Sunday, July 24, 2011

IOC: Women : men = 50:50 and Brighton declaration on Women and Sport

Brighton Declaration on Women and Sport
Scope and Aims of the Declaration
This Declaration is addressed to all those governments, public authorities, organisations, businesses, educational and research establishments, women's organisations and individuals who are responsible for, or who directly or indirectly influence, the conduct, development or promotion of sport or who are in any way involved in the employment, education, management, training, development or care of women in sport. This Declaration is meant to complement all sporting, local, national and international charters, laws, codes, rules and regulations relating to women or sport.
The overriding aim is to develop a sporting culture that enables and values the full involvement of women in every aspect of sport.
It is in the interests of equality, development and peace that a commitment is made by governmental, non-governmental organisations and all those institutions involved in sport to apply the Principles set out in this Declaration by developing appropriate policies, structures and mechanisms which:
  • ensure that all women and girls have the opportunity to participate in sport in a safe and supportive environment which preserves the rights, dignity and respect of the individual;
  • increase the involvement of women in sport at all levels and in all functions and roles;
  • ensure that the knowledge, experiences and values of women contribute to the development of sport
  • promote the recognition by women of the instrinsic value of sport and its contribution to personal development and healthy lifestyle.
The Principles
1. Equity and Equality in Society and Sport
Every effort should be made by state and government machineries to ensure that institutions and organisations responsible for sport comply with the equality provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Equal opportunity to participate and be involved in sport whether for the purpose of leisure and recreation, health promotion or high performance, is the right of every woman, regardless of race, colour, language, religion, creed, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, political belief or affiliation, national or social origin.
Resources, power and responsibility should be allocated fairly and without discrimination on the basis of sex, but such allocation should redress any inequitable balance in the benefits available to women and men.
2. Facilities
Women's participation in sport is influenced by the extent, variety and accessibility of facilities. The planning, design and management of these should appropriately and equitably meet the particular needs of women in the community, with special attention given to the need for childcare provision and safety.
3. School and Junior Sport
Research demonstrates that girls and boys approach sport from markedly different perspectives. Those responsible for sport, education, recreation and physical education of young people should ensure that an equitable range of opportunities and learning experience, which accommodate the values, attitudes and aspirations of girls, is incorporated in programmes to develop physical fitness and basic sport skills of young people.
4. Developing Participation
Women's participation in sport is influenced by the range of activities available. Those responsible for delivering sporting opportunities and programmes should provide and promote activities which meet women's needs and aspirations.
5. High Performance Sport
Governments and sports organisations should provide equal opportunities to women to reach their sports performance potential by ensuring that all activities and programmes relating to performance improvements take account of the specific needs of female athletes.
Those supporting elite and/or professional athletes should ensure that competition opportunities, rewards, incentives, recognition, sponsorship, promotion and other forms of support are provided fairly and equitably to both women and men.
6. Leadership in Sport
Women are under-represented in the leadership and decision making in all sport and sport-related organisations. Those responsible for these areas should develop policies and programmes and design structures which increase the number of women coaches, advisers, decision makers, officials, administrators and sports personnel at all levels with special attention given to recruitment, development and retention.
7. Education, Training and Development
Those responsible for the education, training and development of coaches and other sports personnel should ensure that education processes and experiences address issues relating to gender equity and the needs of female athletes, equitably reflect women's role in sport and take account of women's leadership experiences, values and attitudes.
8. Sports Information and Research
Those responsible for research and providing information on sport should develop policies and programmes to increase knowledge and understanding about women and sport and ensure that research norms and standards are based on research on women and men.
9. Resources
Those responsible for the allocation of resources should ensure that support is available for sportswomen, women's programmes and special measures to advance this Declaration of Principles.
10. Domestic and International Cooperation
Government and non-government organisations should incorporate the promotion of issues of gender equity and the sharing of examples of good practice in women and sport policies and programmes in their associations with other organisations, within both domestic and international arenas.

International Women and Sport Strategy
Governments and organisations committing to to be a part of an International Women and Sport Strategy will:
  • endorse and commit to the application of the Declaration of Principles, to be known as the 'Brighton Declaration of Women and Sport';
  • develop and execute an implementation plan which reflects full and practical fulfilment of the principles contained in the Brighton Declaration;
  • nominate a representative for the purposes of communications with the International Working Group on Women and Sport;
  • support international cooperation by striving to send qualified representatives to future international conferences conducted to discuss issues, share exemplary practices and model programmes, network and monitor progress in aplication of the principles;
  • provide feedback to the working group on the effectiveness of their actions taken to advance the principles.

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