United Nations treaty bodies

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women provides binding obligations for States parties on eliminating dis­crimination against women and girls in the area of sports and physical educa­tion. Article 10 calls for States parties to take all appropriate measures to elimi­nate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education, including ensuring the same opportuni­ties to participate actively in sports and physical education. Article 13 calls for

States parties to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in other areas of eco­nomic and social life in order to ensure, on the basis of equality between women and men, the same rights, including the right to participate in recreational activities, sports and all aspects of cultural life.²⁵

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has also reminded States parties, in its gen­eral recommendation No. 25 on tempo­rary special measures, that temporary special measures, such as positive action, preferential treatment or quota systems, should be implemented in the areas of sports, culture and recreation. The Committee further emphasized that, where necessary, such measures should be directed at women subjected to multiple discrimination, including rural women.²⁶