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IOC Celebrates UN Declaration Recognizing Sport as Key to Gender Equality

Social Responsibility

Business Honor
21 April, 2025

UN declaration highlights sport’s pivotal role in gender equality and social progress.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has welcomed a landmark moment for gender empowerment as the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) adopted a Political Declaration affirming sport as a vital driver of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The declaration, endorsed unanimously by UN Member States in New York, reinforces the growing global consensus that access to sport is crucial for the social and economic development of women and girls.

In paragraph 11 of the declaration, sport is recognized alongside education, healthcare, and digital technology as a tool to empower women and uphold their human rights. This builds on the UN’s long-standing support for the transformative power of sport, dating back to the Beijing Declaration of 1995.

IOC Member Laura Chinchilla spoke at a ministerial roundtable hosted by the Mission of Qatar, emphasizing the value of sport in developing leadership skills, improving access to education, and enhancing economic opportunities for women and girls. She noted that “sport remains underutilized in public policy despite its proven benefits.”

Chinchilla also highlighted the economic growth of the global sports industry—expanding at over 5% annually for two decades—as further justification for investment in inclusive sports programs. She called on governments, development banks, and civil society to work collaboratively with the Olympic Movement to make sports safer, more accessible, and equitable for all.

The IOC has been a leader in promoting gender balance both on and off the field. Through partnerships with the UN and various stakeholders, it continues to advocate for inclusive sports policies that benefit women worldwide.

The CSW69 declaration reaffirms sport’s role in sustainable development, positioning it as a key strategy in advancing the rights and potential of women and girls globally. The recognition sets the stage for future international dialogue, including the Second World Summit on Social Development in Doha this November.