SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Institutions: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports | Ministry of Women and Child Development
UN Women has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) to drive systemic change and accelerate gender equality across the global sports ecosystem. The partnership, signed during the 80th UN General Assembly, combines UN Women’s normative and programmatic strength with IWG’s technical expertise and convening power to leverage sport for the empowerment of women and girls worldwide. The organizations will collaborate with governments, federations, and civil society to build coalitions and press for shifts in policy, practice, and social norms. The agreement also includes UN Women’s support for the flagship IWG Global Summit 2026, scheduled for July 2026 in Birmingham, UK.
This high-level partnership is a significant institutional and developmental move, aligning international policy goals (SDGs) with technical expertise in sport to ensure that the global sports ecosystem is transformed into a robust platform for female leadership, participation, and economic empowerment.
What is the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport? → The IWG is the world’s largest non-profit network, founded in 1994, dedicated to advancing gender equality in sport and physical activity, and is the guardian of the influential Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration, which over 600 sports organizations have signed to commit to its principles.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can national sports ministries translate this global partnership into tangible regulatory reforms to mandate gender parity in sports governance and funding at the domestic level?
Follow the full news here: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/press-release/2025/10/global-push-for-gender-equality-in-sport-gains-momentum-with-new-partnership