International Women’s Day 2022
This year’s theme
This year, the International Women’s Day wants to claim “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. Advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century. Women are increasingly being recognized as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most. At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action. Continuing to examine the opportunities, as well as the constraints, to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change and sustainability is essential for sustainable development and greater gender equality. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach.
Some EFDN programmes that further the goal of education in different areas and for different age groups include:
Community Champions League
EFDN’s Community Champions League project highlights the key element of “Cultural understanding” in order to generate and emphasise mutual respect while creating confidence amongst the participants and building strong relationships between young people in their communities. The project is focused on fair play, respect and tolerance, promoting social cohesion, equal opportunities and participation in sports for young boys and girls. Click here to read more about this EFDN Project.
Show Racism the Red Card
Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) is an anti-racism and anti-discrimination programme. SRtRC utilises the high-profile status of football and football players to help tackle racism in society. The project aims to raise awareness of diversity, foster social cohesion, and reduce physical and verbal violence linked to racism.
Regarding international women’s day, ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ creates visibility for women working in the football industry. Therefore they have created a campaign called ‘Women in Football’.
They contacted over 20 women who are active in the football industry, women who work behind the scenes at a football club, such as directors, CSR managers etc. Are you interested in checking out all the interviews? Click here!
Our members also have many initiatives furthering gender equality:
Brentford FC
Ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day, Brentford has renewed its pledge to support women and girls in football across a range of different initiatives in the coming months.
Brentford’s ongoing focus on equality and inclusion through its club-wide #BeeTogether programme will continue with projects planned to promote women’s football; to work with fans to consider the matchday experience from a female perspective; to encourage allyship; and to get more girls and women playing football.
As part of this, the Bees used last weekend’s match against Newcastle United to highlight their backing of HerGameToo – an organisation initially set up last year by 12 passionate female football fans who are campaigning to eradicate sexism from football. Pre-match interviews took place pitchside to highlight their work, with the #HerGameToo message featuring on the big screens and LED boards.
Galatasaray Sports Club
Galatasaray Sports Club is taking important steps in gender equality. Under the leadership of President Burak Elmas, our club member Dr. Instructor ‘Gender Equality Manager Training’ was given with the contributions of its member Zeynep Banu Dalaman.
Galatasaray wants to increase the number of women members and they want to include women to the club more. They will establish a Gender Equality Commission within their club. Together with this commission, they will create the club’s five-year strategic plan, create data, develop projects and work towards a more equal Galatasaray.
Charlton Athletic’s call to action on International Women’s Day for an important virtual panel discussion!
Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) will be hosting a virtual panel event on International Women’s Day titled: An important conversation discussing Women and Equality: Let’s #breakthebias together. That’s the name of the initiative that CACT will realize. In partnership with Royal Borough of Greenwich and English Football League (EFL), the panel event will be held.
“I am very excited to share the panel with other strong women while we talk about what makes women great and why it’s important to discuss equality.”
Panellist Vyan Sampson
“As Charlton’s PFA Equalities Ambassador, I am proud to endorse the virtual panel event taking place in celebration of International Women’s Day. The panel will address important topics and help to educate attendees on the equality of women through a diverse panel of speakers.”
Adam Matthews, Charlton Athletic’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Equalities Ambassador
FC Barcelona Foundation organises an event on sports as a tool for social inclusion
The FC Barcelona Foundation has scheduled an international conference on the role of sport as a tool for social inclusion, which will be held in FC Barcelona’s 1899 Auditorium.
Speakers will include Lilian Thuram, a former Barça football player and creator of the Lilian Thuram Foundation for Education Against Racism, and the Catalan athlete Àlex Roca, ambassador of the FC Barcelona Foundation and an example of personal improvement through sport. Institutional representatives (European Commission, General Secretariat for Sport) and the FC Barcelona Foundation will also take part, as well as athletes and sports technicians who will explain their personal experiences.
Olympique Lyon Fondation – SPORT DANS LA VILLE
A major player in France in the field of social insertion, Sport dans la Ville has used sport to support more than 6,500 neighbourhood youth in their social and professional development for 20 years.
As a founding partner of Sport dans la Ville, for the 2018/19 season, the OL Foundation chose to support the “StreetFootballWorld” tournament organised by the association for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, with the semifinals and final to take place at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium. This tournament will allow more than 350 young people from all over the world to promote women’s sport, gender equality and football values.
Various events have been organised throughout the year to allow young people from Sport dans la Ville to share unforgettable moments with OL players, both male and female.
Many other partners and members also took to social media to voice their support.
Juventus FC
Dundee FC
Chelsea FC Foundation
Burnley FC
Big Hearts
Aris Limassol FC Social, Environmental, and Health Initiatives
