International Resolution Against Gender Apartheid in the Olympic Games

Association for the International Rights of Women (France)

Political Women’s Association (Greece)

ACTION: TOKYO 2020 – PARIS 2024

Ancient Olympia, Olympic fire touching, 12/03/2020

Resolution Against Gender Apartheid in Sports

a) Considering the provisions of the Olympic Charter, according to which every individual should have the opportunity to participate in athletic activities without any form of discrimination, and that no display of political, religious, or racial propaganda is permitted at the Olympic Games or in sports facilities,

b) Considering the provisions of the International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity, and Sport (UNESCO 1978, revised 2015), which mandates that the practice of physical education, physical exercise, and sport is a fundamental right for all, without discrimination based on gender or any other grounds,

c) Recalling that, according to the principles of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (UN, CEDAW 1979), the contracting states shall take appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, in order to ensure, based on the equality of men and women, equal rights in sport,

d) Considering as discrimination the special conditions imposed on female athletes by two countries – Iran and Saudi Arabia – in order to comply with their national laws, which are based on sexual apartheid and not international law, including the following provisions: the restriction of women’s participation unless they adhere to the two Quranic conditions, a) that women must be covered from head to toe, with the exception of the face, and b) that they participate only in events exclusively for women,

e) Confirming the legitimacy and justice of the struggle of female athletes and activists in Iran and Saudi Arabia against sexual apartheid and the inferior status of women…

WE, THE ORGANIZATIONS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

1. e) Confirming the legitimacy and justice of the struggle of female athletes and activists in Iran and Saudi Arabia against sexual apartheid and the inferior status of women, who fight for equal rights and freedom of participation in sports and public life, in line with international human rights standards.
2. We demand that the International Olympic Committee take the necessary measures to enforce the Olympic principles, which are already adhered to by all other athletes and governments.
3. We demand that the relevant international and national authorities condemn sexual apartheid in sports as being contrary to the universality of women’s rights and gender equality.

Information about the international action: 1) Anna Karamanou, annkaramanou@gmail.com, Tel.: 6944302328 (former MEP, Member of the Political Women’s Union) 2) Annie Sugier, President of IDIF, annie.sugier@gmail.com, Tel. number. +33 638394292 & Evangelia Schinaraki, President of the Women’s Political Association, e.shinaraki@gmail.com, telephone number. +30 6932600781