UN Women and CONMEBOL sign agreement to strengthen women's soccer in the region
Date:
In the framework of the 74th Ordinary Congress of the South American Football Confederation, a memorandum of understanding was signed between UN Women and CONMEBOL to promote the empowerment and rights of women and continue building an equal future.
Sports are fundamental to contribute to the development of girls, adolescents and women, as they have a positive impact on the strengthening of self-esteem, empowerment and the prevention of violence against women and girls.
Girls and women around the world have fewer opportunities, less investment, training and security when playing sports. If they become professional athletes, they encounter a glass ceiling and a playing opportunity gap.
Although the global soccer industry generates more than $500 billion each year, 49% of female professional soccer players are unpaid, and 87% of them will end their sporting career before the age of 25 due to low or no pay, according to data released by FIFPro in 2018.
The agreement between UN Women and CONMEBOL establishes actions for the promotion of gender equality in football-related activities led by the Confederation and for the generation of strategic alliances in the mobilization of resources to implement projects that promote gender equality in sports.
Sports are fundamental to contribute to the development of girls, adolescents and women, as they have a positive impact on the strengthening of self-esteem, empowerment and the prevention of violence against women and girls.
Girls and women around the world have fewer opportunities, less investment, training and security when playing sports. If they become professional athletes, they encounter a glass ceiling and a playing opportunity gap.
Although the global soccer industry generates more than $500 billion each year, 49% of female professional soccer players are unpaid, and 87% of them will end their sporting career before the age of 25 due to low or no pay, according to data released by FIFPro in 2018.
The agreement between UN Women and CONMEBOL establishes actions for the promotion of gender equality in football-related activities led by the Confederation and for the generation of strategic alliances in the mobilization of resources to implement projects that promote gender equality in sports.
"We are happy to formalize this alliance with CONMEBOL, because in order to achieve gender equality, we all play. It is important to remember that it is not only a responsibility of us women, but also of men, who have to put their shirt on to overcome this challenge," said Maria-Noel Vaeza, UN Women Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean.Queremos igualdad en la cancha, y con esta alianza con @CONMEBOL @LibertadoresFEM fortaleceremos las oportunidades para promover la #igualdaddegénero a través del deporte. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/VPmo15rr9D
— María Noel Vaeza (@mnvonumujeres) March 23, 2021
"Football has no gender and women's soccer has no ceiling, we are committed in CONMEBOL to promote soccer in South America respecting human rights, in a spirit of peace, understanding and fair play, ensuring that in the soccer there is no discrimination of an individual or group of people for political reasons, gender, religion, race, ethnicity, nationality or any other reason, as well as the development of women's soccer" said Alejandro Dominguez, president of the South American Football Confederation.
The signing of the agreement was announced on Tuesday, March 23, in Asunción, Paraguay, during the opening of the event, which was also attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and other prominent South American and world soccer leaders.
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