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Africa | Americas | Asia and the Middle East | Europe | Oceania AFRICA African Women and Sport Association
(AWISA) The progress of AWISA continued to be advancing in some zones and slow in others. Communication and finance continue to be major problems. Of the seven zones of the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa (SCSA), Zone 6 continues to be the most effective zone. Among its accomplishments was a Task Force on Women in Sport, created with the assistance of AWISA for a two-year period, to ensure the creation of Women and Sport Chapters in all ten member states by the end of 2000. In August 2001, a Commission on Women in Sport was created to address, among other issues, equity in sport in this zone. AWISA is currently busy with preparations for its first congress, where elections will also take place. With the creation of the African Union to replace the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), and with women's issues beginning to take centre stage in Africa, it is hoped that AWISA will gain the recognition it deserves and be more effective in the other zones. Due to financial difficulties, which make it a challenge to cover all of Africa effectively, AWISA is now negotiating with the SCSA for a permanent sponsored office within the its Headquarters. The SCSA needs to be more involved, and to follow the successful example of Zone 6 in encouraging other zones to create Task Forces addressing women and sport. Algeria The National Association for the Promotion and Development of Women's Sport was also established in Algeria, and hosted a conference on women and sport with the theme "Dimensions and the Future of Women's Sport in the Third Millennium" from June 12-13, 2000. Benin Botswana After the adoption of the Brighton declaration
by the Botswana Government in 1994, a national convention was held
with all stakeholders in order to raise awareness of women and sports
issues. As a result, an interim committee was formed which, after
extensive consultation, produced a draft plan of action. Burundi The Commission on Women and Sport of Burundi's National Olympic Committee was created in 1998 with the financial and material support of the International Olympic Committee, and it has endeavoured to carry out its work in spite of the crisis shaking Burundi since 1993. A summary of its accomplishments includes: 1998: Creation of the Commission on Women and Sport as part of the NOC and participation in the regional seminar on Women in Sport in Abidjan. July 1999: The Commission held days of reflection on the women in sport movement and organised sport events for women, inviting all federations, sport organisations and representatives of women in sport to participate. The recommendations emerging from those days provided a basis for action, and as a result a phenomenal growth in women's sport is now occurring. Numerous women's clubs, especially in soccer and basketball, are popping up all over the country, and women have been promoted to an unprecedented number of senior positions in the sport movement, such as:
2000:
Attendance at the IOC's Second World Conference on Women in Sport
in Paris In addition to these annual accomplishments, the Commission also helps provide funding on an ongoing basis for women to take part in tournaments outside the country (like the 2001 Swimming Championship in Japan), and to organise women's championships in sports such as: soccer, handball and swimming. Côte d'Ivoire
Congo Several awareness campaigns were created in the Congo in accordance with the IOC's targets for women in sport. The Congo National Olympic Committee and, particularly, the Women in Sports Commission appealed to women and national sport federations to enable women to apply to executive structures during the elective general assemblies held around the time of the Olympic Games in Sydney, and for national sport federations to permanently set aside two or three positions for women within their executive bodies by modifying their statutes and regulations. Following these elective general assemblies, female representation within the executive bodies surpassed the 10% mark, to the satisfaction of the NOC, the federations and the Commission. In addition, the National Olympic Committee adopted the Brighton Declaration through the Ministry responsible for integrating women, a decision that was later ratified by the government. Egypt The Egyptian Olympic Committee formed a Women's Commission, and the election law of all national sport federations was amended to stipulate the necessity of having at least one woman on each board. This means that women have been given the right to be members of all administrative councils of clubs, sport federations and youth centres not only by election, but also by nomination. Similarly, the election law of the Egyptian Olympic Committee has been modified, stipulating that at least one woman must be a member of the EOC Board, and that women now have the right to be members of the National Olympic Committee. In recognition of her role in supporting the participation of women in sport and her efforts in establishing the first female football team in the region, Dr. Sahar El Hawary was awarded the IOC Award for Women and Sport for the Year 2000. Dr. Ali Eldin Helal, Egyptian Minister of Youth, formed the Supreme Committee of Women and Sport to encourage women to participate in sport, and the Faculty of Physical Education for Girls at the University of Alexandria hosted several meetings and international conferences including "Women, Sport and Science - Affecting and Being Affected" in 1999, and the 14th IAPESGW Conference, "Life Long Learning - Towards Active Girls and Women" in 2001. Eritrea The Eritrea government has a strong policy
