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Resolution Statement of the Southern Africa Women and Sport Consultative Meeting on 27th -29th April 2011, Lusaka Zambia

We the women of the Southern Africa Region gathered here in concern for the development of women in sport at all levels;

REMINDED of the manifestations of various forms of harassment in sport by the Key Note address to the Consultative Meeting by Prof. Fasting;

RECOGNISING that sport and physical activity are beneficial for management and prevention of diseases and conditions such as heart diseases, immunity conditions, depression,  cancer, bone density, diabetes, ageing and obesity;

AWARE that girls participating in sport are less likely to enter into violent relationships, early pregnancy and drug abuse;

CONVINCED that sport can help promote broader gender objectives such as human rights awareness and empowerment;

BEARING in mind that women and girls have the right to safe sporting environment;

MINDFUL that freedom from all forms of gender violence and participation of women and girls are recognized as human rights;

RECOGNISING that gender violence occurs in sport and can have severe damaging effects on participants, officials and organizations;

GUIDED by the Olympic Charter, the SADC Protocol on Culture Information and Sport, SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination;

TAKING full cognizance of the imperative need to translate sectoral policies, priorities and strategies into practical effect;

FOLLOWING deliberations and strategizing to address violence against women in sport; we resolve that we have accepted the draft guiding principles on Violence Against Women in Sport as a tool and strategy to guide and inspire our organizations and countries to take action;

We COMMIT to further consultations on prevention of violence against women in sport, to develop research and shared advocacy to advance our goal of developing safe sporting environments for women in sport;

We urge the leaders of the National Sports Councils, National Olympic Committees, Sport for Development Organizations, Ministries of Sport and the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa Zone VI to take action.

 

Signed By Delegates on 29th April 2011.

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