Qatar’s new award unveiled in Geneva calls for safer, more inclusive sporting pathways for women worldwide.

Qatar has announced a new international award to advance the participation and empowerment of women and girls through sport, during a high-level event held on the sidelines of the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The “Empowering Women and Girls in Sport” award, sponsored by Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Qatar Sports Investments, was unveiled at an event that brought together representatives from diplomatic missions, international organisations and civil society groups focused on sport, human rights, peace and development.

Addressing attendees, Vice-Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, said that while women’s sport has seen significant growth in recent years, major challenges remain.

“Across the world, we are witnessing increased investment in women’s sports. Participation has grown. Funding has grown. Visibility has expanded,” she said. “Yet celebration without honesty is incomplete.”

She pointed to persistently high injury rates among female athletes and the higher rate at which girls drop out of sport during adolescence, warning that sporting systems are often not designed around the needs of women and girls.

Sheikha Hind highlighted Qatar’s efforts to address those challenges through research, tailored coaching programmes and the inclusion of women in shaping sporting environments. 

“Our vision for Resolution 59/17 is to go beyond parity,” Sheikha Hind added. “Girls everywhere must be able to play – fully, equally, safely, and with joy.”

In a recorded video message, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments and President of Paris Saint-Germain, also spoke about the power of sport to transform lives and break down barriers. 

Additionally, the event featured a panel discussion on advancing opportunities for women and girls through sport and international cooperation.