About IWG

Birmingham, United Kingdom

The theme of the UK Secretariat was 'Share the Change' as we sought to bring stakeholders together to make the changes needed to the structures and values of sport in pursuit of our vision … a sport and physical activity sector contributing to a world where all women and girls thrive.

Between the 9-11 July 2026, the 9th Global Summit on Women & Sport took place in Birmingham, UK. The theme of the Summit was 'Beyond the Breakthrough'. The Summit's focus was not on celebrating breakthroughs in isolation, but on what happens after then - how progress is embedded, strengthened and sustained so it cannot be turned back when leadership and priorities change.

The impact over the 4 years are set out in the Secretariat Annual Report - Aligned to our theme 'Share the Change' the team built upon the work of the NZ Secretariat to strengthen IWG's digital foundations so the knowledge, experience and good practice of Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration signatories can be captured, shared and used more widely by others. This includes a new connected database, website and content platform, a simpler process for new Signatories, and new digital ways to connect and learn.

Auckland, New Zealand

Between 14-17 November 2022, the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport took place in Auckland, New Zealand. 

Gaborone, Botswana

Between 17-18 May 2018, the 7th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport took place in Gaborone, Botswana. Botswana’s legacy was introduced as, “the Big 5”, a set of five key strategic actions, each with an animal symbol, that the Secretariat sees as a necessary focus point to take advantage of the cultural wave demanding women’s rights, respect, and fairness in sport. “The Big 5” draws inspiration from Botswana’s biggest tourist attractions: the wild animal life. The implementation of the IWG Botswana Big 5 Legacy seeks to improve access to sports for women of all identities, cultures, backgrounds and experiences, improving their individual lives and the inclusiveness of their communities. Download to read more!

Helsinki, Finland

Along with reaffirming the Brighton Declaration, originally launched in 1994, the Secretariat also approved an updated version, to embrace physical activity as an essential extension of organised sport, especially for girls and women. Take a look at Helsinki’s legacy the extended Brighton Plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration on Women and Sport. You can find out more about the Brighton Declaration today by visiting here.

Sydney, Australia

Australia’s legacy was called the “Sydney Scoreboard” and it was focussed on increasing the number of women on boards and management committees of all sport organisations at the local, regional, and international level. The “Sydney Scoreboard” took form on a web-based scoreboard operating as a powerful online tool through which women in leadership roles within sporting organisations can be tracked both nationally and internationally in real-time.

Kumamoto, Japan

“The Kumamoto Commitment to Collaboration” is the legacy of the conference that presents a visual display of Asian characters symbolising Kumamoto Commitment to building a network with relevant agencies and individuals that realise gender equality in and through sport. Download the Kumamoto Commitment to Collaboration below.

Montreal, Canada

“The Montreal Tool Kit” legacy presented at the world conference contained a collection of materials and ideas for increasing sport opportunities for women and girls. The toolkit highlights four key tools that contribute too, “Investing in change”: (1), Tools for advocating change; (2), Tools for Changing Organisations, Systems and Structures; (3), Tools for Individual Development; Lastly (4), Tools for Action. Download the Montreal Toolkit below.

Windhoek, Namibia

The conference took place at the end of the secretariat quadrennial in the United Kingdom (see below). “The Windhoek Call for Action” legacy is a set of strategic actions sent throughout the world to further the development of equal opportunities for girls and women to participate fully in sport. This call reflected an overwhelming desire on the part of all delegates to seek greater co-operation and co-ordination between the many agencies and organisations responsible for women’s issues, and recognised and stressed the importance that sport can and should play in the advancement of girls and women. Download the The Windhoek Call for Action below.

Brighton, United Kingdom

The Brighton conference marked the beginning of a strategic and coordinated international effort to bring about women’s equality in sport. The “Brighton Declaration on Women and Sport” is the first legacy endorsed to provide the principles that should guide action intended to increase the involvement of women in sport at all levels and in all functions and roles. It was updated in 2014 by the Helsinki Secretariat and can be viewed here.