Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14987 | 04 October 2019

The fight for a level playing field – ending discrimination against women in the world of sport

Signatories: Mr František KOPŘIVA, Czech Republic, ALDE ; Ms Thorhildur Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR, Iceland, SOC ; Ms Petra BAYR, Austria, SOC ; Mr Fourat BEN CHIKHA, Belgium, SOC ; Ms Erika BENKŐ, Romania, EPP/CD ; Ms Marina BERLINGHIERI, Italy, SOC ; Mr Goran BEUS RICHEMBERGH, Croatia, ALDE ; Ms Maryvonne BLONDIN, France, SOC ; Ms Margreet De BOER, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Jette CHRISTENSEN, Norway, SOC ; Mr Andon DONCHEV, Bulgaria, NR ; Ms Ruth GOÑI, Spain, ALDE ; Ms Zita GURMAI, Hungary, SOC ; Mr Momodou Malcolm JALLOW, Sweden, UEL ; Ms Elvira KOVÁCS, Serbia, EPP/CD ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Ms Maria RIZZOTTI, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Roman ROMANENKO, Russian Federation, NR ; Ms Irina RUKAVISHNIKOVA, Russian Federation, NR ; Mr Jussi SARAMO, Finland, UEL ; Ms Selin SAYEK BÖKE, Turkey, SOC ; Ms Petra STIENEN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Mr Manuel TORNARE, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Laurence TRASTOUR-ISNART, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Mustafa YENEROĞLU, Turkey, NR

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Sport is recognised as a powerful driver for women’s and girls’ empowerment and the achievement of gender equality. The International Olympic Committee affirms that sport is a “basic human right and a Fundamental Principle of the Olympic Charter”.

Milestone accomplishments of women athletes have contributed to shaping the world of sport and making it more inclusive and equal. Role models have paved the way for more women and girls to practice sport.

Yet discrimination persists and negatively impacts women’s access to and practice of sport. Pay gap, sexism, harassment, violence and abuse, harmful cultural norms, prejudice, biased and stereotyped representation and reporting in the media, marginalisation in certain sports and management positions, and the shunning of women’s sports by the mainstream marketing world, are some of the many forms of discrimination faced by female athletes. There is still a long way to go for the world of sport to ensure equal treatment of women and girl athletes.

The Parliamentary Assembly should review action undertaken by member States to eliminate discrimination against women and girls in sport, considering also Recommendation CM/Rec(2015)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on gender mainstreaming in sport, Assembly Recommendation 1701 (2005) on Discrimination against women and girls in sport and Resolution 2131 (2016) Sport for all: a bridge to equality, integration and social inclusion. Based on its findings, the Assembly should provide guidance on ending discrimination against female athletes as well as identify and promote good practices in this field.