UN Rights Chief Calls for Stronger Action to Close Gender Gap in Women's Sports

• UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk delivered a speech on Wednesday that focused on equality of gender in sport
• He urged UN member states to act more towards closing the gender gap in women's sport
• The speech highlighted ongoing challenges such as salary disparities, lack of media coverage, and gender discrimination in sport

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on UN member states to step up efforts to push back against gender inequality in sports and safeguard women athletes' rights. In a press conference on Wednesday, Volker emphasized that despite growing international interest in women's sports, underlying disparities continue to limit opportunities for women athletes.

He cited a substantial disparity in wages, claiming high-performance female footballers earn between $10,900 and $24,000 annually, yet men earn, on average, $1.8 million. This level of economic disparity, he went on, goes against women sportswomen's professional growth and career.

Türk also referred to the lack of representation of women as leaders in any sporting institution and governing body, as well as fewer avenues and less media attention for female athletes than their male counterparts. He also highlighted long-term discrimination, particularly against African-descent athletes, who experience racist stereotypes, hate speech, and abuse online.

To overcome such problems, Türk called on governments to enact and enforce anti-discrimination laws, enact laws that guarantee equal pay for male and female employees, and make sure policies against violence and harassment in sports. Any infraction, he said, must be thoroughly investigated and resolved.

Sport federations, especially those running big international competitions, were obligated to apply the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This involves assessing how their operations impact women and making efforts to reduce risks and ensure equality.

Türk placed importance on the ability of sport to transform society and the economy and urged constructing a world where girls and women enjoy equal opportunity and stand on an equal recognition basis with men in every aspect of sport.

Supporting his message, he used NGO and global research evidence. In 2024, the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) announced that men professional sportsmen get approximately 21 times the salary of their female counterparts. Even the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) revealed a vast difference in pay between the women's and men's national teams, and they believed to a great extent that women were underrepresented in decision-making roles within sporting administration.

Türk summed up by identifying the necessity of united action by sport organizations and states to create a global, fair, and enabling climate for women in sport.