Frameworks

The UNESCO International Charter of Physical Education and Sport recognizes access to physical education and sport as a fundamental human right. Adopted at the 20th session of the UNESCO’s General Conference (1978), the Charter emphasizes the importance of physical education and sport for physical, mental and social well-being, positioning them as an integral part of lifelong education. Key principles include equality, inclusivity and non-discrimination, ensuring access for all individuals regardless of age, gender, or ability. The Charter calls on governments to integrate physical education into national systems, develop infrastructure, and promote international cooperation. As a global framework, it continues to influence policies and initiatives worldwide. Revised in 2015 (at the 38th session of the General Conference), it reaffirms the universal principles of inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination to address modern challenges.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979, is an international treaty that legally binds ratifying states to eliminate discrimination against women and ensure equal rights in political, economic, social, cultural, and civil spheres. Countries commit to enacting laws, policies, and education initiatives promoting gender equality. States parties must submit periodic reports on progress, and 114 have ratified the Optional Protocol (2000), enabling complaints from individuals or groups and inquiries about violations of the Convention. Although 189 countries have ratified or acceded to CEDAW, some have placed reservations that limit its application. Notably, the United States signed the treaty in 1980 but has yet to ratified it, and five UN member states – Vatican, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, and Tonga – have not signed. Despite ongoing legal and cultural challenges to its implementation, CEDAW remains a cornerstone of global efforts to advance women’s rights and gender equality.

The Brighton Declaration (1994) adopted at the First World Conference on Women and Sport held in Brighton, UK, is a pivotal international treaty established to galvanise cross-stakeholder action for women in sport. The Declaration championed and monitored by the International Working Group on Women and Sport was updated in 2014 at the World Conference on Women and Sport in Helsinki, Finland. The Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration on Women and Sport is a framework for strategic action and provides an outline of priority areas for all stakeholders to commit and act on including leadership, investment, protection from violence, participation, and visibility and more. The Declaration signatories include international organisations, sport federations, NGOs, private companies among others. Progress reports linked to the areas of action are presented at the IWG Conference every four years. In 2026 the IWG Global Summit on Women and Sport will be held in Birmingham, UK 9-11 July 2026.

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, is a landmark framework for achieving gender equality and empowering women. It calls for removing systemic barriers to women’s full participation in economic, social, and political life, asserting that women’s rights are human rights. The declaration identifies 12 critical areas for action, including education, health, economic opportunities, political representation, and combating violence against women and girls. Governments, international organizations, and civil society are urged to address cultural norms, discriminatory laws, and systemic biases by ensuring access to education, reproductive health services, and equal pay. Legal reforms, prevention strategies, and victim support systems are prioritized to combat gender-based violence. Recognizing women’s diverse experiences, the declaration emphasizes intersectional approaches that consider race, age, disability, and socioeconomic status. It remains a cornerstone of efforts to advance gender equality globally.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established in 2015, are a framework aimed at addressing the most pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges by 2030. Comprising 17 interconnected goals, the SDGs seek to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, promote quality education and healthcare, ensure gender equality, and foster economic growth while safeguarding the planet. They emphasize sustainable development as a holistic approach, balancing human well-being, environmental protection, and economic advancement. Adopted by all 193 UN member states, the goals call for collective action from governments, international organizations, businesses and compagnies, civil society, and individuals to help tackle these global issues. Each goal is further divided into 169 specific targets to monitor progress and guide implementation. A key principle of the SDGs is the commitment to “Leave No One Behind (LNOB)” ensuring that the benefits of development reach marginalized and vulnerable populations. They provide a shared blueprint for collaboration across nations, fostering innovation and partnerships to create a more equitable, sustainable world. The SDGs are designed to build on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) while addressing their gaps, offering a comprehensive roadmap for global development efforts.

The Kazan Action Plan (2017), adopted by UNESCO member states, is the first global framework leveraging physical activity, physical education, and sports to promote sustainable development and peace. It highlights sport’s role in advancing education, health, social inclusion, and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The plan focuses on three key areas: aligning sport policies with the SDGs to maximize their contribution, safeguarding the integrity of sports, and promoting inclusive access to sport and physical education. Governments and non-government stakeholders are encouraged to integrate sport into national and international strategies, with goals such as empowering women and girls by advancing gender equality, combating discrimination, or improving access to physical activities across all ages. It emphasizes the importance of reliable data and measurable indicators to ensure accountability and evidence-based policymaking. Furthermore, the plan also supports the establishment of a “Global Observatory for Women, Sport, Physical Education, and Physical Activity” to facilitate multi-stakeholder cooperation and advance these priorities. By positioning sport as a catalyst of societal well-being, the Kazan Action Plan provides a roadmap for fostering equality and development globally.

The Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030 set a target to reduce physical inactivity by 15% by 2030, and outlined 20 recommended policy actions and interventions.The action plan was developed through a worldwide consultation process involving governments and key stakeholders across multiple sectors including health, sports, transport, urban design, civil society, academia and the private sector. The WHO global action plan to promote physical activity responds to the requests by countries for updated guidance, and a framework of effective and feasible policy actions to increase physical activity at all levels. It also responds to requests for global leadership and stronger regional and national coordination, and the need for a whole-of-society response to achieve a paradigm shift in both supporting and valuing all people being regularly active, according to ability and across the life course. (WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020.Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO).

The Sport for Generational Equality Framework (2021), aligned with the UN Women’s Generation Equality campaign, leverages sport to advance gender equality across generations. It emphasizes the role of sport in breaking barriers, empowering women and girls, and fostering inclusive societies. The framework prioritizes strengthening women’s leadership in sports governance, increasing access to sports for women and girls, and addressing gender-based violence in sports contexts. It calls for empowering and inclusive policies, equitable funding, and gender-sensitive training programs to ensure meaningful participation for all. It also highlights the role of sport in shaping positive cultural norms and engaging men and boys as allies for gender equality. By encouraging collaboration among governments, sports organizations, and civil society, the framework aims to create systemic changes that challenge inequalities and promote sustainable transformation of society.

The “Fit for Life” Action Plan (2023), launched by UNESCO, leverages sport, physical education, and physical activity to address global challenges such as health disparities, social inclusion, and education gaps. The plan aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aims to tackle gender inequalities, mental health issues and sedentary lifestyles. It focuses on inclusive access to physical activity, particularly in underserved communities, to improve well-being and resilience. Key objectives include integrating physical activity into daily life, fostering community engagement, and advancing equitable policies. Multi-stakeholder collaboration between governments, sports organizations, and civil society is central to the initiative, supported by evidence-based approaches to ensure sustainability. The initiative seeks to create long-term, inclusive systems that promote health and social cohesion worldwide.

The ASEAN Declaration on Leveraging the Role of Sports in ASEAN Community Building and Achieving the SDGs (2022), was adopted by member states at the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh on 11 November 2022; notably the declaration in addition to commitment to developing action plans, investing in delivery of the actions, and fostering collaboration across the region and with international bodies. The declaration is aligned to the Kazan Action plan and commits to cooperation with entities including UNESCO and the Commonwealth Secretariat, advances collaboration with research centers to undertake national and regional research and capacity building on sports to inform regional policy formulation and programme development.

Within the framework of the inauguration of the Pan American and Parapan American Games of Santiago de Chile 2023, and on the occasion of the meeting of the Ibero-American Council of Sport (CID) and the Ibero-American Women and Sports Network (REDIMYD), eighteen countries and six international organizations signed the Santiago Declaration for Gender Equality in Ibero-American Sport. It is a commitment between the highest signatory sports authorities of each country with the promotion and defense of equality between women and men in the sports field, also linked to carrying out a joint work plan between the countries and their strategic allies to build a more egalitarian, diverse and inclusive Ibero-American sport. Among its axes stands out gender equality access to practice and sports management, the fight against discrimination, greater and better training and awareness, the promotion and support of equality laws and policies, collaboration with international organizations, research and documentation of progress. Addressing gender inequalities from an intersectional approach in physical education, physical activity and sport through the mobilization and allocation of specific resources. Document and monitor progress through research, data and evidence to encourage ongoing stakeholder support and accountability.

The joint project “All In Plus – Promoting Greater Gender Equality in Sport”, initiated by the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Union (EU), builds on the success of the previous “All In: Towards Gender Balance in Sport” project (2018-2019) and the earlier EU-CoE joint project “Balance in sport. Tools to implement gender equality” (2016). It seeks to promote gender equality in sport through inclusive policies and practices. The project focuses on the collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data to inform evidence-based policies, improve accountability, and track progress. Key objectives include increasing women’s representation in sports governance, fostering gender-inclusive environments, and addressing barriers such as discrimination and unequal access to resources. The initiative involves 21 countries, including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Progress is monitored using six key indicators: Leadership, Coaching and officiating, Participation at all levels, Gender-based violence, Communication and media, Policies and programmes addressing gender equality.