WUNRN
27 COUNTRIES IN SPORT FOR
DEVELOPMENT RESOLVE TO ADDRESS GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN SPORT
[Port
of This is a milestone in
the campaign on Gender Based Violence spearheded by NOWSPAR, Nowergian Olympic Committe and Women Win, the Next Step Conference is a
leading platform in the sport and development community convened every two years.
This year the confenference brought together over 150 delegates from 27
Countries around the world from Africa, The Next Step Conference Session on Gender raised the following key
issues:
I.
The need to re-examine our interventions in promoting women’s
engagement in sport as it does not necessarily result in deconstruction of
gender stereotypes
II.
The need to acknowledge that Gender Based Violence, especially
violence against women and girls, is prevalent within the sport for
development sphere
III.
The need for the sport for development
community to commit to addressing Gender Based Violence through policy
measures within organisations and across the sector IV.
The need for the sport for development community to explore how
sport can be used to contribute to addressing Gender Based Violence in
general. The Panel was comprised of
NOWSPAR Founder and Executive Director Matilda Mwaba, General Secretary Lombe
Mwambwa, Women Win Founder and President Astrid Afijes, Nowergian Olympic
Committee representative Diane Huffman and Ms. Caitlin Fischer of Guererro's
Project. The following resolutions were made for taking forward to
participants’ organisations, countries and to collaborate around and report
on at the Next Step Conference 2013:
I.
Adopt standards and guidelines of addressing Gender Based
Violence within the sport for development sector
II.
Develop and share resources and tools to use sport to address
Gender Based Violence in broader society “Gender
Based Violence occurs in many forms including physical, sexual and verbal, we
can no longer afford to cast a blind eye or keep silent about it, action is
imperative” said NOWSPAR Executive Director, Matilda Mwaba. Mwaba
said, working together with the Norwegian Olympic Committee and Women Win, a
set of Guiding Principles has been compiled through a consultative process
with various organisations in the sport and development sector around the
world. “We
should explore the feasibility and practicality of using sport to address
Gender Based Violence in broader society as our stakeholders and program
targets have to face this challenge in their communities” Said Norman Brook
of Coaching for Hope. Other resolutions of the Next
Step 2011 include action towards sustainability fo programs, measuring and
documentation of effectivess of the sport for development approach,
engagement of the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace,
as well as diversity on sport for development including age, gender and
origin. NOWSPAR's participation at the
Next Step2011 was supported by the Nowergian Olympic Committee and
Confederation of Sport (NIF) |