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THE
WINDHOEK CALL FOR ACTION Progress and Lessons Learned
Government involvement in sport varies greatly from country to country. In the United States of America for example, there is little governmental involvement in sport except through Title IX legislation, while in countries like France there is sport policy, legislation and a substantial investment of public funds. However, more and more governments are recognising the importance of success in sport to the enhancement of national pride, and the contribution that sport can make to the health and well being of their citizens. In some countries such as Australia and the UK, state responsibility for sports development is vested in Sports Councils or Commissions. Depending on the relationships between sport and government in different nations, the 9th Action point urges close cooperation with governments and their agencies. By working with them in the development of legislation, public policy and funding, it is possible to positively improve sport for girls and women. In addition, gender impact analyses are important in demonstrating the impact policy, legislation and distribution of public money has on women and men, and can be very useful in highlighting inequities. Progress
Made / Success Stories Canada International Sport Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada, in conjunction with the "Agence Intergovernmentale de la Francophonie", provided support for a major coaching apprenticeship program for female coaches from the Francophonie working with athletes in the Francophone Games in Ottawa/Hull in 2001 (see a detailed description under Point 4 of the Windhoek Call for Action). Additionally, the Government of Canada has provided support to the International Working Group on Women and Sport over the last four years. This has included the Secretariat, the Co-chair of the IWG, several meetings of the IWG and of course, the 2002 World Conference on Women and Sport. The presence of the IWG in Sport Canada has provided a stimulus for women and sport activities. Within Canada Within Canada, Sport Canada has provided ongoing support for and continued to work in partnership with the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport. In order to further its public policy objective for women and sport, Sport Canada has made it a requirement that all sport organizations in receipt of government funds must have a formal policy demonstrating a commitment to equity and access for women. In addition, national sport organizations must include a component on Women and Sport in its Accountability Agreement with the Government of Canada. Using the World Conference as a stimulus, Sport Canada has worked with CAAWS and Health Canada and other key agencies to design a Canadian Strategy on Women and Sport and Physical Activity. As part of this strategy, there will be a Canadian Conference on Women and Sport to be held in Hamilton in November 2002. Australia
Lessons Learned Following the 2nd World Conference at Windhoek, the ASC team resolved to work harder at improving internal links and developing an across-Commission approach to certain gender issues. This was successful in assisting the development of the Harassment-free Sport Strategy, the Child Protection guidelines and, more recently, the conduct of the pregnancy and sport forum. Japan The JWS also successfully contributed towards urging the Mito City government (the local government to which the JWS belongs) to make the gender equality law a city ordinance in 2001. The city gender equality ordinance, including the item related to sport which the JWS has requested, was accepted, and promulgated in March, 2001. It was the first time that a sport item was included in the local law in Japan. Lessons
Learned SCSA Zone
6 National Physical Education and Sport and Recreation Policies are complimented with Acts of Parliament and legal frameworks - or vice versa depending on the country. Lessons Learned "Due to the political history of 10 of the 14 countries of the Zone, all have been very keen to ensure equality. During liberation wars against colonial masters, women and men fought side by side and died irrespective of gender." (Charles Dzimba, 2001) Liberia In Liberia, a Ministry of Gender and Development has been set up to address gender issues, and a woman has been appointed as its Head. The Liberian Women and Sport Association has also made a proposal to the government through the Ministry of Youth & Sports to develop appropriate public policy to address gender issues. France Legislation for Female Athletes A priority of the (female) Minister of youth and sports, equal access for women and men to all sports and positions of responsibility is the subject of specific legislative and regulatory measures. Thus, the law of July 6, 2000, amending the law of July 16, 1984, in its articles 8 and 16, reaffirms the principle and establishes a mechanism guaranteeing the equality of women and men.
To attain these objectives, the sport federations and associations must:
The Memoranda of Understanding (Convention d'Objectifs) Negotiated by the Government and Sport Federations Objectives: to encourage projects to promote female participation, to ensure equity in the resources allocated to organize men's and women's competitions and to encourage women in positions of authority un the various federal authorities. Means: Identify the sum allocated and paid out for measures to promote equal access for women and men in sport and positions of authority and evaluate the measures taken, on a year-over-year basis. If the amounts allocated have not been used for the specified purpose, an audit will be conducted of the previous year's grant. Actions: the sport directorate identified, in the various Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) negotiated with the sport federations, the actions undertaken to promote female participation in all sports and at all levels, and it opened a specific budget line. This led the sports movement to propose actions designed to promote female participation in all sporting disciplines, ensure an equitable allocation of resources to organize women's and men's competitions, and promote women in positions of authority. The federations were also asked to provide information on the various programs they have in effect. Bilateral agreements Thailand The National Women and Sport Association invited high-ranking government officers to join the Association, to effectively share information with them about how to develop women and sport activities. There is some evidence to indicate that we will get very strong support from the government in the near future. USA - Women's
Sports Foundation The Foundation is currently preparing to celebrate its participation in the 16th National Girls and Women in Sports Day that will take place in 2002. At this event, supporters of women's sports and champion athletes gather in Washington, D. C. to make visits to members of Congress to raise awareness, seek congressional support to ensure that athletic opportunities are available for females, and stress the need for gender equity. The Foundation's Advocacy department
is constantly fielding calls regarding Title IX (the law that mandates
that any college, university or organisation that receives federal
funds must provide equal access for girls to participate in sports
as boys) violations, and forwarding them to our advocacy "partners"
at the National Women's Law Center located in D.C.
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