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Progress and Lessons Learned
The theme of the Windhoek Conference was "Reaching Out for Change," and the recognition that it was important to collaborate with non-sport sectors marked a significant step forward in the development of the women and sport movement. The following examples illustrate the range of new connections that are being initiated and strengthened. Progress Made
/ Success Stories The intention of WomenSport International,
in its UN-Strategic Bridges initiative, was simple: to create and
strengthen collaborative efforts involving the general women's advocacy
groups of the UN system and the international women's sport advocacy
movement. Such efforts hold the promise of mutual benefit in which
the international women sport advocacy groups both serve and counsel
the general women's movement coalitions in the area of physical
recreation and sport, AND gain the facilitation of the UN system
networks to raise awareness, visibility and value of the women's
sport/physical recreation issue on national, regional and global
governmental and civil society agendas. Some of the gains made by
the entire women's sport advocacy network along with specific gains
by WSI in relation to UN-system work include:
1. Build a larger network specific to UN-system work. While the actions of the advocacy network resulted in some tangible consequences following B+5, the impact was limited by our sheer lack of numbers. Governmental and NGO groups were in countless meetings prior to, and during, B+5 sessions as is common at these events. The few available sport advocates could not "cover" as was needed. We must build a larger, co-ordinated and prepared network of individuals representing all regions and crosscutting Beijing Platform for Action themes. 2. Consultative status. NGO organisations, registered for the Beijing World Conference on Women in 1995, have been automatically accredited with ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) for Beijing-related meetings including B+5. It has been made clear that this will not continue. NGOs must now achieve ECOSOC recognised status for full participation rights. We believe that the more international-based women's sport organisations that achieve this status, the better. There is a rigorous process for attaining consultative status and interested organisational leaders should contact Yolanda Jackson of the Women's Sports Foundation, USA or Carole Oglesby of WSI. 3. Join on issues of "general concern" to women. Women's sport advocacy groups cannot "only" focus on "our" issues and expect to consistently gain the support of our sister organisations from other caucuses. Collaboration such as that undertaken by WSI on general issues signals to general women's advocacy groups that we are neither self-absorbed nor one dimensional in our concerns. 4. Invite UN leadership to participate with us as often as is reasonable. Australia Pregnancy and Sport Project: The ASC worked collaboratively with experts in the fields of medicine, law, insurance and ethics to conduct a National Forum on Pregnancy and Sport on 1 August 2001 in Sydney, Australia, where current research, statistics and information relating to pregnant women participating in sport was presented and discussed. Over 200 people representing national and state sporting organisations, sport federations, state departments of sport and recreation, state institutes and academies of sport, women's sport organisations, equal opportunity and anti-discrimination agencies, offices of the status of women, medical practitioners, sports lawyers and media attended the forum. We are now working on developing national guidelines on issues around pregnant women's participation in sport. Outcome - more informed people, less discrimination, safer participation and greater media interest in issues in women's sport. Harassment-free Sport Strategy: A risk management tool to assist organisations in protecting themselves and their members, the Strategy aims to decrease harassment, discrimination, abuse and other forms of inappropriate behaviour in sport. The Strategy comprises publications, model policies, model complaint procedures, educational seminars, skills' training courses, on-line training, research, newsletters and advice. The publications, in particular, were developed in consultation with a wide range of expert agencies and individuals including the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission; National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Australian Federal Police Sexual Assault Unit; Child Protection Enforcement Agencies; NSW Commission for Children and Young People; national and state sporting organisations; State Departments of Sport and Recreation; Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association; authors, groups and researchers on gay, lesbian and transgender issues; and consultants in the areas of sport for people with a disability, women's sport, Indigenous sport and junior sport. The seminars and courses were, and continue to be, developed in consultation and collaboration with expert groups and individuals. See Point 7 of the Windhoek Call for Action for more information. Outcome - increased awareness and discussion, decrease in harassment, abuse and other forms of inappropriate behaviour in sport, increased tolerance and fair play, and more welcoming environments in sport, particularly for women, Indigenous people and people with a disability. Centenary of Women's Participation in the Olympics: The ASC worked collaboratively with the Office of the Status of Women, Australia Post and the French Embassy to commemorate and celebrate on May 20, 2000 the centenary (100 year anniversary) of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games - the first Olympics at which women could compete. Initiatives included:
Lessons Learned The partnerships have been very effective and on the whole enjoyable. The ASC would not have been able to develop and implement the number and diversity of projects without working collaboratively with others. In addition to the effective use of financial and human resources, another benefit in the collaborative approach is that your message is delivered to "markets" you would not ordinarily reach. It can however also be very frustrating, as you are reliant on others to contribute. You must also ensure all partners have the same understanding and agreement on what is required, who it will be achieved by, timeframe and management of the project. Commonwealth
Games Association of Canada (CGAC), International Sport Division
Lessons
Learned Singapore
Sports Council In the case of the School and Junior Sport Committee, the committee has worked with the Singapore Sports Council's Regional Sports and Fitness Centres and Youth Volunteers to run the Sports Camps. Lessons
Learned In addition, the School and Junior Sport Committee is aware of the need to work with the Ministry of Education to increase the participation of girls in sports in schools and early childhood. Japanese Association
of Women in Sport The Japanese Association for Women in Sport (JWS) has worked with the gender equality office at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to publish the first white paper on women and sport, and also organised the forums for women to promote sport. In addition, the JWS was commissioned by the gender equality office at MEXT to conduct research (a survey) on women with babies and children who wish to take part in or see sports. The JWS has organised small symposiums at the national gender research forum, the traditional nation-wide forum to discuss gender issues. It was the first time that the topic of sport was presented at the national forum. The JWS presentations were sensational because other activists on women's issues did not think that sport was one of the issues that needed to be discussed in promoting the status of women. The women and sport sessions also received media coverage. Lessons
Learned Liberian Women
and Sport Association The Liberian Women and Sport Association has worked with the World Health Organisation, the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, the Female Lawyers Association and the Liberia National Olympic Committee. We also worked with the World Health Organization to celebrate the International Year of Older Persons. This was very successful, because a large number of older persons participated by walking, and this made them feel that they were a very important part of society. At the end of the day tokens were distributed to the oldest and youngest walkers. Following the event, we complied statistics on the entire program and submitted them to the World Health Organization. The Ministry of Health worked with us in partnership in observing this day. USA Girl Scouts
USA Girl Scouts successfully collaborated with numerous sports, health and fitness organisations to provide increased opportunities for Girl Scout councils and the girls and adults they serve. Some of these organisations included: the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the National Bone Health Campaign, the Women's Sports Foundation, Outward Bound, Bancroft Arnesen Explorers, the American Cancer Society, Environmental Protection Agency and Game Face Productions. Lessons
Learned Since 1998 CAAWS has continued to reached beyond sport to the following sectors:
Lessons
Learned Mexico - DEMUSA Lessons Learned
The Ministry of the Interior, through the newly created NATIONAL WOMEN'S INSTITUTE, has invited us to help develop a public campaign aimed at increasing physical activity in women. A breakfast focusing on women's sports was held on November 21 with prominent female athletes, trainers, judges, leaders and reporters, and recognition will be given to a private initiative that is helping promote women in sport. We have sent financing projects to 27
international and national foundations, from which we have yet to
receive a positive response.
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