Geneva: The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva, in cooperation with Qatar Foundation and Qatar Sports Investments, organized a high-level event on ‘Empowering Women and Girls In and Through Sport - From Words to Deeds’, on the sidelines of the 62nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The event was attended by representatives of diplomatic missions, international and regional organizations, and civil society organizations focused on sports, human rights, peace and development.
Delivering her keynote speech at the event, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, spoke about how Qatar’s commitment to recognizing sport as a “fundamental human right and a powerful instrument for the advancement of women and girls globally” predated Human Rights Council Resolution 59/17, which enshrined this.
“Across the world, we are witnessing increased investment in women’s sports,” she said. “Participation has grown. Funding has grown. Visibility has expanded.
“Yet celebration without honesty is incomplete. Because alongside this process, we face a stubborn reality: high injury rates among female athletes and higher dropout rates for girls during adolescence, a pattern that repeats across the world.”
Sporting pathways for women that are not tailored to women, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind warned, lead to preventable injuries, prematurely end sporting careers and, most importantly, overlook the distinct physiological characteristics of women. She explained how – from involving women in shaping facilities and providing tailored coaching, to leading research that will create a scientific evidence base on sporting provision for women and girls – Qatar is driving transformative change that will resonate worldwide.
“Our vision for Resolution 59/17 is to go beyond parity,” she told the audience. “Our hope is a transformation that allows for programs, spaces, and more, all designed by women and informed by science that studies women.
“Girls everywhere must be able to play – full, equally, safely, and with joy – and Qatar answers this call by channeling existing partnerships and international cooperation efforts to create practical programs that expand opportunity for women and girls beyond our borders.
“We’re pursuing systems and spaces designed for women, informed by science that studies women, built with insights from women. This is how we ensure that every girl knows her body is powerful, capable, and worthy of investment.”
In a recorded video message, His Excellency Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments and President of Paris Saint-Germain, addressed the importance of sport in shaping lives, breaking down barriers, and changing them for the better. He emphasized that every girl has the right to participate in sports and stressed the importance of increasing women's presence in leadership positions within the sports business sector.
He also highlighted the efforts made by Qatar Sports Investments, Paris Saint-Germain, and the Premier Padel Tour to support women and girls and achieve equal opportunities. He commended the efforts of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva in this field, particularly its role in presenting Human Rights Council Resolution 59/17 on ‘Empowering women and girls in and through sport’, and emphasized the efforts made by Qatar, and Qatar Foundation (QF), to support women and girls and enhance their opportunities for empowerment.
In her speech, Her Excellency Dr. Hend Abdulrahman Al-Muftah, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva, focused on the importance of building on the success achieved by Human Rights Council Resolution 59/17 on empowering women and girls in and through sport, which was initiated by the State of Qatar in July 2025 in partnership with Indonesia and Morocco, and unanimously adopted.
She also spoke about the importance of translating international commitments into practical steps that enhance the empowerment of women and girls through sport, emphasizing that harnessing the transformative power of sport in empowering women and girls requires promoting their active participation, equal opportunities, supporting women’s leadership, and providing safe and violence-free sporting environments.
Keynote addresses were also delivered by Her Excellency Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva; His Excellency Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization; Her Excellency Awa Dabo, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights; and Andreas Zagklis, Secretary-General of the International Basketball Federation.
The event included a panel discussion featuring Caroline Guenneteau, General Counsel of beIN MEDIA GROUP; Maria Teixidor, Executive Director of the International Padel Players Association; Massimiliano Montanari, CEO of the International Centre for Sport Security; Sonia Haziraj, Technical Director of the Paris Saint-Germain Women’s Academy; and Sabrina Delannoy, Deputy Director of Sports Programs at the Paris Saint-Germain Women’s Academy. The panel discussion was chaired by Dr. Annyssa Bellal, Executive Director of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform.
Following the implementation of Human Rights Council Resolution 59/17, the event was centered around bringing together United Nations and international officials, decision-makers, and leaders in sport to discuss how to translate the commitments and pledges contained in the resolution into practical actions and initiatives that promote the empowerment of women and girls and their full and meaningful participation in sport at all levels. It highlighted the growing role of sport in promoting gender equality, building more inclusive societies, and supporting international efforts to protect the rights of women and girls and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The event also saw the announcement of an international initiative, the ‘Empowering Women and Girls in Sport’ award, sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Qatar Sports Investments. This is designed to promote equality and empower women and girls through sport, and highlight pioneering initiatives and practices that support their participation and leadership in sport at all levels.
Following the event, Her Excellency Dr. Hend Abdulrahman Al-Muftah inaugurated a photo exhibition that highlighted the pivotal role of sports in promoting the participation and empowerment of women and girls. It included a collection of images from Qatar Sports Investments, QF, and beIN SPORTS, showcasing the achievements of women and girls in sport and illustrating the importance of providing a supportive environment that ensures equal opportunities and enables them to achieve sporting success.
