Sport Wales has signed the Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration as a further demonstration of its commitment to creating equal and equitable opportunities for women and girls to take part, compete and build careers in sport.
What is the Brighton Declaration?
The Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration is an international treaty that supports the development of more fair and equal systems of sport and physical activity for women and girls. The declaration was created in 1994 by the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport.
Why has Sport Wales signed the Brighton Declaration?
Sport Wales wants to create an active nation where everyone can have a lifelong enjoyment of sport. Insight tells us that women and girls in Wales participate less in sport and physical activity than men and boys.
- 57% of women in Wales took part in sport or physical activity in the past month— compared to 64% of men. (National Survey for Wales 2022-23)
- Only 35% of women are active 3+ times a week, versus 43% of men. (National Survey for Wales 2022-23)
- 37% of girls aged 7–16 don’t participate in any organised sport outside of PE, compared to 33% of boys. (School Sport Survey 2022)
- Just 10% of women in Wales volunteer in sport, compared to 27% of men. (Wales Activity Tracker April 2025
Progress has been made in some areas during the last couple of decades, certainly in terms of exposure and visibility for women’s elite sport, but participation inequalities still exist. The simple fact is that fewer women and girls participate in sport than men and boys in Wales, and that has been the case forever.
"The gender gap begins in childhood so it’s vital that we get more girls engaged in sport and physical activity from a young age and keep them coming back for more.We are fully committed to supporting the work of our partners within the Welsh sport sector to remove barriers and develop cultures in which women’s sport can be on an equal level to men’s sport.
IWG has enjoyed a strong relationship with Sport Wales since the Secretariat moved to the UK back in 2022, so I am delighted we can welcome them as our latest Brighton plus Helsinki Declaration signatories as part of their clear commitment to improving opportunities for women and girls across the country to be more active.
“A huge thank you to everyone at Sport Wales for their ongoing support of IWG, and I look forward to us continuing this relationship as we head towards the IWG Global Summit in July 2026.
What does it mean for Sport Wales?
Signing the declaration will keep us on track in our push for gender equality in Welsh sport. Any future decisions and policies that will impact women and girls will be guided and shaped by the principles of the treaty.
Whether it’s funding for facilities, supporting elite sportswomen or creating female leaders in the industry, the Brighton Declaration will inform whatever approach we take.
We want to make sport and physical activity accessible for women and girls. We want it to be an appealing choice for them and ensure that they can reach their full sporting potential. The Brighton Declaration can help us on the road to achieve that.
What we’re doing at Sport Wales
- Continuing to work with our partners across Wales to close the gender gap in sport and physical activity.
- Encouraging the next Welsh Government to adopt policies which will get more girls (and boys) engaged in sport from a young age.
- Providing research and evidence about female health to provide strategies and support mechanisms for navigating the female body through sport and exercise.