for the general progress of women's participation in decision-making
positions, which began with the struggle for liberation some 40
years ago. Even in Parliament, 30% representation is reserved for
women in addition to those who run for election with men. Ethiopia The Ethiopian Olympic Committee held a Symposium on women and sport in 1999, and has since formed a Women's Committee. Gambia Ghana The African Women and Sport Association (AWISA) was introduced in one University and to girls in the second cycle of education at sport festivals, encouraging them to see sport as a serious endeavour worth pursuing. Lesotho The Lesotho National Olympic Committee adopted the Brighton Declaration in 1998, and since that time, more women have become involved in sports administration and leadership. Sport programs have been developed specifically for girls, female coaches and referees have been trained and workshops for women have been organised. Liberia LIWASA members are represented on the Executive Body of the Liberia National Olympic Committee, occupying the position of Vice-President for Administration and serving on the Executive Committee. In order to support the next generation of leaders, LIWASA has also developed a comprehensive project proposal for a national administrative seminar to train women and girls to become administrators, coaches and referees. This proposal has been submitted to the Olympic Solidarity. LIWASA has itself established a Board of Directors, launched an awareness campaign amongst various female sporting teams in the country and opened aerobic classes for women and girls to enhance physical fitness. Additionally, members of the organisation have participated in the promotion and advancement of girls and women by co-operating with other women's organisations through programs, seminars and workshops, including the observance of world peace for women celebrated in August 1999, and the establishment of a bond of friendship between the women of Liberia and those of Taiwan in November 1999. LIWASA members attended international conferences on women and sports in both 1999 and 2000, and were represented in Sydney at the 2000 Olympic Games. Mali Since 1998, the Mali National Olympic Committee has created an Association for Women and the Promotion of Women's Sport. In the Malian sport movement, 22% of decision-making positions are occupied by women, including three Presidents, seven Vice-Presidents and 2 Secretaries General. Women take part in 19 sports, and Mali has 10 national women's teams, six of which have senior, junior and cadette age categories. Training opportunities have also been organised, including a national seminar on women and sport in August 2000, and three seminars on leadership for the eight administrative regions. Namibia The Namibian Women and Sport Association (NAWISA) continues to be very active in both the region and in Africa as a whole. Tremendous progress has been made in getting NAWISA recognised by the Government and the private sector, NAWISA chapters have been completed at Regional and constituency levels, and numerous activities have taken place including regional games in which women and girls took part. The NAWISA headquarters office has been completed. Equipped and staffed with a full-time secretary, it now accommodates the headquarters of the Confederation of the Southern African Netball Associations (COSANA) and AWISA. NAWISA is also in the process of securing and equipping its regional offices, including supplying them with computers to improve communication problems. With the assistance of the regional governors, who have shown a great deal of interest in the activities of NAWISA, the Association has also begun working on leadership training for the Regional Directors and coaches for women and girls. NAWISA sent six Regional Directors to the Administration course organised by the Olympic Committee in Windhoek, and is also involved in the introduction of regional league games in women's soccer, netball and basketball in the regions where they are not participating. Namibian Women on the Move
Nigeria The Nigerian Association of Women in Sport (NAWIS) was created in 1999. Rwanda A National Association for Women and Sport in Rwanda was created in December 2000, and has since taken the following initiatives:
Over 30 amateur women's football teams have started up in recent years, despite considerable resistance from men in the country. Senegal The National Olympic Committee endorsed the Brighton Declaration in 1998, and has taken the following actions since that time:
Seychelles In 1999, the Minister for Sports, Mrs. Sylvette Pool, established a women and sports committee, which then set up a sports day for women on the International Women's Day on March 8, 1999, and hosted a seminar in May 1999. The seminar was aimed at identifying problems affecting Seychellois women in sports, and proposing solutions for them. Following the seminar, the Seychelles Women and Sports Association (SWASA) established an Action Plan for 2000-2004 that outlines its mission "to ensure that girls and women have access to a complete range of opportunities and choices and have equity as participants and leaders in sports and physical activities." During September and October of 2000, the committee organised youth seminars on various topics including harassment, peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and fair play. Similar youth seminars were planned for 2001 for two other islands of the Seychelles - Praslin and La Digue. Sierra Leone
