Geneva, June 23 (QNA) - HE Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, underscored on Tuesday the importance of Human Rights Council Resolution (59/17) on ramping up efforts to empower women and girls in and through sport.

Her Excellency described this resolution as a vital step toward fostering equality and broadening the engagement of women and girls, as well as leveraging sport as an effective empowerment tool and achieving sustainable development, particularly Goal 5.

Addressing a panel discussion on the intensification of efforts to empower women and girls in and through sport within the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Al Attiyah highlighted that women athletes have proven their distinctive capabilities and have taken the lead in the domain of sport on the world stage.

She noted that, albeit the breakthrough achieved globally in this field, women and girls are still beset with challenges that hamper their full and equal engagement in sporting activities.

Foremost among these challenges, Her Excellency pointed out, is that women's sport hasn't been adequately dealt with seriously, creating wage and opportunity gaps, limited investment and attention, and weak women's representation in the uppermost echelons of leadership and decision-making.

She recalled that there are some social and cultural stereotypes that impair women's full enjoyment of their right to sport, indicating that women and girls who are gripped by marginalization or armed conflicts face additional challenges.

In these unstable situations, Al Attiyah clarified, limited resources and damaged infrastructure preclude opportunities for their access to sport and the benefit of sport's positive impact.

  The Chairperson further emphasized that sports facilities that are devastated by armed conflicts aggravate these challenges and preclude engagement opportunities and sustained sporting activities.

The official called for pursuing policies and programs that ensure equal opportunities and easy access to sport as a human right and an empowerment tool, through devising creative solutions that ensure vibrant sport practices in various conditions.

Women's representation in leadership and sport governance echelons is material to their participation inside stadiums and in decision-making processes alike, Al Attiyah underlined.

She further called for having a secure and overarching sporting atmosphere in place through combating discrimination, violence, and harassment, as well as strengthening protection, accountability, and support mechanisms to ensure their equal and secure participation.

Over the course of the past decades, there has been remarkable participation of women in sport in the State of Qatar, Al Attiyah noted, recalling the creation of the Qatar Women's Sports Committee (QWSC) in 2000, which helped broaden their participation base and create opportunities for engaging in multiple sporting activities and tournaments.

The Chairperson went on to explain that women in the State of Qatar today are representing a variety of sporting teams and competitions, demonstrating the progress made in promoting their participation and creating equal opportunities.

The State of Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was a preeminent milestone in deepening its standing as a global crossroads for sport, she emphasized, highlighting that this hosting helped entrench the values of respect, diversity, and inclusiveness and offered opportunities for all, including women and girls, through capitalizing on the sporting legacy this global event had created.

  The national human rights institutions, Al Attiyah said, are undertaking a pivotal role in providing a secure and comprehensive sporting atmosphere by identifying challenges that beset women and girls in sport.

These institutions are taking stock of relevant legislation and policies, providing recommendations, strengthening awareness of rights, and operating in lockstep with governments, sporting entities, and local communities to support equality, through which women and girls are empowered in sport, she added.

The official asserted that NHRC is essentially following up on issues related to equality, non-discrimination, and accessibility, as well as backing national efforts to reinforce the participation of women and girls in different sporting domains in alignment with the principles of human rights and equal opportunities.

Al Attiyah affirmed that she looks forward to continued collaborative work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other relevant entities in supporting the enforcement of Resolution (59/17) contents and building more inclusive, fairer, and secure sporting environments and empowering women and girls all over the world. (QNA)