Season's Greetings

On behalf of WomenSport International’s Board of Directors I would like to extend warm wishes to you and your families for a heathy and happy holiday season and New Year.

2024 was an active year for WSI in our efforts to advance opportunities for girls and women. We made advances in policy, and strategic directions, and building awareness of the issues and solutions impacting the rights of girls and women in sport.

We have influenced through:

Advisory and Expert Consultancy Roles re:

• The expert committee for the development of the IOC’s Safeguarding Principles and Statement on Interpersonal Violence in sport:

• UNESCO’s ‘Fit for Life’ program’s strategic plan and priority objectives, WSI ensured safeguarding of girls, women and persons with disabilities were identified as part of the program strategy,

• International Women’s Group for Girls in Women’s – WSI contributed to promoting the priorities of building a more gender inclusive sport environment.

• The Global Observatory for Gender and Sport, WSI representative on expert groups re: “Violence in Sport”, and “Inclusion”, providing valid evidence to promote change.

• UN Convention on the Status of Women, New York March 2024, presentations both in-person and virtual.

Advocacy and Awareness Building:

Reviews of and extensive comments to the UN Rapporteurs’ Statements presented to the UN General Assembly in October 2024 re:

• Gender Based Violence in Sport

• Sustainable Development and Sports

• Sport for Development

• Sport and persons with disabilities

Webinars

• Rules of the Game: Rethinking how to change the power structures of sports.

• Changing the Life of Women in Pakistan Through Sport

• GAMES Pool of Actions–Gender Equality in Sport Governance

• Nurturing Mental Health of Women in Sports

• Redefining the Field: The Triumphs and Tribulations of Women in Sports.

Panel Discussions:

• UN CSW – Engaging Stakeholders in Support of Gender inclusive Systems in Sports

• Systems Advancing Safe and Equitable Participation of Women in Sports.

• Understanding the value of mentoring both as a mentor and mentee – promoting organizations that have mentorship programs for girls and women.

In 2025, we are looking at a new strategic plan and will be seeking your ideas by way of questionnaire to be sent early in January. Your responses will be used to assist the Board in reviewing our priorities and moving forward on issues that are important to you.

We are embarking on several new projects and would also like to announce a new task team “The Next Generation of Game Changers”, a team lead by amazing young women from all regions of the globe.

2025 will be an active and exciting year for WomenSport International and we invite you to continue to be a part of our network, join us in our activities and watch how working together, does enable change.

Warmest wishes,

Diane Huffman

President, WomenSport International

WomenSport International (WSI) was formed in 1994 to meet the challenge of ensuring that sport and physical activity receive the attention and priority they deserve in the lives of women and girls. The main purpose of WSI is to serve as an umbrella organization that can bring about positive change for girls and women. Our advocacy is strongly based on current research.

Email: info@womensportinternational.org
Website: https://womensportinternational.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/256383997740445/
Twitter: @WomenSportIntl