Making Sports Safer for Women and Girls’. Co-organized by UNESCO, UN Women, and the UN Spotlight Initiative, this exchange session brought together a diverse array of stakeholders from the sport world, including federations, clubs, associations, renowned athletes, influencers, parliamentarians, and experts. The event served as a platform to amplify the voices of athletes and survivors and to discuss concrete policy strategies aimed at understanding and eliminating violence against women and girls in the realm of sports.
I have worked to push for global equality for many years and I have never seen gender gaps like those in sport – there is no other sector which compares: it is this inequality and power imbalance, the pay gaps, the participation gaps, the representation gaps, that feed into the violence. We need to address the systems that underpin inequality and violence against women and girls, and unlock the transformative potential of sport - this is what UNESCO’s mandate in sport is about.
The discussions were grounded in the recommendations laid out in the , a collaborative effort between UNESCO and UN Women with support from the Spotlight Initiative. Moderated by independent sports journalist and TV presenter Anne Laure Bonnet, the event featured distinguished speakers including:
Fabienne Bourdais, Interministerial Director for Major Sports Events and Combating Violence in Sport, Ministry of Sports, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, France
Amanda Gutierrez, Sports Lawyer and President, FUTPRO
Astrid Guyart, Olympic Fencing Champion, Secretary General and Co-President of the High-Level Athletes Commission, National Olympic Committee, France
Kelly Hogarth, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Thelma Gwen Ltd
H.E. Christina Kokkinakis, EU Ambassador to UNESCO, the OECD, Andorra and Monaco
Catherine Moyon de Baecque, Olympic Athlete and President of the Commission for the Fight against Sexual Violence and Discrimination, National Olympic Committee, France
Emma Oudiou, Olympic Athlete and Equality Advocate
Katia Palla, Director, La Voix de Sarah
Florence Raes, Director, Liaison Office in Brussels, UN Women
Dr Mariagrazia Squicciarini, Chief of the Executive Office, Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO
Dominique Vérien, Senator and President of the Delegation for Women’s Rights and Equality of Opportunity between Men and Women, France
Dr Mariagrazia Squicciarini, Chief of the Executive Office of UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector opened the exchange session and said:
“Sport is a mirror of our societies: it both reflects and magnifies broader patterns of gender inequality and discrimination that urgently need to be addressed. At the same time, sport can serve as a powerful tool for change: through sport, women and girls can challenge toxic stereotypes, develop leadership skills and feel empowered. This is exactly what UNESCO’s sport flagship Fit for Life has been designed to do: with the Handbook and our upcoming policy toolkit, the Sport and Gender Equality Game Plan, we are equipping decision makers to build this change.”
The conference then featured two panel discussions:
“Breaking the silence: Athletes speak out on the key challenges to making sport safer for all women and girls”: This panel discussion showcased current and former athletes sharing their perspectives and experiences, aiming to shed light on the imperative of making sports a safer space for women and girls.
“In elite sports, athletes, including children, are often left alone with their coach or team staff and separated from their families for days, sometimes even weeks – at remote training camps, extended evening training sessions, away competitions… This environment, combined with the central importance of the body, the power imbalances and extreme pressures to perform at all costs, leaves athletes particularly vulnerable to abuse if there are no specific trainings, background checks or safeguards in place” said Emma Oudiou, Olympic Athlete and Equality Advocate.
“There is a law of silence in sports, that protects perpetrators and sport’s reputation instead of prioritizing athletes’ safety. Survivors like myself and the powerful women on this panel are breaking this omerta – this is why we are here, and why events like this are so important. We are speaking out to trigger change – this is how we can truly protect sport’s beauty, values and integrity.” said Catherine Moyon de Baecque, Olympic Athlete and President of the Commission for the Fight against Sexual Violence and Discrimination, National Olympic Committee.
“Changing the Game: How can policy makers and sport leaders take steps to address violence against women and girls in sport?” This solutions-centered conversation brought together experts and leaders to delve into policy measures aimed at tackling violence against women and girls in sports.
“In Spain, we created FUTPRO to end gender discrimination in football, from equipment, infrastructure, pay, maternity rights and media representation to sexual harassment, abuse and violence. Having a professional union specifically for female players, that understands their needs, experiences and can defend their rights in a male-dominated system has been an uphill battle, but it is paying off with amazing results. With equitable and safe working conditions, women athletes can reach unfathomable heights – let’s give them these conditions now.” said Amanda Gutierrez, Sports Lawyer and President, FUTPRO
“From independent reporting structures, systematic background checks on coaches and educators, to safe places for athletes and trained safeguarding officers in each federation, we are working closely with the Ministry of Sports to implement measures to protect women and girls in sport and make sure that the upcoming Olympic Games leave a positive safeguarding legacy.” said Astrid Guyart, Olympic Fencing Champion, Secretary General and Co-President of the High-Level Athletes Commission, National Olympic Committee.
Next steps
Looking forward, UNESCO is organizing a Global Sports Conference on the eve of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (23-24 July), which will feature the launch of the Sport and Gender Equality Game Plan during a dedicated focus session. This launch will also mark the culmination of the ongoing #ChangeTheGame social media campaign led by UNESCO and partners.
Implementation of the Game Plan and Handbook will then be supported in countries and cities through proof-of-concept pilot projects conducted with partners of the Fit for Life Global Alliance, focused on coach capacity-building, women’s leadership and violence prevention.
For more information, please visit:
About the partnership
Sport, as a microcosm of society, plays a significant role in both perpetuating and preventing harmful norms and practices correlated with violence against women and girls. On the eve of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the first-ever to have perfect gender parity amongst athletes, this event underscored the importance of going a step further by leveraging the power of sports to foster gender equality and working together to take active steps to ensure that sport is safe for all.
The Handbook on Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport, a collaborative effort between UNESCO, UN Women, and the United Nations Spotlight Initiative, offers crucial insights and practical recommendations for addressing violence in sports, equipping policymakers and practitioners with strategies to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, protect survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable.
This initiative, part of UNESCO’s mandate for Sport and UN Women’s Sport for Generation Equality framework, demonstrates a shared commitment to federating collective action to end violence against women and girls in sports. Following the Policy Roundtable on Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport held at UNESCO HQ on the 5th of April (see Call for Action below), this event is a key part of ongoing efforts leading up to UNESCO’s Global Sports Conference on July 23-24, 2024.
Through insightful exchanges and meaningful dialogue, participants at ‘Reflect, Act, Learn’ identified strategies for impactful collaboration and action, marking a pivotal step towards a safer, more inclusive sports environment for women and girls worldwide, building on the insights of the Handbook and the 10-point Call for Action of the April Roundtable.
About UNESCO
With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, 91鶹Ʒ offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.
“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed” – UNESCO Constitution, 1945.
