Location and general information
Context
Girls in the Pacific experience the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. They also face discrimination and exclusion, with inequalities in education, decision-making processes, access to health services and opportunities to play sport. Some 70% of women and girls in the Pacific are insufficiently physically active, resulting in health issues and exclusion from the benefits of sport, including peer support, accessing new networks, leadership and other skills.
A co-design process was initiated with OFC member associations to develop female participation programmes that would meet the needs of girls and create a safe, sustainable environment to develop female footballers.
Project goals
- Change perceptions among boys, girls, women and men involved in football
- Empower young people to be leaders and advocates for broad social change
- Train young people and coaches on gender-based violence and ensure they have access to services
- Guarantee that strategies, systems and training are in place to support non-discrimination and reduce the risks of harm
Project content
This is How We Football was launched in 2022 as part of the OFC’s commitment to a long-term women’s football strategy to ensure that girls throughout the region have the opportunity to take part in football in a safe, supportive environment.
This is How We Football focuses on creating supportive environments through regional and national communication campaigns, policy and strategy development, training and delivering programmes focused on safe female participation. We are partnering with UN Women and national women’s and children’s crisis centres to offer support and education to women and girls in our region, promoting gender equality, leadership, responses to gender-based violence and training on health and hygiene. The programme includes:
- Youth football programmes that provide opportunities for boys and girls to interact and change perceptions around gender roles
- A girls’ (13-18) football participation programme integrating messages of gender empowerment, life skills, health and responses to gender-based violence
- Regional and national communications campaigns and festivals to promote awareness of gender equality
- Gender equality training and capacity building workshops for coaches across 11 member association countries
- Bespoke safeguarding training for all instructors across the Pacific
- Long-term gender inclusion and safeguarding action plans developed in 11 countries in respect of EVWAG (the elimination of violence against women and girls)
Partners