In 1998, competitions were organised by the Sierra Leone Association of Women in Sports (SLAW) in Lawn Tennis and Athletics for schoolgirls and regional women in a town north of Freetown, as a means of recreation and for developing sports. In 1999, little could be achieved, as the country was struck with a rebel war which devastated buildings, sports grounds for girls and women and homes. Many lives were lost as a result. In 2000, Mrs. Jestina Jones, a SLAW member, attended a conference in Ethiopia, and shortly thereafter SLAW organised a grand Sports Festival including athletics, volleyball, table tennis and football for women all over the country - including displaced women. The funding for this initiative was provided by the National Olympic Committee through the International Olympic Committee, and was very much appreciated. Mrs. Jones also attended the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as a Chaperon of the Team. Many women in less privileged areas were very active, but were driven from their homes by the rebels. They nonetheless emerged as true champions, winning trophies and prizes in the above-mentioned competitions. SLAW also participated in a march on March 8 celebrating International Women's Day, as well as in Cultural Shows, Trade Fairs and Symposiums. In 2000, competitions in softball and athletics were held for girls and women with disabilities, and in February 2001, Sierra Leone organised a volleyball competition in respect of a female visitor of the National Olympic Committee from the United Kingdom. As of the end of 2001, women have 60% representation in sport clubs, and women's committees have been set up for volleyball, athletics, lawn tennis, softball, handball and broad jump. A sports festival was held in December 2001 for the wives of men in the armed forces to discourage the use of weapons and small arms. SLAW's vision for 2002 is to be able to reach all parts of the country to assist the country's sportswomen. South Africa The National Olympic Committee of South Africa (NOCSA) Women's Commission was established in, and has been operational since, 1997. Two of the 9 members of NOCSA's executive are women, and the national sport federations are sensitive to and aware of gender representation, with both women and men represented at meetings, seminars and in training sessions. In 2000, the Women and Sport South Africa Association (WASSA) was able to win the removal of a clause in the new Boxing Control Act, which would have forbidden women's participation in boxing and wrestling. The South African Ministry of Sport and Recreation has also adopted the Windhoek Call for Action. Swaziland In February 1998, SOCGA formed the Women in Sport Commission, which is a working group targeting the development and involvement of women in sport at all levels and all ages. Recognised by the Swaziland National Sports Council, the Women in Sport Commission now represents women at the Olympic and Zone 6 forums. The Commission, whose aims and objectives mirror those stated in the principles of the Brighton Declaration, also created a Strategy for Women's Development, which was presented to the affiliates during the Swaziland National Sports Council Annual General Meeting in December 1998. The Strategy defines its three key focus areas as 1) leadership and training, 2) participation and 3) excellence. As a result:
This area of development has positive potential, and will be emphasised in all activities in 2002. The Women in Sport Commission is currently working toward hosting a "Week of Active Women in Sport" campaign which will be run throughout the country in January/February 2002, highlighting the importance of women's involvement in sport and recreational activity. In conclusion, the statistics are encouraging, with more women are participating in sports activities, and an overall 36% representation of women in administrative positions, executive board membership and on subcommittees of Olympic affiliated sports. The weak areas for women in Swaziland are still the availability of facilities and the lack of dress code for women in sport. In the rural areas, there is a high number of women and girls involved in sports such as Netball and athletics, but opportunities to develop into high performing sportswomen are almost non-existent. However, the government Sports Policy has included women in sport as a priority, and the goals and objectives of the Strategy Plan for Women in Sport is bearing positive results. Togo The Women's Commission of the National Togolese Olympic Committee (CNOT) formed regional offices in 2000 to supervise sport activities for women and girls, and held seminars and workshops to familiarise women with the values and benefits of participating in sport. CNOT is now working with National Federations to emphasise the importance of including women in the administrative structure of their organisations. Tunisia The number of women and sport associations has increased in Tunisia, and there are also more female sport teachers and coaches in different sport disciplines and activities for women. Days to promote and support women and sport have been organised, and a larger number of women are working in the Tunisian sport federation. Uganda Uganda had a female Chef de Mission for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, signifying the leadership development of women. Zambia Zambia also had a female Chef de Mission
for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
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