Advancing involvement of women in male dominated sports fields
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Among the strategic approaches that UN women has embarked on in efforts to realize the SDGs -through empowering women in communities- is sports. Increased participation of women and girls in sporting activities is an innovative platform that has been tapped into to address societal inequalities.
Over the years, unequal power relations in various aspects of society has had adverse effects on women and girls. This situation manifests itself in the sports spaces all over the world from local to international levels. The Regional Director (RD) participated in an International Olympic Committee Forum aiming to advance women in leadership in Sports, in Kigali, Rwanda, from 9 to 11 August 2017. During the forum, the RD emphasized the close link between development and sports urging the IOC to develop and implement innovative approaches that will meaningfully empower women and girls for a shared prosperity. Also reiterated was the importance of leadership in the sports world to consider Temporary Special Measures to reach gender parity in sports and engagement of women in leadership positions of National Olympic Committees.