Women’s Equality Day 2025: Gender Equality and Sport
- Girls in Sport
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Women’s Equality Day is a global reminder that gender equality is not only a human right, but a cornerstone of sustainable development. While progress has been made worldwide, structural barriers, economic constraints, and entrenched gender norms continue to hold many girls back from reaching their potential.
In many parts of the world, girls remain disproportionately exposed to gender-based risks. Early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence continue to threaten their safety and wellbeing. Harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation persist, often carried out without anaesthetic and with lasting health consequences. At the same time, girls frequently encounter barriers to education, healthcare, land and property rights, and representation in leadership and decision-making.
These challenges are not simply individual issues, but systemic inequalities measured across education, health, safety, economic opportunity, and political participation. Addressing them requires coordinated efforts at every level — from community-driven initiatives to national policy frameworks and international support.
Sport as a Platform for Change
We are currently working in partnership with communities in Sierra Leone to provide girls with safe, inclusive spaces where they can participate in sport without stigma or discrimination. These spaces go far beyond physical activity:
Safe environments allow girls to engage freely, build confidence, and resist harmful stereotypes.
Positive female role models demonstrate that leadership, resilience, and opportunity are within reach.
Teamwork and skill-building prepare girls not only for sport, but for education, livelihoods, and civic participation.
Safeguarding is fundamental to our mission, and both our girls and staff receive regular training to ensure that no child is unnecessarily exposed to harm.
Sport becomes a milieu for transformation — a platform through which girls develop the agency to challenge outdated norms and advocate for equality. When a girl takes her place on the playing field, she is also learning to take her place in society.
Towards Measurable Gender Equality
Our work aligns with global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5: Gender Equality), recognising that equality cannot be achieved without addressing multiple dimensions simultaneously:
Education: enabling girls to remain in school and pursue higher learning.
Health: ensuring access to healthcare and protection from harmful practices.
Safety: creating environments free from violence and coercion.
Economic opportunity: building pathways for future livelihoods and financial independence.
Leadership: empowering girls to participate in decision-making at community and national levels.
By integrating sport into these broader objectives, we foster change from the bottom up while complementing national and international commitments to gender equality.
A Collective Responsibility
On Women’s Equality Day 2025, we are continuing. our commitment to working with governments, NGOs, and international partners to reduce barriers and expand opportunities for girls. Progress is possible — but it requires sustained investment, cross-sector collaboration, and recognition that equality is not optional; it is essential for inclusive and resilient societies.
Every girl deserves the freedom, safety, and opportunity to thrive. Through sport, and in partnership with communities and institutions, we are helping to build that future.
