IWG Women & Sport

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IWG Women & Sport

The International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Girls is the world's largest network dedicated to advancing gender equality in sport and physical activity.

Founded to encourage collaboration and share knowledge around the globe. Make Change Happen.

24/09/2026

Creating more opportunities for women and girls to move, wherever they are in life...

Rise North East has signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining a global network of 700+ organisations committed to advancing gender equity in sport and physical activity.

Working across the North East, Rise is tackling the barriers that can prevent women and girls from being active, with initiatives spanning schools, local communities and healthcare.

From using youth voice to shape opportunities for girls, to building on the success of This Girl Can Newcastle and supporting women through pregnancy, motherhood, perimenopause and menopause, their approach recognises that different stages of life can bring different barriers to movement.

By sharing their place-based insight with the global IWG network, Rise is helping demonstrate how local action can contribute to wider change.

Welcome to the IWG movement, Rise North East! 🤝

23/09/2026

Two organisations, one shared commitment to advancing gender equity in sport 👏

Active Oxfordshire and the University of Oxford have signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining a global network of 700+ organisations working to create greater opportunities for women and girls across movement, physical activity and sport. 🌍

The partnership brings together world-leading research and local action, from the University of Oxford’s work on female athlete health, injury prevention and performance, to Active Oxfordshire’s work tackling barriers to participation and creating more inclusive opportunities across the region.

Both organisations are also investing in the next generation, with initiatives including the University’s Young Sport Leaders programme and Active Oxfordshire’s Girls Coach Academy, which has supported more than 400 Year 9 girls to develop their confidence and leadership skills. 👏

By combining research, insight and community-led action, this joint commitment demonstrates the power of collaboration in creating lasting change for women and girls in sport.

Welcome to the IWG global movement, Active Oxfordshire and University of Oxford! 🤝

20/09/2026

A huge congratulations to Lisa O’Keefe MBE! 🏆

We’re so proud to see our Secretary General recognised with the inaugural WiMENA Game Changer Award 2026.

The award is particularly special as Lisa was chosen by the WiMENA network itself, recognising her longstanding commitment to understanding the barriers facing women and girls in sport and using research, insight and collaboration to drive meaningful change.

At IWG, we see first-hand the passion and commitment Lisa brings to creating greater opportunities for women and girls in sport around the world.

This recognition from the WiMENA community is a wonderful acknowledgement of that work.

Congratulations, Lisa! 👏

16/09/2026

Making movement more inclusive for women and girls across Berkshire🤝...

Get Berkshire Active has signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining a global network of 700+ organisations working to advance gender equity in sport and physical activity.

Their work focuses on understanding and breaking down the barriers that can prevent women and girls from being active, from creating safer, more welcoming spaces to ensuring their voices and experiences help shape future opportunities.

Through partnerships, evidence-led approaches and campaigns such as This Girl Can, Get Berkshire Active is helping to create more positive experiences of movement across every stage of life.

As Kirsty Heath, Strategic Lead for Physical Activity for Health at Get Berkshire Active, said:
“We believe every woman and girl should have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of being physically active, regardless of their background, circumstances or stage of life.”

A commitment to local action, with the potential to create wider change.
Welcome to the IWG global movement, Get Berkshire Active!

15/09/2026

British Fencing has officially signed the IWG on Women & Sport’s Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining a global network of 700+ organisations committed to creating greater opportunities for women and girls in sport.

A key focus is tackling the gender gap in coaching, with British Fencing introducing a grant scheme to help more women enter and progress through the coaching pathway by removing practical barriers such as travel, accommodation and course costs.

The organisation is also supporting wider initiatives to increase female participation, including Muslim Girls Fence and Swords After Surgery, supporting women recovering from breast cancer surgery.

As British Fencing President Pat Aiyenuro BEM said:
“We know how powerful it is for women and young girls to see other women coaching at their clubs.”

By creating more opportunities for women to participate, coach, referee and lead, British Fencing is helping build a more inclusive future for the sport. 🤝

Welcome to the IWG global movement, British Fencing!

14/09/2026

The Bangladesh Women’s Sports Federation has officially signed the IWG on Women & Sport’s Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining a global network of 700+ organisations committed to advancing gender equity in sport.

