New Delhi

 

UNESCO, as the leading agency for Sports within the UN System, supports its Member States in South Asia to ensure all young people, particularly young women and girls, enjoy the benefits of sports. Sports are understood as all forms of physical activity that contribute to physical fitness, mental well-being and social interaction. These include play; recreation; organized, casual or competitive sport; and indigenous sports and games. A particular focus on girls allows for sports to be a fundamental vehicle that empowers them and improves social inclusion and social integration, builds leadership, changes male attitudes towards women and girls, thus contributing to gender equality.  Through the National Alliance for Women’s Football, UNESCO joins partners from across society (including government, All India Football Federation, state federations, players, clubs, academies, NGOs, educational institutions, media, UN agencies, commercial leagues, corporate bodies, international organizations), to identify and promote opportunities to advance women’s football at all levels, for social change.  Joining hands with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) UNESCO is also a part of the “Making India Play” initiative, aiming on embedding physical education and sports into education to support the vision of making the 300 million youths of India play at least 60 minutes per day. This initiative also aims to increase the active investments from the private sector and CSR activities on the promotion of sports in education for boys and girls. UNESCO promotes the integration of Quality Physical Education (QPE) into education to support students, especially girls, to develop the physical, social and emotional skills which define self-confident and socially responsible citizens. The power of sports produces favourable outcomes such as physical literacy, civic engagement, academic achievement, inclusion and health.