United Nations intergovernmental processes

The Beijing Platform for Action, adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, provides important policy recommendations on women, gender equality and sport. The Platform calls for the provision of accessible rec­reational and sport facilities by educa­tional institutions, the establishment and strengthening of gender-sensitive programmes for girls and women of all ages in education and community institutions, and the creation and sup­port of programmes in the education system, workplace and community to make opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity available to girls and women of all ages, on the same basis as they are made available to men and boys.²¹

The Commission on the Status of Women, the principal global policymak-ing body on gender equality, addressed sport and physical activity in its review of progress made in the implementa­tion of the Beijing Platform for Action. In agreed conclusions 1999/17 (I) on women and health, the Commission called on Governments, the United Nations system and civil society to encourage women to practise regular sport and recreational activities, which have a positive impact on women's health, well-being and fitness through­out the whole life cycle, and ensure that women enjoy equal opportunities to practise sport, use sport facilities and take part in competitions.²²

The outcome of the five-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action rec-