As a multi-sports federation operating in a conservative country, the Federation is working to create greater opportunities for girls and women, particularly in rural Bangladesh, by nurturing sporting talent, providing training opportunities, advocating for safe and equitable sport and supporting athlete welfare.

Their partnership with the Bangladesh National Sports Training Institute (BKSP) also provides comprehensive preparation programmes and accommodation for around 100 female athletes seeking annual admission.

As President Sarwat Siraj said:
“Equality is not a favour – it is the foundation of sporting excellence.”

We’re proud to welcome the Bangladesh Women’s Sports Federation to the global IWG movement and look forward to seeing the impact of this commitment for women and girls across Bangladesh. 🤝

07/09/2026

A significant milestone for women and girls in sport across the Gulf region. 🌍

Fujairah Martial Arts Club (FMAC) has become the first sports club in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to sign the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining a global network of more than 700 organisations committed to advancing gender equity in sport.

With female athletes currently making up 28% of FMAC’s membership, the club has set an ambitious target to reach 35% female participation by 2028, backed by commitments across leadership, participation, safe environments, high performance and equitable resources.

FMAC’s leadership said:
“Empowering women in sports is not just our goal; it is a fundamental pillar of our club's future and international legacy.”

The signing also marks an important step in expanding the IWG movement across the Middle East, creating new opportunities to share knowledge, build partnerships and drive meaningful change for women and girls in sport.

17/08/2026

England Athletics has officially signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining a global network of more than 700 organisations committed to advancing gender equity in movement, physical activity and sport.

Recognising that barriers and inequalities remain across athletics and running, England Athletics is committing to ensuring women and girls have equitable opportunities to participate, progress, lead and thrive.

This commitment is being supported through initiatives such as the Women in Coaching and Women's Throws Coach Group programmes, which help women develop skills, build networks and progress through coaching and governance pathways.

Through its RunTogether social running programme, England Athletics is also creating welcoming, community-based opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, while its Let's Lift the Curfew campaign is helping address the practical and social barriers that can affect women's ability to be active safely.

Looking ahead, its Women & Girls Action Plan will focus on improving support for female athlete health, strengthening pathways into officiating, and ensuring the experiences of underrepresented communities inform future decision-making.

We are delighted to welcome England Athletics to the IWG network and look forward to working together to drive meaningful, lasting change for women and girls across athletics and running.

14/08/2026

Three Catalan sports federations are taking action to advance gender equality in sport...

At the IWG Global Summit on Women & Sport 2026 in Birmingham, the Catalan Volleyball Federation, Catalan Athletics Federation and Catalan Modern Pentathlon Federation officially signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining a global network of more than 700 organisations committed to advancing gender equity in movement, physical activity and sport.

Driven by the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia (UFEC) in collaboration with the Catalan Government, the signing marks an important step in strengthening the role of women in participation, leadership and decision-making across Catalan sport.

From creating opportunities for women in leadership and officiating, to developing programmes that increase visibility and tackle barriers to participation, each federation is taking action to build a more inclusive sporting environment.

The commitment also forms part of a growing movement across Catalonia, with further federations already progressing through the signatory process.

We are delighted to welcome the Catalan Volleyball Federation, Catalan Athletics Federation and Catalan Modern Pentathlon Federation to the IWG network and look forward to supporting their continued work to create lasting change for women and girls in sport.

31/07/2026

Driving gender equality in sport requires collaboration, shared ambition and collective action.

At the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Scottish Government and Botswana's Ministry of Sport and Arts (MOSA) officially signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining a global network of more than 700 organisations committed to advancing gender equality in movement, physical activity and sport.

Together, these organisations are strengthening their commitment to creating more inclusive sporting environments where women and girls can participate, lead and thrive. From the Commonwealth Secretariat's Sport for Development and Peace programme, which connects all 56 member countries to share best practice, to the Scottish Government's continued investment in initiatives that improve access to sport, and MOSA's work to support women and girls through leadership development, athlete welfare and mentorship, each organisation is driving meaningful change in its own way.

By becoming signatories, they are reinforcing a shared commitment to breaking down systemic barriers, creating safer and more inclusive opportunities, and working collectively to accelerate progress for women and girls in sport.

We are delighted to welcome the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Scottish Government and Botswana's Ministry of Sport and Arts to the IWG network and look forward to working together to create lasting, global change.

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