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The International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport is proud to announce that the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Scottish Government, and Ministry of Sport and Arts, Botswana (MOSA) jointly signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration during the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow. By adding their names to the Declaration, these organisations join a global movement of over 700 signatories. The principles of the Declaration are closely aligned with the Com

The International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport is proud to welcome This Girl Can to its global "network of networks," joining over 700 organisations dedicated to advancing equity and equality for women and girls in movement, physical activity, and sport. The official signing of the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration took place on 9 July 2026, during the IWG Global Summit in Birmingham. The commitment was formalised by Phil Smith, Executive Director of the Sporting S

The FAME Foundation for Girls and Women Empowerment has become the latest organisation to commit to the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport's Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, joining the world's largest network dedicated to advancing gender equity in movement, physical activity, and sport. By becoming a signatory, the Nigeria based NGO joins a global movement of over 700 organisations committed to creating a fairer and more inclusive sporting future. The off

Finnish non-governmental organisation LiiKe – Sports & Development (Finland) has joined a global movement of over 700 organisations by committing to the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport's Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. The official signing took place in person at the IWG Global Summit in Birmingham on 10 July 2026. By becoming a signatory, LiiKe reaffirms its core belief that physical activity is a fundamental human right and a powerful catalyst for sus

The International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport is proud to welcome the Switzerland based Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport as an official signatory of the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. The signing took place in person at the IWG Global Summit 2026 in Birmingham, the world's foremost gathering on gender equality in movement, physical activity, and sport. By signing the treaty, the Global Observatory joins a collaborative network of over 700 organisat

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has officially joined the global movement for gender equity in movement, physical activity, and sport by signing the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport's Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. The signing took place on 11 July 2026 at the IWG's 2026 Global Summit in Birmingham, the world's foremost gathering on gender equality in sport. This formal commitment reinforces the WRU's ongoing dedication to building an inclusive, safe, and e

In the month before we bring Global Summit on Women and Sport to Birmingham, the Active Partnerships National Organisation (APNO) has officially signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. By joining the global network of over 700 signatories, APNO is reinforcing its commitment to driving system change and advancing gender equity across the sport and physical activity sector. APNO plays a vital role as a catalyst for change, connecting, strengthening, and enabling a netw

The IWG Global Summit 2026 continues to build momentum with the announcement of another outstanding group of speakers joining the programme in Birmingham next month. This latest speaker announcement reflects the breadth of leadership needed to create lasting progress for women and girls through sport and physical activity. From international federation leadership and transformational investment in women’s sport, to participation, inclusion, commercial growth and organisationa

Stage Set As World Comes To Birmingham For Gender Equality In Sport The 9th IWG Global Summit has confirmed the speakers and partnerships that will shape the world’s foremost gathering on gender equality in and through sport when it opens at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham this July. Kirsty Coventry OLY, Dame Denise Lewis OLY, Lord Sebastian Coe OLY, Baroness Katherine Grainger DBE, Amanda Staveley and Kelly Beaver MBE are among the headline speakers, with P

Sport Birmingham has become the latest organisation to sign the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. By becoming a signatory, Sport Birmingham joins a global network of over 700 organisations committed to advancing gender equity across movement, physical activity, and sport. The official signing took place on 11th June – one month before the world is due to come to Birmingham for the 2026 IWG Global Summit. The organisation’s ongoing commitments to gender equity span school

In an historic demonstration of collective action, 27 leading sporting organisations from across Finland have joined forces to champion gender equity by signing IWG's Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. Photo credit: Pinja Tuominen / Pinja's Photography This multi-signing event marks a powerful milestone in Finland’s ongoing commitment to leveling the playing field. The nation has long been a trailblazer in this space, having proudly hosted the 2014 IWG World Conference wher

Sport Resolutions has signed the IWG’s Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration, joining the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equity in sport. The signing took place on the morning of Sport Resolutions’ Annual Conference, formalising the organisation’s commitment to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion across its operations, and encouraging the wider sporting community to do the same. As an independent dispute resolution body, Sport Resolutions plays an

The full agenda is live - curated to give delegates direct access to the decision-makers, innovators and evidence shaping the future of women's sport We're excited to announce that the programme for the IWG Global Summit 2026 is now live. Taking place 9–11 July 2026 in Birmingham, UK, the Summit will bring together more than 1,200 leaders, practitioners, researchers and changemakers from across the world to explore what it takes to move Beyond the Breakthrough for women and g

The North East of England has joined a global movement for gender equity in sport. Eight of the region's most influential sporting, political, and educational institutions united on Sunday at Durham Cricket Ground in a historic multi-signing of the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport’s Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. A Regional Blueprint for Change The signatories span professional sport, community foundations, world-class universities, and regional governm

As the IWG Global Summit returns for its ninth edition, Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe reflects on its global impact - and why this year’s theme marks a critical shift from progress to lasting change. As preparations continue for the IWG Global Summit 2026, IWG Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe has shared a new video reflecting on the history of the Summit - and why it remains such a vital moment for everyone working to advance women and girls through sport and physical activity

The IWG Global Summit 2026 continues to strengthen its line-up with the announcement of an outstanding new group of speakers, joining an already exceptional programme of global leaders shaping the future of sport. Together, they represent leadership at the very highest level. From Olympic governance and international federations to research, policy and system-wide change, these speakers reflect the breadth of perspective at the heart of the Summit. The newly announced speaker

IWG Global Summit 2026 reaches a defining moment with the announcement of an exceptional new group of speakers. These are leaders who have competed on the world stage, shaped global sport, driven major investment and influenced how sport is governed, delivered and experienced around the world. This latest announcement reflects the Summit’s ambition to go beyond celebrating isolated breakthroughs and instead focus on what comes next, embedding equity into the systems, structur

IWG Chair Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, Secretary General Lisa O’Keefe MBE and Global Executive Board Member Dr Rosaura Mendez Gamboa this month visited Brazil following the announcement in January that the Brazil Olympic Committee (COB) has been selected as the next host of IWG Women & Sport 2026-2030. Coinciding with the COB Fórum Mulher no Esporte (Women in Sport Forum) the trip was an opportunity to begin the formal handover process between the UK and Brazil Secretariats, m

In a landmark moment for gender equity in sport, the British gymnastics community has joined forces with World Gymnastics to officially sign the IWG's Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. The collective signing took place at the Artistic Gymnastics British Championships in Liverpool and brought together British Gymnastics, the English Gymnastics Association, Scottish Gymnastics, Welsh Gymnastics and Gymnastics Northern Ireland. Together with their international federation, the

Newcastle City Council has officially joined the global movement for systemic change in sport and physical activity by signing the IWG Women & Sport’s Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration. The formal signing, which took place on Sunday 22 March at St James’ Park, signals Newcastle City Council’s commitment to turning international principles into local action. By joining a network of over 600 global organisations – including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), National