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.
The GO signed MOUs with York University and La Trobe University
Through the MOUs, both York University’s School of Kinesiology and Health Science and La Trobe University will contribute greatly to the GO netwrok and its numerous initiatives. Learn more about the MOUs in our News section below.
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
Women`s World Rugby Cup 2025
With its unique blend of creativity and sport, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 title sequence sets a new benchmark in global sports broadcast design, underlining the tournament’s ambition to champion inclusivity, innovation, and women’s voices on and off the field.
GO and La trobe University Sign MoU
In collaboration with the GO, La Trobe’s experts will share knowledge with international policymakers, sport leaders, and advocacy networks, ensuring that rural and regional realities are translated into systemic change.
MoU Signed: GO and York University`s School of Kinesiology and Health Science
Through the MOU, the school will contribute its research, expertise and outreach to support shared goals with GO. York will contribute to the GO Advisory Council, expert groups as well as co-create research and advocacy initiatives.
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.
Call for Content: IWG Women and Sport Global Summit 2026
The ninth edition of the IWG Global Summit will take place from the 9 – 11 July 2026 in Birmingham, West Midland, England. With five core themes of investment, leadership, innovation, visibility and participation guiding the programme, proposals for content to supplement the event are invited.
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.
African Women in Sports Summit 2025
The African Women in Sports Summit 2025 will take place in Kampala, Uganda on 26 – 28 November 2025, bringing together leaders and change makers to advance gender equality in sport across the continent. This year’s theme focuses on gender equality and gender based violence in 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.
Research & Policy News
The third edition of the Canadian Sport Policy (2025-2035) is now available
The Canadian Sport Policy helps identify Canadian sport priorities and guides how federal, provincial and territorial governments advance sport. It provides a shared framework for working together to ensure sport contributes positively to the lives of individuals, communities and the country.
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 outlines key principles, data gaps, and ethical considerations for inclusive and rights-based data collection. A timely tool to strengthen evidence and inform policy responses for LGBTQI+ communities worldwide.
India Approves National Sports Policy 2025
Global Leaders Highlight Sport as a Catalyst for Gender Equality and Social Impact
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. Discussions focused on the lack of dedicated research into women’s health and performance, with FIFPRO highlighting the progress of Project ACL, a player-led initiative aiming to reduce ACL injuries and improve athlete availability in women’s football. The summit also explored the commercial potential of women’s sport, showcasing how collective licensing, strategic partnerships, and investment pathways can create a more sustainable and equitable future for female athletes worldwide.
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 Well-being at Country Level outlines five key policy pathways to help ministries of health turn the vision of well-being societies into action. The resource encourages a shift beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP), focusing instead on health, inclusion, and sustainability as measures of progress.
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
