Women Deliver, UNICEF, Right To Play, One Goal, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) teamed up with an impressive advisory committee of international NGOs, UN agencies, and corporations to host the Girl Power in Play symposium on 18-19 June 2015 in Ottawa. The two-day invitation-only event focused on the power of girls’ involvement in sport and gather decision makers, sports stars, high-level Canadian government officials, influencers, and girls and women involved in sports. The symposium took place against the backdrop of FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 and leveraged high levels of media and political attention around the games. During the Symposium, co-hosts formally launched the Girl Power in Play advocacy campaign, the centerpiece of which is a Call to Action for global leaders to get more girls in the game. 

Girl Power in Play is focusing on the most pressing global issues of girls’ right to play sport and related topics within the fields of health, education, nutrition, life-skills, and gender empowerment. The Girl Power in Play symposium addressed and explored how everyone can get involved in this movement by:

• Understanding the cutting edge research—leading technical experts from around the world will discuss the latest evidence of the benefits play and sport have on girls, adolescents, and women.
• Learning about local innovative programmes—representatives leading successful community-based efforts linking girls’ sport participation to health, education, nutrition, life skills, and gender norms will share information and personal accounts of what works.
• Making the case for investment—from the field to the boardroom, sport participation provides girls and adolescents with the skills and confidence they need to succeed, lead, and deliver for their communities and countries. Girl Power in Play will feature professional and Olympic athletes who will share their experience with sport, the enduring impact it’s had on their lives, and their effort to provide similar experiences for youth around the world.
• Taking action and committing to respect, protect, and fulfill girls’ right to play sport—government leaders, journalists, youth, international NGOs, and experts will discuss the need for national-level policy implementation, additional research focused on developing countries’ efforts, and increased funding and programmes on girls involvement in sport as it relates to health, education, nutrition, life-skills, and gender norms.