In a significant stride towards achieving comprehensive gender equality within the global sports arena, UN Women and the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) have officially announced a landmark partnership. The two influential organizations formalized their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the 80th UN General Assembly in New York. This strategic alliance is poised to amplify efforts to empower women and girls, strengthen advocacy movements, and instigate systemic change across the entire sports ecosystem.
A Unified Vision for a More Equitable Future
The core objective of this newly formed partnership is to harness the inherent transformative power of sport as a catalyst for social progress. Both UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, and the IWG, a leading global advocate for women and sport, share a profound commitment to creating a world where sport is a platform for participation, leadership, and thriving for all women and girls.
Sarah Hendriks, Director of Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division at UN Women, underscored the significance of this collaboration. “UN Women is proud to join forces with the International Working Group on Women and Sport to advance our shared commitment to gender equality in and through sport,” Hendriks stated at the signing ceremony. She further elaborated on the strategic alignment, noting, “Through this partnership, we will align the normative and programmatic strength of UN Women with the strong convening power and technical expertise of IWG, building stronger coalitions and accelerating systemic change across the global sports ecosystem.” This synergy is expected to create a more robust and coordinated approach to addressing gender disparities that persist in various facets of sport, from grassroots participation to leadership roles in governing bodies.
Driving Policy, Practice, and Social Norm Shifts
The MOU outlines a clear roadmap for action, focusing on collaborative efforts with key stakeholders worldwide. UN Women and IWG will actively engage with governments, sports federations, and civil society organizations to build powerful coalitions. These coalitions will then press for crucial shifts in policy, practice, and social norms that are essential for advancing women's rights and leadership within sport. This multi-pronged approach recognizes that achieving true gender equality requires not only changes at the institutional level but also a transformation of societal attitudes and cultural barriers.
Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, Chair of IWG, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the natural synergy between the two organizations. “On behalf of the IWG network, I am delighted to have signed the MOU with UN Women today,” Phelps remarked. She added, “The alignment between our two organizations is clear, and committing to deepen our relationship by collaborating more closely will help to accelerate the changes we are both trying to make.” This sentiment reflects a shared understanding that by combining their unique strengths and mandates, UN Women and IWG can achieve a greater impact than either could alone.
Supporting the IWG Global Summit 2026
A tangible outcome of this new agreement is UN Women's commitment to supporting the IWG Global Summit 2026, slated to take place in Birmingham. This flagship event is anticipated to draw leaders and advocates from across the world of sport, providing a crucial platform for dialogue, strategy development, and collaborative action. UN Women's backing will undoubtedly elevate the summit's profile and reach, ensuring that its discussions and outcomes resonate globally. Phelps emphasized the importance of this support, noting that it would help engage global stakeholders and contribute valuable insights to the summit's programming.
The IWG Global Summit serves as a biennial gathering that brings together policymakers, researchers, athletes, and sports administrators to discuss critical issues related to women and sport. With UN Women's involvement, the 2026 summit is expected to be an even more powerful forum for advancing the agenda of gender equality, fostering innovation, and sharing best practices that can be replicated worldwide.
Beyond the Playing Field: A Broader Impact
The partnership extends beyond mere participation in sport, aiming for a broader societal impact. As Sarah Hendriks articulated, the collaboration seeks to ensure that “sport becomes a platform where women and girls everywhere are empowered to participate, lead and thrive – driving progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and a more equal future.” This vision connects the pursuit of gender equality in sport directly to the larger global development agenda, recognizing sport's potential to contribute to health, education, economic empowerment, and the reduction of violence against women and girls.
The signing of this MOU represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing global movement for gender equality in sport. By combining UN Women's extensive experience in advocacy and policy development with IWG's specialized expertise and network within the sports world, the partnership is well-positioned to drive meaningful and lasting change. As the world looks towards 2026 and beyond, this alliance promises to generate new opportunities, challenge existing norms, and ultimately pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future where every woman and girl can realize their full potential through sport. The momentum generated by this partnership is a testament to the growing recognition that gender equality in sport is not just a matter of fairness, but a fundamental driver of progress for society as a whole.
