First ICESCO forum on “Women and Sport” is held in Rabat

Last updated Feb 11, 2023

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched the first Forum on “Women and Sport” on Friday in Rabat in the presence of female pioneers from various nations around the world.

This first forum aims to showcase the exceptional leadership displayed by women in sport, offer suggestions for improving public policies aimed at boosting their participation, and promote knowledge sharing and experience sharing among women leaders.

The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of how important sport is for social development, fostering peace, eradicating all forms of violence and discrimination against women, and bridging gender gaps.

Chakib Benmoussa, Minister of National Education, Preschool Learning, and Sports, emphasized the importance of all sports in Morocco during his opening remarks at this forum.

The Minister emphasized that the interest in women’s sports stems from its importance in achieving the objectives of sustainable development, the consolidation of social progress, the promotion of the values of peace, respect for others, and tolerance, as well as the fight against all forms of gender-based violence. She went on to say that the government policy in the field of sport has paid particular attention to the promotion of women’s sports in all regions of the Kingdom.

In this regard, the Minister recalled the 2010 founding of the National Network for the Promotion of Women’s Sport, which was renamed in 2011 as the “National Committee for the Promotion of Women’s Sport,” with the goals of coordinating and promoting initiatives and programs for women’s sports, particularly in rural areas and for the benefit of socially vulnerable groups.

Benmoussa noted that the Ministry works to plan events and initiatives to promote sport for all while making sure that women can also profit from these pursuits.

Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the minister of youth, culture, and communication, said in a speech that was read on his behalf that this forum was a significant step toward integrating and empowering women in the world of sports, both in Islam and elsewhere, and that it provided an opportunity to further the conversation and exchange best practices in order to encourage women’s participation and advance their leadership in this sector.

📰 1st #ICESCO Forum “Women in Sport” Calls for Strengthening Women’s Leadership in Sporthttps://t.co/dYRox9z9Bi

— ICESCO (@ICESCO_En) February 11, 2023

In order to create a more peaceful and sustainable world, Salim Mohammed Al Malik, director general of ICESCO, said that this event is a step toward empowering women and girls everywhere in the sport industry.