The event, held at Place de la République in the context of International Women’s Day, underscored the urgent need to create safer spaces for women and girls in sport and public life, while also emphasizing the vital role of male allyship in fostering lasting change.
Powered by UNESCO’s Global Sport Alliance, Fit for Life, this community activation event is part of the implementation of Executive Board , reflecting UNESCO’s broader efforts to combat gender-based harassment and violence in sport. The event not only raised awareness but also mobilized action at the intersection of sport, gender equality, human rights and health.
The opening segment brought together key figures from the worlds of sport, policy, and advocacy, reinforcing the message that gender equality in sport requires a collective effort. Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO, was joined by:
Marie Barsacq, French Minister of Sports
Mathilde Castres, President of Sine Qua Non
Pierre Rabadan, Deputy Mayor of Paris for Sport, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the Seine
Audrey Derveloy, President of Sanofi France
Nantenin ïٲ, four-time Paralympic medalist and gold medalist in the 400m at Rio 2016
Nicolas Mahut, professional French tennis player and former world No. 1 in doubles
Anaïs Bourgoin, French Olympic 800m runner and Sine Qua Non Ambassador
Lucille Woodward, fitness coach, influencer and Ambassador of Sine Qua Non
Guillaume Payen, Director of Communication and Marketing at Intersport
Oriane Filhol, Deputy Mayor of Saint-Denis in charge of equality
Lionel Benharous, Mayor of Les Lilas
Each speaker underscored the importance of collective action and solidarity between men and women in making sport truly safe, equitable and inclusive. Gabriela Ramos set the tone with a powerful statement.
Sport should be a source of freedom and empowerment for women, without fear. UNESCO is proud to partner with Sine Qua Non, a new member of the Fit for Life Alliance, to support and amplify this important cause.
Women and girls’ safe and equal participation in sport is non-negotiable: from achieving gender parity at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to ensuring everyone can run safely at night, free of harassment and insecurity, we will continue investing in this cause and supporting gender equality in sport.
One of the key themes of this year’s race was the role of male allies in the fight against gender-based harassment and violence. The presence of high-profile male athletes like Nicolas Mahut and policy leaders like Pierre Rabadan highlighted that gender equality is not solely a women's issue—it is a societal imperative that requires the engagement of all stakeholders, from policymakers, athletes, to boys and men. The race also benefitted from the participation of , former Head of the Sports and Gender Equality Task Force of UNESCO in Afghanistan, who is now a refugee in the U.S..
Sine Qua Non, a new Fit for Life Alliance member, has been at the forefront of addressing gender-based harassment in public spaces and increasing women’s access to inclusive sport. The organization’s collaboration with UNESCO helped scale this edition of Run for Equality into its most large-scale and impactful yet, raising international awareness about the importance of safe, inclusive sporting environments.
The Run for Equality is more than a race, it is a collective movement to defend women’s right to do sport where they want, when they want, and in whatever attire they choose. For too long, this issue has been minimized, yet the statistics speak for themselves: women are twice as likely as men to cite the lack of safe spaces as a barrier to sport. This event was a financial, logistical, and communications challenge, but thanks to our incredible partners, including UNESCO and Sanofi; we are stronger than ever.
The event saw participation from UNESCO Ambassadors, athletes, policymakers, civil society leaders, and gender equality advocates, reinforcing that systemic change requires a multi-sectoral approach. The inclusion of a virtual challenge on Strava expanded the reach beyond Paris, allowing thousands of global participants to engage with the cause from their own locations.
The overwhelming turnout at Run for Equality 2025 reflects a growing global movement towards gender equality in sport. Building on this momentum, UNESCO will continue to work through its Fit for Life Alliance to advance policies that promote safe and inclusive sporting environments worldwide.
Looking ahead, UNESCO and its partners will scale up advocacy and policy efforts, leveraging insights from initiatives such as the and . These tools provide concrete policy recommendations to address gender disparities and ensure safer sporting experiences for women and girls.
