UN Urges Global Leaders to Tackle Gender Inequality in Sports

UN Urges Global Leaders to Tackle Gender Inequality in Sports
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The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on UN member states Wednesday to increase efforts in closing the gender gap in sports and promoting women athletes’ rights, Jurist News reported. Türk highlighted that despite growing attention to women’s sports globally, significant inequalities persist.

Türk pointed out that women athletes generally do not enjoy the same rights as their male counterparts, with a major issue being the considerable pay gap.

Beyond pay, women are underrepresented in sports leadership roles within clubs, federations, and governing bodies. They also receive fewer opportunities and less media coverage. Türk emphasized that discrimination against women in sports is still prevalent, with athletes of African descent disproportionately affected by discriminatory and racist narratives, as well as online and offline hate speech and abuse. He stressed the need to dismantle these barriers to foster a sports world that embraces diversity and ensures equal pay and value for women.

Türk stressed that member states are responsible for ensuring gender equality in sports by adopting anti-discrimination policies and laws, and implementing measures to prevent and investigate violence and harassment against female athletes. He also noted that sports organizations, especially those organizing major events, must align their operations with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to assess and mitigate impacts on women’s rights.