TOOLS FOR ADVOCATING CHANGE

6. Declarations and Resolutions

Description of the Tool

This tool provides two examples of declarations or resolutions that have had positive impact at the international level.

When to Use it?

• When you want to raise the issue of gender among political leaders, decision makers in sport and society in general.
• When you ask delegates at a conference or gathering to reach agreement upon key statements of belief and/or action. This ‘consensus statement’ provides direction and support to delegates when they return home.
• When you want to get gender equity on the agenda at home. Most declarations and resolutions have some sort of ‘sign on’ or approval process that can result in governments and non-government organisations (NGO) discussing and approving the declaration or resolution through their decision-making process.
• When you are hosting a conference and think a consensus statement may be an appropriate outcome for the gathering.

Format

The section contains the content of the Manila Declaration and the Helsinki Spirit 2000.

Tools

1. MANILA DECLARATION (1996)

It is in the interest of equality, development and peace that a commitment be made by governmental, non-governmental organisations and all those institutions involved in sport to apply the Principles set out in this Declaration, by developing appropriate policies, structures and mechanisms which:

Ensure that all women and girls have the opportunity to participate in sport in a safe and supportive environment which preserves the rights and dignity of and respect for the individual         

Increase the involvement of women in sport at all levels and in all functions and roles

Ensure that the knowledge, experience and values of women contribute to the development of sport; and in all functions and roles

Promote the recognition by women of the intrinsic values of sport and its contribution to personal development and healthy lifestyle. (Adopted from the Brighton Declaration on Women and Sport, 1994)

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RESOLUTIONS

RESOLVE that: Equal opportunity to participate and be involved in sport, whether for the purpose of leisure and recreation, health promotion or high performance, be recognised as the right of every girl and women, regardless of race, colour, language, religion, creed, gender/sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, political belief or affiliation, national or social origin.

RESOLVE that: Government and Non-governmental Sports Organisations provide equal opportunities to women to reach their sport performance potential by ensuring that all activities and programs relating to performance improvement take account of the specific needs of female athletes.

RESOLVE that: Those supporting mass-based elite and/or professional athletes ensure that competition opportunities, reward, incentives, recognition, sponsorship, promotion and other forms of support are provided fairly and equitably to women.

RESOLVE that: Those responsible for the allocation of resources ensure that support is available to sportswomen and women’s sport programs.

RESOLVE that: The planning and management of sport facilities should appropriately and equitably meet the particular needs of women in their respective communities.                                                       

RESOLVE that: Policies be set to ensure greater involvement of women in developing programs and designing structures which would increase the number of women coaches, advisers, decision makers, officials, administrators and sport recruitment, development and retention.                                                                   

RESOLVE that: Those responsible for the education, scientific training and development of coaches and other sport personnel ensure that educational processes or experiences, address issues relating to gender equity and the needs of female athletes.

RESOLVE that: Those responsible for research and information on sport, develop policies and programs to increase knowledge and understanding of women and sport, and ensure that norms and standards are based on research on women.

RESOLVE that: Resources, power and responsibility be allocated fairly and without discrimination on the basis of sex.

RESOLVE that: Government and non-government organisations provide adequate financial support to all sports program for women.

RESOLVE that: An annual Women's Physical Fitness and Sport Week be declared March 1-S.

RESOLVE that: An International Sports Centre for Women be established in the Asia-Pacific region to serve as a training, research, and information centre as well as resource for study grants and cultural exchange program to the world-wide community.

RESOLVE that: A regular Asia-Pacific Conference be held under the leadership of ICHPER-SD, in co-ordination with the ICHPER-SD Girls and Women Sports Commission.

RESOLVE that: State and government machineries be enjoined to comply with the equality provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the U.N. Convention, on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

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2. HELSINKI SPIRIT 2000 (Recommendations of the 2000 European Women and Sport Conference)

The mission of the European Women and Sport (EWS) network is to promote gender equality in sport. The main objective of the EWS Group is to create a sports culture where all girls and boys, women and men shall have equal opportunities to participate, act and make decisions.

 During the 1990's, several of the 41 member nations of the EWS network have made significant progress in developing equality as part of the European sports culture. Much work remains to be done in the new millennium to provide equal opportunities in sport and decision-making. Equality in sport is essential if sports culture is to develop, thrive and keep pace with the rapidly changing world.

The fourth EWS Conference was organised under the theme "Women, Sport and Culture How to change sports culture?” and held in Helsinki, Finland, on 7-10 June 2000. 250 delegates from 47 countries formulated the Helsinki Spirit 2000. These recommendations are founded on earlier documents which form the basis of equality work in sport: namely the 1994 Brighton Declaration and the 1998 Windhoek Call for Action.

1 That women's role as a resource for sports culture and decision-making be strengthened

• Women's know-how should be used in sports culture. The number of women involved in decision-making should be increased and supported through training and professional advancement.
• Decision-making should be transparent and ethically sustainable on all levels.
• Women and men should participate equally in discussions on the basic values and development of sport.
• Women in sport should build strong networks at regional, national and international levels.
• Women should seek elections in international bodies and be supported in those roles.
• Women and men should participate equally in international sports policy making.
• The amount of media coverage of women sports should be increased and quality improved. More women should be trained as sports journalists.

2 That women and men share responsibility in/for equality in sport

• Women and girls, men and boys should have the opportunity to choose their own sports and equally participate in their sport's organisational activities.
• Both women and men should participate productively in equality work.
• The structures and rules of sport must fulfil the needs of both women and men.
• Both women and men should participate in the planning of sports facilities.

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3 That sports and physical activities for people with disabilities and special needs be guaranteed an equal part in sports culture

• People with disabilities and special needs should have equal opportunities to participate in physical activities, both in different sports and at different levels.
• Women with disabilities and special needs should have equal opportunity in sport decision-making at all levels.
• Enhance tolerance through co-operation and communication among people with and without disabilities. Promote contact among diverse groups.

4 That the awareness and value of equality in sport be increased

• Equality work in sport should receive fair financial resources and strong political support.
• Ongoing evaluation and research of the equality work should provide a basis for advancing the movement.
• Sport and physical activity should be promoted as a positive strategy for dealing issues on broader political agendas, e.g. health, substance abuse, nation building.
• History, archives and activities in the development of gender equality in sports should be recorded and maintained.

5 That the Bratislava Council of Europe resolution on sexual harassment be implemented and monitored

• The Bratislava Council of Europe resolution on sexual harassment be implemented and monitored in all European countries, both by sports organisations and authorities.
• This resolution is a highly revealing and particularly positive development. It is a challenge to create a safer environment for people in sport.     

6 That the Berlin Agenda for Physical Education and the Declaration of Punta del Este be implemented and monitored

• Ministers for sport and education should work together with the physical education profession, to ensure that girls and boys receive high quality programmes of physical education.
• In recognition of the role of physical education in preparing girls and young women for their future in sport, physical education in school curricula should be strengthened.
• Teacher training programmes should include courses aimed at improving the inclusiveness of physical education for girls and boys, all abilities, cultural and social backgrounds.

Teachers of physical education should encourage equal participation of girls and boys in school programmes of physical education, sport and physical activities.

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