Speech: Sport to unite, inspire and transform progress for women and girls
Remarks by UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous at the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, on 7 April 2025.
[As delivered.]
The world is at an inflection point. Conflict, inequality, and the lingering effects of crises have left many struggling around the world. Women and girls, in particular, bear the brunt of these challenges. Yet, amid uncertainty, sport remains a powerful tool and a powerful force; one that unites, that inspires, and that transforms.
We have seen the power of sport, from the first ever gender-parity Olympics in Paris last year to the record-breaking 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, watched by 2 billion people, to the historic election of the first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee just last month. These milestones prove that progress is possible.
But barriers persist. Women and girls face systemic discrimination in sport—harassment, unequal pay, lack of representation, and ingrained stereotypes that limit their potential.
The Political Declaration that was adopted in March at CSW69 by consensus, recognizes that sport has many barriers for women and girls. It also recognizes that sport is important for the empowerment not only of women and girls but of society as well. The Political Declaration that all countries signed by consensus, affirms that women and girls deserve equal access to sports as a vital tool for empowerment. This recognition should not be taken for granted and the fight to strengthen it reminds us that progress is not a given; you have to win it to get it.
At UN Women, we are further advancing this fight. Our new Sport Strategy harnesses sport to dismantle discriminatory social norms, to amplify women’s voices, and to create safe spaces for girls to see themselves; not just as athletes, but as leaders and agents of change.
This is not a new arena for UN Women. In Brazil and Argentina for example, the “One Win Leads to Another” programme fosters young girls’ leadership and confidence through sport. The UN Women-IOC Bridging Project strengthens capacity across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific. And our Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces initiatives in Bolivia, in Guatemala, and in Egypt as examples, increase participation in sports by addressing gender-based violence and engaging boys to prevent violence against women and girls.
In the Pacific, “Project Golkipa” is engaging parents, educators, and faith leaders to create safer environments for girls in sport. “Get into Rugby PLUS” challenges harmful gender norms with striking results. In Samoa, for example, 92 per cent of boys who participated rejected the idea that men are better leaders than women. We are all equal.
In Fiji, the number of female players who “strongly disagreed” that harassment was sometimes a girl’s fault jumped from 44 per cent to 70 per cent after participating in these projects.
Together, we are changing the game. Through initiatives such as Sport for Generation Equality and partnerships with the IOC and FIFA, UN Women is building a global movement. We are integrating women’s empowerment into national sports policies, and that is important, like we have done in Fiji’s pioneering strategy to use sport for gender equality and violence prevention.
This year marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a landmark commitment to gender equality. Three decades on, we know this: sport is not just a part of the conversation on equality. It is on the playing field where equality is won. We look forward to the upcoming social summit in Qatar this November to ensure that we continue to push forward for all women and girls and for sports to enhance social and economic development and progress.
On this International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, let us recommit to more investment in women’s and girls’ sport, let us recommit to stronger policies for inclusion, and for a global shift in how we value women and girls in sport.
Let us empower them to claim their places, not only in sports, but also in coaching roles, in boardrooms, and also in leadership.
Sport is not just about playing and winning. It is about transforming lives. And when we level the playing field, we all win.
Thank you.
