Highlights
Speakers confirmed - GO Conference 2025
Conference Programme and Panelists
The first speakers for the 2025 GO Gender Equality and Sport+ Conference have been announced and will continue to be updated.
New GO CEO
The Board of the Global Observatory is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lombe Mwambwa, as CEO of the GO effective 1 June 2025.
New Observer Board Members
Governance
The GO is pleased to welcome two new Observer Board members from major partner institutions, UNESCO and OHCHR.
New Good Practice Story
Kabbadi TdH
The GO is thrilled to share the lastest addition to our Good Practice Stories collection, Shifting Norms: Kabaddi for Girls’ Empowerment in West Bengal.
Prof. Elizabeth Pike Wins the 2024 IOC Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Global Award
The Global Observatory extends its heartfelt congratulations to Professor Elizabeth Pike, IWG Research Lead, who has been honoured with the IOC Global Award for Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport (GO) is a global convenor and repository of research and expertise on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in and through physical education, physical activity and sport (PEPAS).
Building on the existing gender and sport movements across the world, we are dedicated to closing knowledge gaps and enabling actors to overcome global and systemic inequalities and inequities to advance the rights, health and empowerment of girls and women in all their diversity in and through PEPAS.
The GO is an international NGO based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Established in July 2021 with the support of UNESCO and the Swiss Confederation, the GO is an initiative originated from UNESCO’s 4th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS IV) in Athens, Greece, in 2003. The commitment to the GO was reinforced by the 2017 Kazan Action Plan (KAP) at MINEPS VI, in Kazan, Russia and further reaffirmed at MINEPS VII in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2023, with support from over 100 member states.
We need tangible data that can help with policy making and help the many poeple fighting for gender equality. Any change will meet constraints, but you don’t have to give up. We should collaborate with stakeholders; help align their interests and ensure that everyone is working towards a common goal.
Felicite Rwemarika – President, Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport
Do you want to join our global network, collaborate with us or contribute data, publications, and expertise?
What does the Global Observatory aim to do?
The Global Observatory is committed to tackling the complex, systemic and intersecting inequalities encountered by women and girls in both sports and society.
Aligned with the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Agenda, the Observatory primarily focuses on several Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and especially Goal 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Simultaneously we also contribute to:
September 2025 Gender Equality and Sport+ Conference – Connecting for Change
News
Caster Semenya wins at the Human Rights Court
The South African runner’s recent court victory overturns discriminatory regulations that barred her from competing, marking a major win for athletes’ rights and bodily autonomy. Human Rights Watch calls it a landmark step toward fairness and inclusion in global sport.
UEFA Forum
A UEFA’s Women’s EURO Final Forum was held and brought together leaders to shape a sustainable, inclusive future for women’s football. The event highlighted investment, visibility, and long-term planning as key to unlocking the game’s full potential.
Nigeria is the African Cup Winner !
Nigeria won the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, securing their 12th continental title and qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. The Super Falcons reaffirmed their long-standing hegemony in African women’s football.
African Women in Sports Conference 2025
The African Women in Sports Conference 2025 will take place in Nairobi on 30–31 October, bringing together leaders and changemakers to advance gender equality in sport across the continent. This year’s theme focuses on gender equality and gender-based violence (GBV) in sports.
England wins the EURO 2025 !
England won the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 after a 3–1 victory on penalties against Spain. The Lionesses’ triumph reinforces their european crown following a tournament marked by twists and turns.
Research & Policy News
New UN Women Guidance on GBV Data for LGBTQI+ Populations
UN Women has released a new guidance note on measuring gender-based violence (GBV) based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). The publication...
India Approves National Sports Policy 2025
The Union Cabinet of India has approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025, a landmark framework designed to transform the nation’s sporting landscape and position India as a global sports...
Global Leaders Highlight Sport as a Catalyst for Gender Equality and Social Impact
On July 23, 2025 in New York (USA), a special side event of the 2025 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), global leaders from government, sport, philanthropy, media, and development...
Women’s Sport Strategic Summit Highlights Research Gaps and Commercial Value
The Women’s Sport Strategic Summit 2025, held in Switzerland on 15–16 July alongside the UEFA Women’s EURO, brought together global stakeholders to address critical gaps in women’s sport....
New WHO Guidance on Well-being Policy Pathways
The World Health Organization has published a new guidance note to support the implementation of Resolution WHA75.19 and the Global Framework on Well-being. The Implementing the Global Framework on...
Good Practice Stories
Have a quick read of stories from all across the world that collates qualitative case studies and research that captures the experiences of diverse stakeholders.
Shifting Norms: Kabaddi for Girls’ Empowerment in West Bengal
Rising from the ashes: Afghan women’s fight for equality through sports
