ISF Celebrating International Women’s Day 2022
One of the main priorities for the ISF is the topic of Gender Equality. Since its founding in 1972, ISF has successfully incorporated balanced representation throughout its events, and is one of the factors which positions the actions and aims of the ISF in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, specifically that of gender equality (5).
The policy of gender equality and its implementation within ISF has been pursued on three axes. Firstly, the implementation of gender equality during ISF events, secondly the development of events dedicated to girls, and lastly the involvement of ISF in policy making for matters regarding gender equality with intergovernmental organisations.
2021 ISF Events
Despite the challenges faced globally, the year 2021 was still a year of ISF events. The ISF was proud to organise three live events including the ISF World Cool Games in Kyiv, Ukraine, and the ISF World School Handball Championship in Belgrade, Serbia, with both being completely gender balanced events, 28 boys and 28 girls in Kyiv, and 12 boy teams and 12 girl teams consisting of 168 boys and 152 girls in Belgrade.
Furthermore, the largest event of the year, the U15 World School Sport Games, also taking place in Belgrade, Serbia, saw the participation of girls at a total of over 45% of the overall participation, that consisted of over 1300 school students.
ISF She Runs – Active Girls’ Lead
The ISF ‘She Runs – Active Girls’ Lead’ event is an event fully dedicated to girls. With the support of the Erasmus+ Sport project of the European Commission, ISF set up a new ISF event format which will see the second edition take place later this year.
From the 12th – 17th September 2022 the city of Brussels, Belgium, will host this international event for young women between the ages of 12-18 years old, gathering 3000 girls from over 35 countries to participate in sport, educational, cultural, entrepreneurial, and institutional activities. She Runs – Active Girls’ Lead aims to promote schoolgirls’ participation and leadership in and through sport. Furthermore, this event allows for the unique opportunity for girls from around the world to exchange and interact, establishing lifelong connections.
ISF Advocating for Gender Equality
The ISF has taken on an increased role and position in gender equality policy making, and advising activities, being endorsed for the role of expert within activities focused on gender equality, run by intergovernmental organisations, displaying the importance of having youth involved in this crucial topic.
This happened most recently with a representative from ISF being selected from among the 15 members of the High-level Group on Gender Equality of the European Commission. This was also the case with the Council of Europe, with an ISF representative being invited to participate as a panellist to the online webinar on “Physical education (PE) and school sports: a creative approach to human rights and democracy”.
On March 8th the ISF is participating in the “Women in Sport” breakfast Roundtable organised by the Council of Europe's Sport Division, which will include experts, activists, and representatives of sports organisations to discuss gender equality and women's advancement in sports from 9.30 am to 11.30 am (CET)
Looking to tomorrow’s International Women’s Day, 8th March, the ISF is proud to not only celebrate the topic of gender equality on this important day, but on a daily basis by working to further developing a complete programme through a multi-level approach using the power of school sport for the development of youth and society.
To be able to follow the event remotely, please use the following link: https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/ttzcqpjg
