15th April 2013 08:26
European Athletics and 37 of its Member Federations have reaffirmed their commitment to gender equality by signing the Brighton Declaration on Women and Sport.
The endorsement of the Declaration and its 10 principles came on the occasion of the 23rd European Athletics Congress in Skopje.
The Declaration is meant to complement all sporting, local, national and international charters, laws, codes, rules and regulations relating to women or sport.
'The signing of the Brighton Declaration underlines our continued commitment to increase the involvement of women in our sport and celebrate the important contributions made by women to athletics,' said European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz.
More than 300 organisations worldwide have endorsed the Declaration, which emanates from the first international conference on women and sport that took place in Brighton, England, in1994. It was organised by the British Sports Council and supported by the International Olympic Committee.
The conference specifically addressed the issue of how to accelerate the process of change that would redress the imbalances women face in their participation and involvement in sport.
On the same weekend as the signing, European Athletics and British Athletics hosted 50 women officials from 32 countries at the inaugural Women in World Athletics Seminar (WIWA) in Solihull, Great Britain. The main aim of the seminar is to develop women leaders and increase the involvement of women as officials and in other functions at all levels around the world.
European Athletics' commitment to the development of women leaders and gender equity is also embodied by its biennial Women's Leadership Awards, which recognise and celebrate the important contributions made by women throughout Europe to the sport of athletics.
For more information on the European Athletics Women's Leadership Awards click here.
For more information on the Brighton Declaration on Women and Sport click here.