HRC62 - EU Statement - Panel discusion on women and girls in sports
United Nations Human Rights Council
62th session
Panel discusion on women and girls in sports
23 June 2026
EU Statement
Mr./Madam President,
The EU thanks the panellists for their valuable contributions.
Sport is more than competition — it is a powerful vehicle for resilience, leadership and solidarity[, and contributes significantly to physical and mental well-being, social inclusion and community building].
Yet, while the world is watching the football World Cup in North America, how many people can name the winner of the 2023 Women’s World Cup? The answer illustrates a persistent reality: unequal visibility leads to unequal opportunities, unequal investment and unequal pay.
According to UN Women, not a single woman featured among the 50 highest-paid athletes in Forbes' 2025 ranking. This is not merely a question of earnings; it reflects deeper structural inequalities within the world of sport. Women and girls often face challenges in sports that are compounded by multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. [These challenges range from heightened risk of online harassment and abuse to unequal access to media visibility and limited opportunity for leadership.] Safe and inclusive sporting environments are therefore not a bonus, but a prerequisite for the full enjoyment of human rights by all.
The European Commission's High-Level Group on Gender Equality in Sport published a comprehensive action plan and recommendations in 2022, covering participation, coaching and officiating, leadership, social and economic aspects of sport, media coverage and gender-based violence. And through the joint EU–Council of Europe All In Plus project, the EU supports evidence-based policymaking on gender equality in sport by strengthening data collection, analysis and facilitating the exchange of good practices among public authorities and sport organisations.
In light of these considerations, how can governments foster and encourage the advancement of gender equality in sport in international sports governing bodies?
I thank you, Mr./Madam President.