#MoreThanFootball Action Day: Gender Equality

#MoreThanFootball Action Day: Gender Equality

Today the #Morethanfootball Action Weeks celebrates the Gender Equality Action Day. EFDN and participating organisations will highlight and showcase initiatives that support the female gender across the European continent. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. There has been progress over the last decades, but the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.

It is of paramount importance to end the multiple forms of gender violence and secure equal access to quality education and health, economic resources and participation in political life for both women and girls and men and boys. It is also essential to achieve equal opportunities in access to employment and to positions of leadership and decision-making at all levels.

Initiatives shared by participant clubs

EFDN involvement related to gender equality

Community Champions League

The project is focused on fair play, respect and tolerance, promoting social cohesion, equal opportunities and participation in sports for young boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 15 years.  More specifically, the local Community Champions League puts young people with different backgrounds from the same neighbourhood together to compete as a team against their peers from other parts of the city in order to become the Community Champions of their city.

With the aim of promoting social integration through sport, the Community Champions League provides the opportunity for people from different cultures to come together to build relationships and friendships while breaking down barriers through the prevention of violence, racism and intolerance in grassroots sports and their communities.

Diversity Wins

The primary focus of Diversity Wins is to address the issue of violence, racism, discrimination, and intolerance in sports. Additionally, it aims to promote inclusion and diversity in all areas of education, training, youth, and sports while emphasizing the importance of education through sports. The main target audience for the programme is children and young people between the ages of 10 and 16. The programme will employ an educational approach to raise awareness about racial, LGBTQ+, religious, and gender-based discrimination. It will consist of various activities such as workshops, courses, interactive sessions, and expert presentations. These sessions will be conducted in schools as well as grassroots and academy football clubs.

Alongside educating children and young people, efforts will also be made to train teachers, sports coaches, and organisational staff. They will be provided with informative and impactful sessions to deliver to children, and they will learn how to engage in discussions about complex topics, use appropriate language and terminology, reflect on their behaviours, and respond to discriminatory abuse if reported. This will be facilitated through an online training course that covers essential topics and offers information, insight, and advice. European professional football holds immense influence over the general public and, therefore, carries a distinct responsibility to promote a safe and inclusive society.

Diversity Wins will leverage the prominent status of European football and professional football players to spread the project’s message and contribute to the establishment of a united European stance against discrimination in both sports and society.

Funding Partner